Maintenance Technicians Also Honored May 24 For Aircraft Maintenance Technician Day

The FAA has presented Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air with their 16th Diamond Award for excellence in maintenance training. The FAA reserves this award for select carriers who complete the Aircraft Maintenance Training (AMT) program with 100 percent participation from eligible technicians.

Alaska Airlines is the only major carrier to earn this award for 16 consecutive years. Horizon has earned the award for 16 of the past 18 years. In addition to the company award, five aircraft technicians earned individual FAA Gold Awards for going above and beyond the AMT program requirements: Nicholas Kula, Matt Grabowsky, Kevin Barrett, Vincent Estacio and Chris Pratt.

"Earning the Diamond Award is no small feat. The technical training group and aircraft technicians take on the FAA's AMT program requirements on top of our own rigorous maintenance training program," says Kurt Kinder, Alaska Airlines vice president of maintenance and engineering. "Safety starts with training, and 16 Diamonds speaks to the value we place on both."

Today, Alaska is also recognizing the hard work of aircraft technicians with barbecues and treats in celebration of Charles E. Taylor Day (also known as Aircraft Maintenance Technician Day). Originally dedicated to paying homage to the first aircraft technician, Charles E. Taylor Day is celebrated across the industry on May 24, as a way to recognize the maintenance professionals throughout the industry.

"Charles E. Taylor Day is a welcomed reminder for us to stop and thank the men and women who keep our aircraft performing safely and reliably," says Paul Taylor, Alaska's managing director of line maintenance. "While most of us are at home asleep, aircraft technicians are hard at work to ensure a safe and on-time launch of the airline every day. Although the work doesn't stop today, we'll be celebrating with as many technicians as we can across our maintenance stations."

(Source: Alaska Airlines news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.alaskaair.com