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Okay,
one comment on the volunteer issue. I agree with many here who put forward the idea of mentoring. Heck, if it weren't for some of the "edler statesmen" in my career, who took the time and above all patience, to show me how things got done I wouldn't have gotten this far. In any place I have every worked for a paycheck, the newbies or in this case volunteers, were termed "probies". Now, I grant you that is not the most politically correct of terms but essentially that is what they were and I was. I'll share with you my own personal experiance with regard to being that volunteer, but keep in mind that I already had an A&P in my pocket when I began my volunteering.
In the early 1980's I had gotten out of tech school in Pennsylvania. NO I did not attend PIA, but my thoughts on PIA are a whole different subject. I went to work for a contractor to the Government where we overhauled, and MAN o MAN was I unprepared for this, Navy Training aircraft...North American T-2's, Beechcraft T-34's, the odd Grumman G-1, and some maintenance on DeHavilland Caribou's. A friend of mine, who graduated from the tech school class the year ahead of me helped get me there, and I worked in the sheetmetal shop rebuilding the doors, canopies, ejection seats, and flight controls. Fun work... We shared the building, we had most of it, with the Mid Atlantic Air Museum, which was behind the separation wall/curtain. I was curious as to what they had going on over there so I went. At the time this was all happening in Harribug, Pa. and I liked the idea of learning more to become better at my craft than I was. So I joined them. I was given jobs such as sweeping the floors...and all of the menial tasks there were. Even though I had the license that is what I did in the begining. Russ Strine saw that I was capable of more so he began putting me on tasks on the aircraft. Now, if anyone knows the MAAM, you may also know Russ Strine Sr. better known as "Pappy". Getting Pappy to even talk to me let alone even acknowledging my presence was a serious challenge. Because Pappy did B-25's during WW II and Briefing Time, the MAAM's "flagship", was his baby and Pappy basically ran all of the maintenance on all of their aircraft. I had to PROVE myself to Pappy before he would even talk to me.
I spoke to Russ about it one day and he told me...be patient and keep doing what you are doing...because Pappy was of the generation, that had "been there...done that" and you had to show folks like him that you could and were above all WILLING to learn. One day...several weeks later, I found myself working on some tires for their P2V-7, and Pappy walked over while I was working, and he just stood there. I started sweating bullets because I was being watched by him so I kept my mouth shut and kept on going. Finally to my deepest surprise, he started talking to me. Hell...he even called me by name and I thought I was gonna have a heart attack. We spoke for a while...and he smiled at me and said go over and service the R4D because it was headed to an airshow the upcoming weekend and he wanted to get the needed servicing done as soon as he could before the aircraft left for the show. At the end of the evening I went over to Russ to say goodnight and told him what happened. Russ laughed and said...you made the "cut". You have proved to Pappy that you were able to not only do the job asked of you...but do it right and listen and LEARN from someone who knew more than you. After that I was able to talk to Pappy on a direct level...converse with him about all kinds of things and the trust level beagn to build. Several months later I accepted employment elsewhere and I had to leave the MAAM. But I will never forget that time in my life when I felt that while I was being watched and scrutinized for my ability as a volunteer, and then made the grade with a person who had "been there done that".
To this day, now some 20 plus years later, every time there is an airshow within my area that Briefing Time or folks from the MAAM are in attendance. I make it point to go, just to say hi. Russ only now, given the time gone past, remembers me only in passing, and Pappy, given his advanced years doesn't recall me at all. But I will never forget the experiance and thefeeling I got from being accepted by that "mentor". I have had others in my career also, I have been blessed to have had the chance to work with some of the FINEST "tin benders" I have ever known. They are all retired or have passed on now and I miss their friendship and teaching and time they took to elevate me and my skills.
I guess in a nutshell...I like the the idea of mentoring...it goes hand in hand with what the bottom line of the FAR's are all about. If it weren't for the guys who taught me...I wouldn't be here to discuss the topic. But what I will say about the volunteer's who are out there....I would gladly pass along my knowledge and skills, but they must fulfill their end of the bargain as well...and that is, to be committed to learning...ask questions...not be afraid to admit their own shortcomings in their knowledge and go from there. Otherwise....get ready to do alot of sweeping, cleaning, or wiping down of aircraft.
As I said in a previous post....the terms Apprentice, Journeyman, Craftsman, and Master Craftsman do have meaning...and we are slowly loosing those Master Craftsman and Craftsman....you gotta learn from these gentleman before their knowledge is lost..........for good. You can read a manual and that doesn't make you an expert...but you cannot replace experiance.
Thoughts anyone,
Respectfully,
Paul
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