AA Mechanic is Celebrating 75 Years with AA
Jul 18, 2017, 11:17 am
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AA Mechanic is Celebrating 75 Years with AA
Al Blackman, age 92, celebrates his 75th anniversary with AA today. Here's a story from 5 years ago on his 70th anniversary. He's a mechanic at JFK.
Jul 18, 2017, 12:32 pm
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This guy must have worked on AA DC-3s, my first AA plane (ca 1947).AA has dedicated a 772 to Al.
Links to articles not behind paywalls:
Link to Andy's Travel Blog
Link to AA news article.
Below:
"American Airlines team member Azreil “Al” Blackman, an Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Crew Chief based at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), celebrated 75 years of service with the airline today. At a ceremony at JFK today, the airline surprised him by dedicating a Boeing 777 in his honor." - American Airlines
Jul 18, 2017, 2:39 pm
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AA also gave Mr. Blackman and guests a brief flight over NYC on the 777. Link to Wandering Aramean's blog with pictures of the flight and route.
Jul 20, 2017, 12:14 pm
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Nice video from NY1, including excerpts of Al's speech/interview and some footage of him sitting on the plane as it flew past Manhattan:
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/...h-carrier.html
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/...h-carrier.html
Jul 18, 2022, 3:06 pm
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Can we say 80?
Azriel “Al” Blackman is this week celebrating 80 years of service with American Airlines. Al is an aviation maintenance technician based in New York. Not surprisingly, Blackman holds the Guinness World Record for having the longest career as an airline mechanic.
In 1942, Blackman graduated from Aviation High School in Manhattan and started working at American Export Airlines (a predecessor to American Airlines). He initially worked as an apprentice in the sheet metal shop, making 50 cents per hour. Obviously he worked his way up from there.
I’m not sure if it’s still the case, but as of a few years ago his shift would start at 5AM, but most days he’d arrive at work just a bit before 3AM (as one does).
In 1942, Blackman graduated from Aviation High School in Manhattan and started working at American Export Airlines (a predecessor to American Airlines). He initially worked as an apprentice in the sheet metal shop, making 50 cents per hour. Obviously he worked his way up from there.
I’m not sure if it’s still the case, but as of a few years ago his shift would start at 5AM, but most days he’d arrive at work just a bit before 3AM (as one does).
Oh, and he's 96 years old!
Jul 18, 2022, 10:33 pm
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I hope to be doing my job at his age. Love what I do, and will continue until I'm no longer able.
Retirement kills. unless you're wealthy, and I'm not.
Retirement kills. unless you're wealthy, and I'm not.
Jul 19, 2022, 9:19 am
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I think retirement was a death sentence, sometimes, for our parents and their's. But, I don't think that's any longer the case. People nowadays have all kinds of interests outside of their professional lives. But, you're right. It takes money.
Jul 19, 2022, 4:44 pm
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