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Joe's Blog
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
D.O.M. magazine is seeking nominations for its second annual Maintenance Manager of the Year and Above and Beyond awards.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
May 24 was chosen to celebrate AMT day because it is the birthday of Charles E. Taylor who is recognized as the first aircraft mechanic. Taylor worked for the Wright brothers in their bicycle shop. When engine manufacturers turned down the Wright brothers' requests to build an engine for their glider (saying they couldn’t meet the specifications), Taylor said he could do it. He designed and built the engine that powered the Wright Flyer, propelling the Wright brothers into history.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
Many aviation management professionals will be in Fort Worth, TX April 30-May 2 attending the National Business Aviation Association Maintenance Management Conference (NBAA MMC). D.O.M. magazine will be exhibiting at the conference, and our publisher Greg Napert and I will both be there.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
New historical research challenges whether the Wright brothers were first to powered flight; and therefore, whether Charles E. Taylor was the father of aircraft maintenance.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
A recent discussion with school teachers leads me to ask: Who is best qualified to lead an aviation company?
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
Pilots have strict and well-defined duty time restrictions — yet, the mechanics who are responsible for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft only have one brief paragraph in Part 121.377 that addresses duty time.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
Litigation extortion. That is how I like to characterize the crazy litigious society we live in here in the United States.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
The percentage of females enrolled in FAA Part 147 schools is on the rise according to the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM).
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
NBAA2012 is fast approaching. The staff of D.O.M. magazine is making final preparations for the premier business aviation trade show of the year.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
The deadline for comments on the FAA's NPRM affecting repair stations has been extended to November 19.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
Technical knowledge can be taught. But if someone has a bad attitude, they make life hard for the whole team.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
The announcement by Hawker Beechcraft last week of its sale to a China-based company has raised some concerns.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
Ken MacTiernan and the AMTA are leading an effort to raise funds to get Charles Taylor on the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Wall of Honor.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
May 24 was chosen to celebrate AMT day because it is the birthday of Charles E. Taylor who is recognized as the first aircraft mechanic.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
How do aircraft mechanics fare in Careercast.com's list of the 200 best and worst jobs of 2012? D.O.M. magazine editorial director Joe Escobar takes a look.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
NASCAR does a good job of educating the public about the drivers’ crew chiefs – the top mechanics for the teams – at every opportunity it gets.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) Heli-Expo 2012 is next week. The staff of D.O.M. and HeliMx magazines will be there!
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
A D.O.M. reader shares his frustration with his career in aviation maintenance.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
Most of us in aviation are aware of FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt’s arrest this past weekend on drunk driving charges. Babbitt has been placed on administrative leave while FAA and DOT officials try to figure out what to do.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
Some thoughts on loss of productivity on Cyber Monday and Shift My Gift -- a new way to send "gifts" to those you love.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
I am writing this blog a few days before Thanksgiving. As I sit here sipping my coffee and taking a break from what has been a hectic week, I realize that I have a lot to be thankful for.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
I am at the Aviation Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ADMA) annual conference this week. This morning’s opening business session featured a presentation by Rick Farrell with Tangent Knowledge Systems titled “Sales Has Nothing To Do With Selling.”
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
I got a tweet earlier that said, "Celebrate 100th anniv. of the first flight across the US! Vin Fiz event on Sept. 17 at Boeing theatre." The tweet had a link to the event website: www.vinfizlongbeach.com.
I had known about Charles Taylor's important contribution to the Vin Fiz flight, so I clicked through the links to see what was said about him.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised by what I found. Nothing. Not a single mention.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
Mr. Wayne Bailey sent an email to me after the July/August issue of D.O.M. came out stating he was amazed how I come up with subject matter for my editorial column. Here are what I think are the two most important factors that help me write my columns. First of all, I am an A&P mechanic. I have worked in the industry since 1988. Second – I pay attention. Whether it is at a trade show or touring a maintenance facility, I try to listen and observe.
Joe Escobar, Editorial Director, D.O.M. magazine
jescobar@dommagazine.com
I have two small dogs. One of my least favorite things to do in the winter time (which seems to last seven months here in Wisconsin) is take them for their multiple daily walks. But this time of year gives me the opportunity to take long walks with them, providing some much needed exercise for both the dogs and me. I tend to listen to the radio on my smart phone as I go on these walks. Today, I happened to tune in to an interview on Wisconsin Public Radio with Eric Felton, New York Times columnist and author of “Loyalty: The Vexing Virtue.” Felton was discussing the topic of loyalty and I felt myself quickly absorbed by the interview.
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