HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Technician Magazine!
The Technician magazine, PIA’s alumni publication is turning 25 this year. During those years, this publication has strived to become a place to keep up-to-date with what is happening with both PIA and the aviation industry. Throughout its history, the Technician was published anywhere from four times a year to its current annual run each winter. Now it can be read online via http://issuu.com/technician and in print form. We are proud that alumni, employers, schools, and the general public receive this magazine at no cost. As it is put together by a staff with other PIA responsibilities, it is a labor of love. Alumni may remember this publication’s predecessor, The AeroMech. Edited by Mr. Peter Buccini; volume one was created in January 1964 at the length of four pages. The name was changed in 1987. What hasn’t changed is the intention of this newsletter. We still set out to report on “News about the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and the Aviation Industry.”
Winter Technician 2012 -2
I Lost a Friend J.Graham III
Many of you may not know that just before Thanksgiving, PIA lost a dear member of our organization. Past President and Chairman, John Graham II, “Jack” passed away. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA at Magee Hospital and lived very early in life at a house just half a mile north of the approach end of Runway 8 at Butler Airport. He spent a great deal of his youth moving from place to place in conjunction with the operations and training associated with Graham Aviation, based in Butler, PA. Many of you know about Graham Aviation from previous editions of the Technician. He was stationed in various places in the US and Far East as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He always loved flying and accumulated over 8,000 hours. Mr. Graham also spent a lot of the early and later parts of his life in Florida. He ran the Ft. Lauderdale Executive airport for a few years and even ran an air/boat charter business from Western PA to the Florida Keys. He owned two schools in Miami, FL and Vero Beach, FL for children from Prekindergarten through 6th grade. He impacted many youth in his life and always had a very soft spot for children.
Older alumni may remember him from campus in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was involved throughout that time at our West Mifflin location as he dealt with the passing of his father in 1971 and took over as President and fulltime owner. He guided the school through many building additions and student expansions. Younger alumni may remember him from his travels and administrative visits in the 1980s through 2007. He was integral to the decision to add our Jump Start programs in the mid-1990s.
Although a reserved individual to most, he was a very friendly and thoughtful leader. He would observe a person or process in action for quite a while before interjecting. He had a great sense of humor with coworkers and friends. He loved to play practical jokes and enjoyed the company of many friends at this campus throughout his years working here. I am proud to follow in his footsteps here at the school. We all have learned a great deal from my dad. I lost a dad and a mentor, but I feel exactly what I have heard from so many coworkers: “I lost a friend.”
John ‘Jack’ Graham (1936-2011)
EDITORIAL STAFF CONTRIBUTORS: Greg Null- Editor Kylee Bennett, Kim Conrad, Lisa Donato, Robert Foster, John Graham III, Todd Kruszka- Copy Editor Dave Koehler, Jason Mongan, Megan Olney, Steven Sabold, Lola Suvak Kylee Bennett & Lola Suvak , Photography/Layout Cover Shot: Paul Kirchner- PIA Graduate Winter Technician 2012-3
Myrtle Beach Branch Campus Opens K. Bennett and L. Suvak
On January 9, 2012, PIA welcomed thirty students into the Aviation Maintenance Technician program at its newest location in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After two and a half years of meetings and planning, PIA’s Myrtle Beach Campus becomes the third branch campus. This facility will offer a training program in Aviation Maintenance which is designed to prepare its graduates to test for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate. Not only will students have the opportunity to earn the hours and training needed in order to test for their FAA A&P certificate from PIA, but they also have the option of earning an Associate degree from Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC). The partnership between PIA and HGTC will provide students with the outstanding skills and training to prepare them for a career in aviation and beyond. With the support of grants and redevelopment funds received through the City of Myrtle Beach, Horry County, SC, and local corporations, PIA was afforded a
On January 12, 2012 PIA officially opened its doors, and was welcomed to Myrtle Beach by Tom Rice - Horry County Council President, John Rhodes, Mayor of Myrtle Beach, and H. Neyle Wilson - President, Horry-Georgetown Technical College. Representing PIA were John Graham III - President, PIA, Suzanne Markle - Executive Vice President, and Peg Jackson- Campus Director.
golden opportunity to convert over 20,000 square feet of a dilapidated building on the old Myrtle Beach Air Force base into a state-of-theart training facility. Now the site of PIA’s office and classroom space, the facility was designed for the purpose of offering students the hands-on training that is necessary for A&P certification.
sure the students would receive the same quality PIA education that is highly respected throughout the aviation community. After twelve years at the main campus, Peg Jackson relocated to Myrtle Beach to oversee the operations as the Campus Director. She is joined by three instructors and a Student Services Coordinator.
With a newly renovated building, and equipment in place, the next thing to do was to find outstanding staff and faculty to en-
As PIA continues to grow, we are all excited to see what is in store for the future.
“The skilled technicians who will begin graduating from this Aviation Maintenance program in 2013 will be in high demand, as the gap between industry needs and available technicians will continue for years to come. Aviation companies are painfully aware of this shortage, and will be excited to hear of the skilled workforce here in Myrtle Beach, and the promise of developing their businesses at the new International Technology and Aerospace Park.” -Suzanne Markle, PIA Executive Vice President Winter Technician 2012-4
PIA-Hagerstown Begins G. Null
Late April 2011 marked the next chapter in Hagerstown, MD’s aviation history. On land where locals built Fairchild A-10s and C-119s, and near where Richard Henson began what would become Piedmont Airlines, PIAHagerstown opened its doors to its first class of aviation maintenance students. With three classes and 42 students, PIA’s first expansion below the Mason-Dixon Line (by one mile) is set to be a success for all parties involved.
Maryland Governor Mark O’ Malley welcomes PIA to Hagerstown, and offers his support by officially opening the facility.
resentative, this location is continuing to grow as it approaches its one-year anniversary.
Dr. James Mader shares a few words of wisdom and welcome at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Over the past eight months, PIA has added equipment and leadership to this facility from its Pittsburgh location and from the outside. Tom O’Keefe currently holds the campus director position after 25 years of working and teaching at PIA. With his three instructors and one full-time admissions rep-
The aviation industry is growing in the Greater Capital area. Dulles, Reagan, and BWI are all large airports with maintenance facilities needing technicians. Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, VA or the Maryland State Police Aviation Command in Middle River, MD are also opportunities for those wishing to stay in the area. Even here at HGR, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Agusta Westland, and Rider Jet Center all have
aviation maintenance capabilities. This does not even count for nonaviation opportunities or positions across the country. We are optimistic about the potential of this facility and the area that surrounds it. With sound leadership, continued increases in student recruiting, and expansion throughout our current building, PIA-Hagerstown is set to thrive in Maryland as an educational opportunity for students and as a source for skilled technicians for the industry.
“The creation of the Hagerstown Campus was the culmination of work by many people, from our talented staff in Pittsburgh to the tireless efforts of our employees and friends in Hagerstown. It could not have happened without the guidance and cooperation of those at the FAA office in Baltimore and the direction provided by the members of the Maryland Higher Education Commission in Annapolis.” -Dr. James Mader, PIA Director of Education Winter Technician 2012-5
Alumni Spotlight: Paul K. Adams K. Bennett
Paul K. Adams was born on May 10th, 1926 in Ligonier, PA, where his first eight years of schooling took place in a building with only two rooms. In 1943, Adams joined the U.S. Navy, where he served just over two years in a PBY Squadron. Adams later enrolled at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics under his G.I. Bill, where in just one year he obtained his Airframe and Powerplant Certification. After graduating from PIA in July of 1949, Adams studied at the Brayton School in St. Louis for Aerospace Engineering for the next two years. One month after completing his education, Adams went to work
designing hydraulics on General Motors F84Fs for a total of four years. It is here that he began to see the benefits of knowing more about the systems than just the designs. Adams explains that he knew how to speak the language of the mechanics saying that “Any good engineer doesn’t just sit at his desk in the ‘Ivory Tower’, as you need to check on your product. Talking to the ones that do the work can, and will, be a big factor in the success of your product.” “I believe mechanic training should be a requirement for pilots and engineers, as this equips them to do a better job,” says Adams. And it all began at PIA, when Adams was discussing ways to improve an aircraft with one of his instructors. Adams recalls inquir-
“I believe mechanic training should be a requirement for pilots and engineers, as this equips them to do a better job,” -Paul. K. Adams
P.K Adams pictured with his wife. Mr. Adams is currently enjoying his retirement.
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ing about making improvements to the aircraft, “I asked how, and Mr. Lyons said that design engineers do it. That was the start. I went home and looked up engineering schools, and started at Brayton the fall after I graduated from PIA.” He was later employed by Douglas Aircraft, and then McDonnell Aircraft where he worked on the F-4, F-15, and F-18 from 1957 to 1981. According to Adams, he was able to design the first hydraulic system that Air Force reviewers were not able to ‘black mark’ for discrepancies. Adams eventually found his way to Lockheed-Martin where he worked on the Space Shuttle Launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base for two years before the Challenger Disaster cut his time there short in 1986. He finally found himself at Northrop working on B-2s and A-12s from that time until his retirement in 1989. PIA helped propel Paul K. Adams into a long and very successful career. He found that he was better understood, and respected by the mechanics on his team due to his knowledge and background training in mechanical systems. Thanks to Mr. Adams’ persistence and intelligence, military aircraft became safer and more efficient. Does mechanical training help one to become a better engineer? For Mr. Adams, it certainly did.
Spotlight on Aviation History G. Null
Charles Wesley Peters was the first known African-American aviator and mechanic in the world. Born in Virginia in 1889, Peters’ parents brought him to Pittsburgh at the age of four. Like many dreamers, he was drawn to the stories of European and early American aeronauts as they took to the skies like birds, including Samuel Pierpont Langley, a fellow Pittsburgher who ran the Allegheny Observatory. After pulling 14 hour shifts daily in an auto body shop, Peters would retire into his workshop and work on his hobby. In 1910, his hard work paid off as he trudged his large box glider up to the Herron Hill Reservoir (now a part of Pittsburgh’s Hill District), pointed it downhill and into the wind, and lifted off for a 100 yard flight, finished with a smooth landing. Peters did not stop his aeronautical exploration with just gliders. An avid reader, Peters studied Leonardo da Vinci’s plans for flying contraptions. He agreed that flapping wings could create forward motion, but only air flowing over an airfoil will create lift and flight. He began to design and build a “real airplane,” one with an air-cooled car engine and a 40-foot wingspan. With this, he made 10 twelve-minute flights in Pittsburgh in December 1911, this only six years after the Wright Brothers’ flight on Kitty Hawk. In a time
when the world was fascinated by flight, many pioneer pilots took to the road to showcase their daring feats. Peters was no exception. Later that year, he headlined that Fifth Annual Georgia State Negro Fair as the “negro aviator” and was paid well for his act. Mr. Peters went on to serve in the US Army’s 92nd Division, 10th Cavalry Regiment (Buffalo Soldiers) during WWI. Mexican border skirmishes during this time, overseen by German military advisors, were the only case of German and American soldiers fighting on the North American continent. Not much is known about Peters after this tumultuous period in American history. Charles Wesley Peters twice defied racist undertones by designing and flying one of the first aircraft and by fighting for his country, one that did not offer him the same rights as other men. For these reasons, Peters should be remembered as both a barnstormer and trailblazer.
Further reading:
Barbour, G.E. (n/a). “Early Black Flyers of Western Pennsylvania, 1906-1945.” Read on 2/28/11 from http://www.briem.com/files/ BlackFlyersPA.pdf Bobonis, Regis D. (2009). “Charles W Peters: The First Negro Aviator, a Native of Pittsburgh.”Received 05-16-2011 from http://www.urbanmediatoday.com/Charles-WPeters-The-First-Negro-Aviator-aNative-of-Pittsburgh/
Stay warm! Do you know the Bookstore has: Winter jackets Clearance- $40 Travel mugs $7 Long-sleeved thermal shirts $21 Call the bookstore to stock up on your PIA Gear!
1-800-444-1440 Where is my PIA Calendar? In 2011, Frank Bria, PIA’s publications expert retired. Frank’s expertise in finding artists/photographers, laying out the calendar, and distributing it to our alumni retired as well. There are no current plans to continue publishing a yearly calendar at this time. Want to sound off? Drop us a line!
Winter Technician 2012-7
Women in Aviation Conference 2011 -Reno Nevada L.Suvak
the area from Marilyn Monroe to Mark Twain. Lake Tahoe was truly beautiful to see as it reflected the color of the sky.
Women in Aviation International is an organization that promotes women to engage in exciting career fields in the aviation and aerospace industries. I recently attended the Women in Aviation International (WAI) conference in Reno, Nevada with Suzanne Markle and Peg Jackson of PIA. We were joined by several thousand women in aviation. Pilots, military, technicians, school administrators and aviation enthusiasts were just a few that were there to be inspired. We stayed at the Grand Sierra Resort, where we attended the opening reception. What a way to start off the week with the WIA –Jazz Band and a replica plane that was brought out on stage to pump up the crowd.
On our first full day there, we went on a bus tour of Lake Tahoe and Virginia City. The Sierra Nevada Mountains were breathtaking. Our tour guide told us stories of the celebrities that stayed in Winter Technician 2012-8
(left to right) Peg Jackson, Lola Suvak, Suzanne Markle
We got down to business for the rest the week. There was a variety of seminars to attend, so we split up and gathered as much new exciting information as we could to bring back to Pittsburgh. Seminars ranged from technical careers in aviation to Bridging the Gap in your reactions in work situations. Kimberly Conrad, a Youngstown
Campus student, was able to meet us there to accept her AWAM scholarship award sponsored by PIA. PIA students Rachel Kieler and Christina Parden were unable to attend, but also received AWAM scholarships sponsored by PIA. Ms. Jackson and I will be attending the 2012 WAI conference in Dallas, Texas this coming March. We will be setting up a PIA exhibit to present the educational opportunities that we have to offer to all conference attendees. Way to go, ladies! ď ‘ For more information on WAI go to www.wai.org.
Suzanne Markle (left) congratulates Kim Conrad
Flight Options Apprenticeship at PIA M. Olney and L. Donato
Josh Double and Steven Sabat, Jr. are first semester students attending the Youngstown-Warren Campus. They are from Bristolville, OH and have known each other since kindergarten, but say their friendship really took off after the fourth grade. Josh has been interested in aviation maintenance since he was little. His father and grandfather worked in avionics in the Air Force. His father worked on F111’s and his grandfather on B-52’s. The love for airplanes and how they work has been in his family for generations. Steve had a cousin in the Air Force and was contemplating going into the military. However, he wanted to be an auto mechanic. Josh’s uncle owns a shop and advised Steve that unfortunately, there isn’t much money in the auto mechanic field. Just when Steve wasn’t sure where he would turn next, a great opportunity came knocking at his (and Josh’s) door! Steve’s neighbor works at Flight Options and let him know about their apprentice program. They are the first two to be a part of this program. Flight Options is a large CFR 135 operator headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio that has six different jet fleet types with a total of 70 aircraft and five maintenance bases around the country. Both Josh and Steven began work in the Cleveland (KCGF) maintenance hangar
where they have been exposed to both heavy scheduled maintenance checks as well as fast-paced line maintenance. Both students think the other mechanics are outgoing and very helpful. They have been able to network in the field while receiving hands on experience. Some of the challenges include being limited to what work they can perform until they earn their A&P, occasionally having do cleanup work and being challenged to improve in their novice skill-set. On the other hand, they are exposed every day to new air-
accountability and responsibility. A normal apprenticeship takes 36-months, but going to school at PIA cuts the time in which they can receive their license in half. They feel this opportunity is giving them an edge once they get into more mechanical areas in their schooling. The benefit to companies like Flight Options is that commitment to bringing new technicians into the aircraft maintenance system results in high-quality people that not only learn every day, but are challenged to be the best and excel in their careers. The experience
Pictured above:Steven Sabat Jr. on the left, Josh Double on the right
craft systems as maintenance at Flight Options includes everything from tip to tail. A highlight of the apprenticeship is that it is teaches the students
from the apprenticeship at Flight Options and the education they are receiving at PIA go hand in hand. They would recommend the program to anyone. www.flightoptions.com Winter Technician 2012-9
Life Outside The Hangar
K.Conrad, PIA-Youngstown, December 2011 Nineteen hundred hours is a long time. That’s how many hours our class of twenty-one has spent here in the hangar at the Youngstown campus working toward our A&P certificates. During these last sixteen months, we’ve had the chance to do lots of different hands-on projects here, whether it was tear-
for a week that following December, helping in their warehouse, loading boxes, and serving as a flight attendant / cargo handler on a round-trip flight, during which we flew from Florida to Cap Haitian, 2nd largest city in Haiti, to Pignon, a grass strip up in the mountains, and back, bringing people and cargo both to and from Haiti. That short time with MFI showed me firsthand the true value of an A&P Certificate, as everyone on their staff is at least an A&P, if not
few days after the earthquake, sitting and staring at the computer screen, seeing the flood of pictures and news stories about the thousands of people whose lives had been so severely affected over the past few days, and being overwhelmed by imagining the fear and confusion, panic, and hopelessness that they must have felt. MFI began relief flights less than 18 hours after the earthquake, partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to provide water, food, tarps, and
A Missionary Flights International DC-3 arrives in Haiti ing apart and rebuilding an engine, troubleshooting electrical circuits, or riveting together sheet metal projects. One of my favorite parts about school is how I’ve been able to see how the skills and knowledge I’ve gained from my time at PIA can be useful in the world outside of these hangar walls. At Oshkosh in 2009, I connected with a group called Missionary Flights International (MFI). They are based in Fort Pierce, FL, and have a few DC-3s that they use to support over 250 various missions organizations throughout the Caribbean. I volunteered with MFI Winter Technician 2012-10
an IA. DC-3s, like most airplanes, require a lot of maintenance, and it’s helpful to have plenty of qualified hands to help with whatever issue may arise, so they can get planes up and running again as efficiently as possible. When the earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, it hit me hard because I had been there less than a month before with MFI. While it was impossible for me to fully comprehend the totality and depth of the devastation that the earthquake had caused, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I needed to help somehow. I remember a
other immediate necessities. This need was met with an outpouring of support and donations from so many that wanted to help in whatever way they could. This generosity inspired, empowered, and motivated me to dream: What if? What if I took a group to Haiti to help over spring break? How could we help? Sending down tons of boxes of donated supplies was a great and very much necessary piece of the puzzle and helping to meet so many immediate needs… but my heart ached to be there, on the ground in Haiti, using my own two hands to serve in whatever capacity was needed.
A few friends of mine connected us with an organization called Mission of Hope (MOHI) in Grand Goave, Haiti. MOHI runs a church and school for several hundred people and [at the time] an orphanage housing just over 30 children. These children have since moved into a new place just down the road at The Hands and Feet Project, but still attend the MOHI School. About 80 percent of the MOHI buildings were completely destroyed or severely damaged by the earthquake, and they are in the process of constructing a great new school building. Not only is MOHI currently working to rebuild their own facilities, but they have also been partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to build temporary housing for thousands of people since the earthquake. Our team last June, along with another team, built almost 100 temporary homes for families in the villages surrounding the MOHI
church/school property. Each family we served was so full of joy and gratitude and love, and the kids especially were great to spend time with every day. They remembered each of our names, and would scream them when they saw us walking down the road each morning, or when they saw us at church on Sunday! I’m looking forward to my next trip in January, and being able to use my mechanic skills from PIA to help fix what needs to be fixed, and build what needs to be built. There are so many different ways to help and so much work to be done. The people of Haiti are so resourceful and hardworking, and do extremely well considering how little they have. The goal is not to go in and attempt to singlehandedly solve every problem, but rather to work together alongside the people of Haiti to empower them, teach them new skills, and
encourage them toward improving their own lives and country. We’ve been so fortunate to have the educational opportunities that we have, and now the next step is to go outside the hangar and use our skills to help someone else.
How Can You Help the Haitian people? MFI - Missionary Flights Int’l www.missionaryflights.org MOHI - Mission of Hope, Int’l www.mohintl.org Samaritan’s Purse www.samaritanspurse.org The Hands and Feet Project www.handsandfeetproject.org F1 Engineering www.f1engineering.org
A view of Pignon Field on a supply mission Winter Technician 2012-11
Your Guide to Job Fairs J. Mongan
During the economic crisis, Job Fairs have quickly gained notoriety with job seekers and employers. The ability to have quick and easy access to multiple employers, potential on site interviews, and even sometimes immediate job offers, make job fairs the best choice for many job seekers. There are things to keep in mind when attending a job fair. 1) Research Before attending any job fair you must conduct research. Who will be there? What are they looking for? What services/products do they offer? Most job fairs release a list of who will be there ahead of time. Take advantage of this. Go to their website, see what the company is about, and also what positions are open. There is nothing worse than arriving at an employer’s booth and not knowing who they are or having the ability to discuss your potential future with them. Researching this information can make or break your job fair experience.
2) Resume After researching, you may begin to make final versions of your resume. Depending on the employer, you may want to adjust your resume to match the needs and wants desired by them. If you will be speaking with aviation and non-aviation employers, it is good to have a general resume for both fields ready. Handing a nonaviation employer a resume with an aviation objective can quickly shut you down as a potential employee. Always have a friend or professional look over your resume as you will be biased to your own information. A different mind may give you feedback about something you have overlooked. Remember, your resume reflects you as an individual and should be clean, neat, well-written, and professional.
Job Seekers line up for interviews
3) Before Job Fairs should be treated the same as an interview. Have multiple copies of your resume ready, be dressed formally, and keep things professional at all times. Arrive early and view your surroundings. This gives you an opportunity to strategically plan the event in your mind to determine where will you go first, how many other attendees are there, and where they are. This also gives you an opportunity to network with employers and other job fair attendees. 4) During Take your time! If you have found that you have spoken to every employer in less than 20 minutes, head back and start again. A job fair allows you to market yourself to an employer face to face. In many cases you will never have this opportunity again. Make it count and make the employer desire you as an employee. Practice your introductions, and have your key points down. This should include your work objective, a little information about yourself, why you are interested in the company, and also what sets you apart from the other candidates. Having something prepared will prevent
Employers Hiring Our Graduates Micron Technology • General Atomics • Piedmont Airlines • Constant Aviation • Lightship Group • PSA Airlines • Air Camis • G-Force • Dynamic Aviation • Era Alaska • CommutAir • ExpressJet • Flight Options • Air Wisconsin • Castle Aviation • STAT MedEvac • Air Services • Brookville Services • U.S. Steel • AvCraft • Bombardier Aero • Baker Hughes • L-3 Communications • Pinnacle Airlines • Pratt and Whitney • Gulfstream International • Aero National • Republic Airways • Allegheny Valley Railroad • Advanced Acoustic Concepts • Progressive Industries • URS • Bettis Atomic Labs • Trans States Airlines • CK Composites • GE Aviation • Nextant Aerospace • Vector Aerospace • Performance Flight • ExpressJet • Lightship Group • Boeing • Winter Technician 2012-12
any awkward silence when you approach an employer. Remember they are expecting you to take the first step towards them. Make sure you ask questions. You should ask about the company, when they will be hiring, and anything else that may come to mind. All questions on salary should wait for an interview as you will want to avoid a “money hungry” approach to the employers. Thank them for their time and make sure to get their contact information.
Spring Job Fair! PIA is excited to announce the Spring Technician Job Fair will be held Wednesday, March 7, 2012 from 10AM to 2PM at the Pittsburgh campus. This is an excellent opportunity to meet multiple employers, both in and out of aviation, at one time. A few of the employers attending are ExpressJet, Nextant Aerospace, Applied Composites Engineering, and the Cleveland Brothers. Employers will be hiring from entry level to advance positions so all are welcome to attend. Contact Jason Mongan at jmongan@pia.edu for further information. Pittsburgh Campus pictured below
5) After Always make sure to follow-up. Some employers may call you first but there is no problem with giving an employer you were interested in a quick call. This will show you are motivated and interested. Keep contact to a minimum as you do not want to become part of their junk file. Job Fairs are unique as they allow you to visit with multiple companies under one roof. The key is to always research every employer, conduct yourself professionally, and follow-up. It can be very easy to convince yourself that the employers will be doing most of the work and you will only have to answer a few questions. This, however, is incorrect. It is your responsibility, and yours alone, to prepare yourself and make the needed choices to advance your professional career.
Recruiters from Goodyear Airships meet with students
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Winter Technician 2012-13
Employee Anniversaries! Thirty Years Bob Allison is an admissions representative here at PIA. Mr. Allison attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, holds a funeral director’s license, and works part time at Ferguson Funeral Home. He has been married to his wife, Rhonda, for 37 years. They have three children together. His hobbies include furniture refinishing, singing oldies and Christmas carols with his wife, and playing the bass drum for the New Haven Pipe and Hose Corps. He is deeply involved with his church and teaches Sunday school.
Fifteen Years Dino Cicconi has been PIA’s high school representative for fifteen years. Prior to coming to PIA, he worked in the Admissions Department at Penn Tech. He obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Pitt in 1979, and an Associate degree in electronics in 1984. In May, he ran a half-marathon in under two and a half hours, and hopes to run the full 26 miles in 2012’s Pittsburgh marathon. His hobbies include landscaping, and he lives in the North Hills with his wife, Linda. His children, Luke and Jessica, are both teachers. John Graham is PIA’s President, CEO, and Chairman. Prior to holding these positions, Mr. Graham was vice-president of finance, assistant to the vice president, and assistant technologist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Economics and Business, obtained at the University of Pittsburgh, and an MBA from Florida State University. He lives in Jefferson with his wife, Jana, and has three children, Andrew, AnneMarie, and Katie. He is an Eagle Scout, and he loves flying and golfing.
Ten Years Bernard “Butch” Adams, PIA’s Assistant Director of Campus Operations, has held the title of electronics instructor, Co-Director of the Learning Resource Center, athletic director, golf coach, and bowling coach. He graduated from Penn Tech in 1976 with his Associate Degree in Specialized Electronics, and is currently attending DeVry University for his B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He enjoys golf, bowling, fishing, hunting, and watching sprint car races.
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Dee Bowen, an admissions representative here at PIA, holds her B.S. in Technical Adult Education from the University of Akron, where she also spent time as a guidance counselor. She was also an Admissions Rep at Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. She enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling in the summer. She lives in Stow, Ohio, and has two sons and three grandchildren.
Al Simon teaches Advanced Powerplant in 6th quarter to our AMT students. Before working at PIA, Simon was an anti-tank gunner in the Marine Corps and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay for two five-month tours. He worked at Allegheny Airlines at Pittsburgh International Airport, and also spent eight years doing aircraft maintenance for FedEx in Harrisburg; he commuted from Pittsburgh every day. He lives in Penn Hills with his wife, Ernestine, and has three grown children. He enjoys photography, backgammon, chess, and Sudoku puzzles.
Five Years Greg Null, PIA’s Director of Student Services has worked at PIA for the last five years, including one year as Placement Supervisor, and two years as a General Studies Instructor. He is also Assistant Test Center Supervisor and Co-Director of the Ball Hall Learning Resource Center. He holds a degree in Education from Slippery Rock University and a Master’s degree in Adult and Community Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He lives in the Mt. Washington section of Pittsburgh with his wife, Rose.
Roger Powell is an instructor for PIA’s Jumpstart program. He has been a full time employee here since July of 2006, when he began teaching heavy equipment. Prior to coming here, he spent 15 years as a truck driver, both locally and regionally. He lives in McDonald, PA.
Lola Suvak, PIA’s Supervisor of Marketing and Public Relations, began at PIA as a telemarketing representative, where she spent two years, followed by six months as the school’s media specialist, and year-long stint as an admissions representative. Lola obtained a bachelor’s degree in communications from IUP in 2002, where she minored in dance. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching Steelers games, and going to the spa. She lives in Penn Hills with her husband, Russell, and her daughter, Isabella Adeline.
Thanks to all PIA Employees for your hard work and dedication! It is truly appreciated! Winter Technician 2012-15
Puzzle Created by Dave Koehler Winter Technician 2012-16
Across
1. Controls motion around the vertical axis. 2. Small control surface located on a primary control surface. Used to align the axes of the aircraft in flight.(Two words) 5. Used to adjust the tension of flight control cables. 6. A common voltage or signal can be taken from one of these in electrical electronic circuits. Also a large wheeled vehicle used by some commuters. 8. Controls motion around the lateral axis. 9. Roll stability is achieved by making the wing tip slightly higher than the wing root. this is called _______ . 11. When you fly this fast people ahead of you can’t hear you, but the people behind you sure can. 14. Converts AC or DC electrical energy into rotation. 15. Uses AC voltage to translate remote position changes of a device in a control system. 18. The pressure outside the aircraft that is used for Altitude, Vertical Speed and Airspeed indicating systems. 19. Lift augmenting device located on the trailing edge of the wing. 22. Uses a gas turbine engine to turn a propeller. 24. Aircraft that can take off and land in water will have these for landing gear. 26. Electrically operated mechanical switch. Uses a coil and contact points. 27. The book that is required to be in the cockpit of the aircraft at all times, especially when flying. It is an instruction manual for operating the aircraft and its systems.(Two words) 29. Flight controls on a V-Tail aircraft that act like rudders and elevators combined. 33. Controls whether the exhaust drives the turbocharger or goes overboard.(Two words) 36. Timing is everything on this self-contained spark generating device used for ignition systems on reciprocating engines. 38. Uses exhaust gas to drive a compressor. Boosts intake pressure to increase performance. 39. Structure that makes up the main body of the aircraft. 40. Instead of a fixed Horizontal Stabilizer and moveable Elevator, this set up moves the entire Horizontal Stabilizer for pitch control. 41. Aft portion of the fuselage.
Down
1. A fastener with no threads. Smashed or beaten into place when installing. Usually have to drill out to remove. 3. Converts sound waves into electrical signals for voice communication systems. 4. Placed in electrical circuits for over current protection. Can’t reset, must replace when activated. 7. Flight controls on a Delta wing aircraft. Perform both elevator and aileron functions. 9. A rotating adjuster used to change light intensity on instruments and panels in the flight deck. 10. Antenna cover. Nose cone on a jet. 12. Used as a seal in hydraulic and pneumatic devices. 13. The ram air pressure used for airspeed indicating on an aircraft. 15. Uses engine power to drive a compressor. Boosts intake pressure to increase performance. 16. An auxilliary piece of structure added between two parts, usually at a junction between two parts. It is meant to reduce drag. 17. The final adjustment and alignment of an aircraft and its flight control systems. 20. Used to decrease lift and slow the aircraft when landing by standing straight up on the wings. 21. Small horizontal control surface mounted forward of the main wing. Used for pitch stability and control. 23. A grooved wheel with bearings used to change the direction of a cable in a flight control system. 25. If you want to operate on snow, you need these instead of tires. 28. The elevator is hinged to the ___________ stabilizer. 30. Converts mechanical rotation into AC electrical energy. 31. An explosive charge that is ignited to release the extinguishing agent from a fire bottle. 32. The rudder is hinged to the ___________ stabilizer. 33. Added to the wing tips of some aircraft to reduce the drag from wing tip vorteces. 34. The red and green lights on the wing tips. 35. Control motion around the longitudinal axis. 37. Leading edge lift augmenting devices.
Attention PIA Puzzlers: Thought this puzzle was easy? Send it back to us at PIA-Technician, PO Box 10897, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 and the first three entries with all the correct answers will receive PIA apparel from the bookstore. Winter Technician 2012-17
Charles Taylor Award R. Foster
On January 4th, 2012, two distinguished technicians, Mr. Robert S. Foster and Mr. Warren E. Hall, were presented the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) where both men had studied to become FAA certificated mechanics. This event was included in the graduation ceremonies for the January 2012 graduating class of PIA. Robert Foster began his long and distinguished aviation career in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. He then attended PIA, graduating in August of 1965. Since then, he continued his aviation experiences with Trans World Airlines, Westinghouse Electric, and Corporate Air. Corporate Air still enjoys the expertise of Mr. Foster. Warren Hall joined the U.S. Air Force in November of 1959, where he trained as an Airplane Mechanic. Upon release from active duty, he worked at Douglas Aircraft prior to attending PIA, where he graduated in June of 1968. His career path saw stops at Eastern Airlines, Allegheny Airlines, and Beaver Aviation. Beginning in 1980, Mr. Hall had a 27-year career as an Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. He currently is self-employed as an aviation maintenance consultant.
Winter Technician 2012-18
The Charles Taylor recipients were presented with their plaques, certificates, and lapel pins from the Federal Aviation
Administration and watches from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics as the graduating class and their families looked on.
left to right Robert Foster, Gary Hoyle (PIA), John Graham III (PIA), and Warren Hall
From the desk of Steven Sabold Look at the economy we are in today. Hear about the unemployment rate. Listen to stories day in and day out about how individuals have spent themselves in to debt running after a Bachelor Degree and come up empty-handed. Is the four-year degree a must? Help us fight this perception. PIA is not an ordinary private school. Skilled technicians are needed throughout many different industries Aircraft continue to fly. Turbines continue to turn. Electrical circuits, big and small, continue to connect. Our placement rates continue to climb. We’d love to hear some of your stories and pass them along for others to see. I encourage you to send us an email to Admissions@ pia.edu. You can help make a difference!
Traveling Technician Snap a photo of yourself with the latest issue of the Technician and send us a copy. Send your image as a JPG, along with a description of the photo to gnull@pia.edu and we will publish it in the next issue. ď ‘
Volvo Aerospace Corporation Kongsberg, Norway
Byron Clingerman ('72) at the Volvo Aero Corporation in Kongsberg, Norway. Byron is the owner of AeroLab Testing and Consulting International. Norway Air Museum Bodo, Norway
PIA Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing The PIA Memorial Scholarship Fund has been issuing scholarships in support of our aviation students for many years! With more PIA students, an economic recession, and increasingly limited funding options available for postsecondary education, we need your help more now than ever! Come join us on the afternoon of Saturday, September 15th, 2012 at Quicksilver Golf Course (Midway, PA) and enjoy a championship golf course while knowing your participation is helping a student afford their college education in this high demand industry. Please contact Steven Sabold for more information at ssabold@pia.edu
Winter Technician 2012-19
Technician
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Congratulations to All 2011 Scholarship Winners! PIA Matching Scholarship Austin Adams Edward Costantino Shane Felix Thomas Hillwig Christopher Hoffman Jesse Makey Miles Messmer Connor Motice Garth Ott William Sollenberger Christopher Toth Andrew Whaley Jacob Williams
U. S . Bowling Congress Scholarship Travis Carson
Lee Tarbox Memorial Scholarship Garth Ott
Imagine America- Leadership Edward Constantino
William J. Graham Memorial Scholarship Brandon Rucker
Imagine America-MAP Douglass Barr Edward Constantino Lucas Curtaccio Russell Dietz Kody Hamilton Jonathan Loxley Aaron Swartz James White Jackie Yates Michael Zack Christopher Housman
Huber Scholarship Thomas Hillwig
Baum Scholarship Jacob Williams
PIA/AWAM Scholarship Kimberly Conrad Rachel Kieler Christina Parden
Trax-Shoemaker Scholarship Jacob Williams
Pittsburgh Promise Fabio Bonaventura
Helping Hands-AWAM Rachel Kieler
Imagine America IGAHS Geno Bongiorni Jacob Williams
Denny Shute Scholarship Connor Motice
Northrop Rice Foundation Scholarship Edward Constantino 2011 PIA Memorial Scholarship Shane Felix Jesse Makey Robert Sorell
Imagine America-ASEP Rachel Kieler Michael Kromer Melissa Bayura
William Penn Fraternal Association Scholarship Christopher Toth Flinchbaugh Memorial Fund Scholarship Jacob Williams
Laura Smedley Scholarship Jacob Williams Lena McClain Scholarship Donovan Bricker Community State Bank Scholarship Donovan Bricker Forbes Road Scholarship Donovan Bricker