I launched a new WordPress blog under my own Domain and it's called Aircraft Maintenance
Engineer or AME. My description of the Blog I recently add to my Technorati profile is that it
is the story of Aircraft Mechanics, who are the hardworking, silent minority of the Airlines.
Pretty cool summary I thought but it is a fact.

When people plan their airline excursions for their long awaited holidays their usually think
about the flight itself and probably visualize landing at their destination. They can picture Pilots
and Flight Attendants...."I wonder if I have to pay for drinks?". Engineers and Mechanics are
not on the menu and never cross a person mind unless there is a delay or cancellation
due to "Mechanical" circumstances. "Aw c'mon...canceled!If I could get may hands on that
Mechanic I'd.."

This brings me to a sort of humorous situation that happened in the Halifax International Airport
a couple years ago. A runway was closed down due to upgrading and resurfacing in August.
Flights were on time despite only using one runway on those beautiful sunny days until one
morning on the way to the airport I ran into a wall of fog. FOG? In the middle of the summer!



The fog burned off by mid morning but flights were canceled and people were left stranded
until late at night or the next morning before they got out. This happened three mornings
in a row and hundreds of people turned into thousands having their plans upset by this
construction because the runway that was closed down was limiting flights, that were backed
up, from leaving.



Two of my Maintenance buddies walk over to the Halifax terminal, which is about a quarter
kilometer from the Hangar, and eat their lunch in the Food Court on a regular basis. When
they walked over during this big mess they couldn't get close to their favorite take-out spot
with all the hundreds of stranded  people milling around. As they stood there in their airline
uniforms a lady noticed them and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Look! they work
for the Airport and are probably responsible for all this." A hundred heads all turned in their
direction.

My buddies just looked at each other in shock and made a hasty retreat out of the terminal
back to the Hangar and got a few chuckles from everyone when they told their story in the
Lunchroom.

So, if you have a moment, check out my new Blog and read about the guys and gals who
keep those amazing flying machines in the air.