Aircraft Maintenance Technology

NOV-DEC 2017

The aircraft maintenance professional's source for technological advancements, maintenance alerts, news, articles, events, and careers

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www.AviationPros.com 43 HOLLY CZUPICH Owner, 34, Chimera Air and General Manager, Buzzard Air Service LLC, Milan, MI G rowing up, Holly Czupich never thought that she would be in the aviation industry. She studied art history and pho- tography during college but had never found her true passion. After college, she worked at a few temporary jobs and was found an entry-level office position at USA Jet Airlines. She discovered that aviation was her true passion. She began working as a mechanics helper to pay for flight training, but found working with her hands, on actual aircraft, is where her heart is. As the executive assistant at USA Jet Airlines, she provided administrative support to the executive vice president technical services and worked directly with AMTs regarding paperwork, planning, software usage, and parts management. She has a master of science degree from Wayne State University and has completed Lycoming Engine Factory training, high altitude and hypoxia training, and a two-week electrical wiring course at MIAT. She belongs to National Business Aviation Association, Women in Aviation International, National Association of Flight Instructors, and Association for Women in Aviation. Czupich started Chimera Air in 2009 to provide consulting services for USA Jet, and gradually added more customers. As her knowledge grew, she was able to expand services and special- ties, such as providing manual and procedural documentation to interfacing with the FAA on Part 145 compliance, to developing maintenance training videos, and, finally, establishing government contracting main- tenance facilities. She is also a partner at Buzzard Air Service with Mitch Noble. Nominated by Amy Kienast, direc- tor of career services, MIAT College of Technology: "Holly could be considered a late bloomer in aviation and the industry is fortunate to have her. Holly is a co-owner of a flight school that will open in 2018 in southeast Michigan. And, she is the co-owner of a general aviation maintenance facility based in southeast Michigan specializing in antique aircraft restoration, engine buildups, and annuals that will also open in 2018. In her free time, she is a flight instructor and is building her own hangar and restoring a Cessna 150 and a 1943 Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper." To give back to the industry she participates in associations and mentoring. She has also provided high school students the opportunity to gain Western Michigan University credit toward an aviation degree through the Calhoun Area Career Center in Battle Creek, MI. She wants to continue her AMT education and become an IA in late 2018. "There are always new skills to learn when work- ing with antique aircraft," she says, "and I enjoy broadening my horizons." G rowing up in rural Michigan next to a small general aviation airfield, Jamie Hill was able to explore recreational flying at a young age. As he became older his curiosity leaned toward the maintenance and engineering side of the business. Hill started his career in 2004 as a c-check mechanic working at then Atlantic Southeast Airlines on the fleet of Bombardier CRJ and ATR-42 aircraft. Shortly after the merger of Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines, he moved into the role of general manager maintenance planning and operational performance and then director of planning and materials for the combined airline. In 2017 he was promoted to his current posi- tion as vice president maintenance and engineering. Hill has had several mentors throughout his career. "It's my team of c-check mechanics who helped me during my first years in the business whom I value the most. As a young mechanic I was very fortunate to have a senior team surrounding me. Their patience, support, and willingness to share knowledge of the industry helped me become a well-rounded mechanic." He received his bachelor degree and A&P; license from Western Michigan University. Advanced training includes CRJ 200/700/900 and EMB 145 familiarization courses, GE CRJ34 advanced diag- nostics training, and various leadership and data analytic courses. "I believe each of us has an opportunity every day to provide a better product or service," Hill says. "My current role affords me the opportunity to encourage a broad range of aviation profes- sionals to connect with each other and our customers for the purpose of improving our industry. With that in mind I really enjoy helping colleagues solve operational related problems that benefit our customers and our business partners." Nominated by Michael McDaniel, former general manager of maintenance training at ExpressJet Airlines: "No matter what posi- tion he has held Jamie has been committed to the safe and effi- cient operation of the airline. Under his leadership the ExpressJet Maintenance division has consistently performed at the top of the regional airlines in performance metrics while continuing to improve the working environment of the team." Hill has a handful of long- and short-term goals but one long- term goal involves the shortage of aviation mechanics looming within the next decade. "Although there are plenty of millenni- als in the world, so far they are not showing the interest in our industry as much as past generations. I'd like to dedicate some time to this issue and encourage younger generations to give the aviation maintenance industry some thought. There is a heck of a lot of opportunity out there and this industry can be a lot of fun!" JAMIE HILL Vice President Maintenance & Engineering, 37, ExpressJet Airlines, Atlanta, GA

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