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COVER STORY interview and subsequently FedEx LAX employed me in January 2001. At LAX we do heavy checks on MD-10s where every aircraft has a different level of maintenance making every day interesting. FedEx LAX has a great group of people to work with. I feel fortunate and have a level of experience and opportunities that I may not have elsewhere. Gary Damp I was born at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY, The O'Brien Trophy from Snap-on will be on display at FedEx's maintenance facility at the where my father was a tail gunner on the B52. Growing Los Angeles International Airport for the next year. up in an Air Force family I guess you could say that I was new job with FedEx — truly the AMT for FedEx. After two and "preordained to have a career best job I've ever had. My career a half years in the tool crib, my in aviation." Some of my first in aviation has been up and wish came true, and I was finally memories were mom driving us down, but from the first day of hired on as an AMT for FedEx in all out to the flight line to watch my first job to now I've never been the composite shop. the BUFF's take off. I was the unemployed. With all the training Looking back in my aviation youngest of five and had lots of and skills we require in this career of 14 years, I learned bicycle parts to make something profession, there are very few jobs traits from almost every work. Growing up my older that we are not qualified for. aspect of what we do in our brother would take us to the profession from general aviation, airshows around Colorado where David Ramirez line maintenance, hangar one of my favorite was held at the The youngest of the FedEx LAX maintenance to manufacturing. Air Force Academy. After high team, I can remember I've always All of the experience that I have school I traveled a little while and liked taking things apart and gathered at my previous jobs then returned home to Colorado putting them back together. I helped me qualify and attain my and enrolled at Aero Tech in 1986. thought I was going to end up in current position at FedEx as a I started my first job in 1988 auto maintenance. I don't know senior AMT. with West Air Airlines, a United why, but my calling went toward Reaching my 10th anniversary Express Commuter located in aviation. It was the best decision I with FedEx felt like a big Fresno, CA. The rest of that year have ever made. After graduating accomplishment. These past 14 was spent learning all I could from high school, I went straight years in aviation have been like working in the hangar. We had a to Northrop Rice Aviation a dream. FedEx has been one fleet of aircraft from the BAe-146 Institute of Technology where I of the best companies I have down to the EMB-110. After a few acquired my A&P; at the age of ever worked for, and I wish to other jobs my dream job showed 18. I got my first aviation job at continue until the end of my up in September of 1996: United Hawthorne airport as a mechanic aviation career. Airlines. I got married and our apprentice for a small charter second son landed in May of company. After several jobs I The AMTSociety Maintenance 2001, just four months before the found my way back to LAX to Skills Competition exists to proterrorist attack on 9-11. The events work for American Eagle Airlines mote the role of the AMT and to of that day I will never forget, or working line maintenance on raise the level of professionalism the tail number of my airplanes Saab 340, Embraer 140, and 145s. within the aircraft maintenance that were lost that day. Eventually After two and a half years, I industry. Congratulations to the layoff notices went out and in applied at FedEx to work in the Team FedEx LAX for fulfilling November of 2003 I started my tool crib in hopes of becoming an the challenge. AMT 6 June 2013 Aircraft Maintenance Technology • www.AviationPros.com • www.AMTSociety.org