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Airworthy
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00:00:17Here in this modern supercharger plant, the manpower shortage is being solved by training
00:00:22women to do almost the entire job. Let's take a look at the machining jobs these girls are
00:00:27doing. This work gives you a good idea of what a girl can do. Hands starting machines, hands
00:00:35pulling levers, hands grimy with oil and grease, hands doing intricate jobs, hands working for
00:00:41America, women's hands. From machining to shipping, women have so efficiently played
00:00:48the dominant role in making this turbo supercharger that American aviators today are able to fly
00:00:54higher and faster than their enemies. These girls are proud to have a share in making
00:00:59possible aircraft performance unequaled anywhere in the world. Woman power comes through for
00:01:07victory. My name is Adela. I'm from Chicago. I grew up in Little Village and I absolutely
00:01:25love Little Village. It's a whole bunch of Mexicans and Hispanics and Latin Americans. I just, I
00:01:32love our communities down there. We're, we're just very soulful.
00:01:43We always have this rivalry in Chicago, the Northsiders versus the Southsiders. Even though
00:01:49we're all Chicago, I like to say whenever I'm on the Northside that the Northsiders can smell
00:01:54a Southsider. They can always tell when we're not from there. And the same thing with the Southsider,
00:01:59we can tell right away when you're not from the Southside. When I was younger, I was a restless
00:02:05sleeper. So the only thing that would get me to sleep would be car rides. And my dad loved going
00:02:11to Midway and watching the planes take off and land. I remember, I believe I was maybe four years old.
00:02:19We would stop by a local neighborhood pizza spot, grab some pizzas, park by Midway and just watch the
00:02:27planes. I was very amazed on how airplanes just take off like nothing and land like nothing. Like
00:02:36if they're feathers, even though it's this big man-made massive thing. Um, and I always wondered like
00:02:44how they got fixed or how they work. And that always stuck by me up until like, I didn't know
00:02:53what to do
00:02:53with the career. And then my dad found AIM and I was like, yes, now this is how it works.
00:02:59So AIM Chicago is an aviation maintenance school. So I teach the students all about the tricks and
00:03:05trade of aviation maintenance. Our school is located on the Southside, which is very convenient
00:03:12for a lot of people. It's also bringing a lot of life to back of the yards. That is the
00:03:19community
00:03:19that it's in.
00:03:30We want to bring you all in here to make a special announcement to you all. And with that said,
00:03:34I'm
00:03:34turning it over to Dr. English.
00:03:36Yeah, right. Thank you. I appreciate that. I appreciate it. So this year's Aviation Maintenance
00:03:41Competition conference is right here in Chicago. Now that's awesome. And, um, uh, United Airlines
00:03:49has said, we want to sponsor a team and we would like it to be all women. AIM has never
00:03:57had an all female team compete at the aerospace maintenance competition before and, um, and much
00:04:04less, um, sponsored by, you know, a big name like United Airlines. And so what they've done
00:04:10is asked, uh, for the two of you who have had experience in competitions to be the team
00:04:14leaders and for us to find four more female mechanics who'd like to be part of that competition.
00:04:21I'm going to be honest with you about why I'm so passionate, um, about, about you and proud
00:04:26of what, what you're going to accomplish if you, if you raise your hand and say, I'd like
00:04:30to do this. Um, and that's this less than 3% of all certified aircraft technicians are women,
00:04:38but I don't know if it ticks you off as much as it ticks me off that this has been
00:04:42a industry
00:04:44hidden from females, right? When you are better technicians than we are. And yet 97 out of a
00:04:53hundred technicians are men and we're here to, to break that. And so you, you all are here
00:05:03to show how, how it's done. Believe in yourself because you know it. I know, you know it. I
00:05:11know we can beat them in this too. So I can't wait to see all the lovely ladies that want
00:05:16to
00:05:16be on the all women's team. So I can't wait. Well, I don't have any children, but I do. These
00:05:23are my babies. Um, they're learning everything they need to know to take care of themselves.
00:05:27I really honestly feel women are more mechanically inclined. So I think it's perfect for women
00:05:33because we're very meticulous and we're multitaskers anyway. So this is precisely what this job consists
00:05:39of. Some of these young ladies, where they come from, it's just not heard of you working,
00:05:45let alone being a mechanic. Like I say, our cultural backgrounds just does not even go down that road
00:05:53of being a mechanic, let alone the breadwinner. The good old Chicago streets, all of us, uh,
00:06:03go through our trials between just trying to get up every day with no sirens, no bullet holes in your
00:06:11house, just making it to where you have to go on the buses, not getting shot, not getting hit.
00:06:18It's a lot of different things that these young ladies have to kind of
00:06:22maneuver on a daily basis just to get here. Like I say, just sometimes making sure they have food.
00:06:29You understand? Um, they have families.
00:06:39Personally, if I had a job that I could take care of my parents financially,
00:06:45I would be set. I don't have to worry anymore. I wouldn't have to color all my gray hairs that
00:06:50my
00:06:50mother likes to give me. Let's say, for example, if my mother needs to go to the doctor or if
00:06:56she
00:06:56doesn't have money for fixing her truck to get around, it would really be a big relief.
00:07:03One time I came into the house and I saw her with her sister working on the computer. The
00:07:10tower was assembled. I said, what the hell? I asked her, what's going on? She said, Dad, we put
00:07:19one disc and we cannot remove the disc. So one disc was inside the tray and they and her sister
00:07:29pushed another big into. That is the reason why it doesn't come out. So they disassembled the whole
00:07:35tower and tried to rest with this. Yeah, a lot of troubles with her.
00:07:40Do you want more? No.
00:07:44Your license. She's, uh, it's going to be a airframe technician. She's going to be working with his
00:07:52hands. So that is, that's going to be amazing for her.
00:08:01They've taught me to be a hard worker. They've taught me to not only
00:08:08are you working for what you want, but also respect the people that are there to help you out.
00:08:14I think the American dream for me is finding opportunities and chasing those opportunities,
00:08:21even if they're not available to me. I'm in an industry where women aren't known for
00:08:28being mechanics. I'm a minority. I'm a Latina. I'm supposed to be by the status quo. I'm supposed
00:08:33to be at home learning how to cook. I'm supposed to be in an office job with, you know, professional
00:08:39clothes or some people expect that I would fail and work at a factory because I didn't finish school.
00:08:45But it's interesting, the progress that was made. Obviously it's not a lot. We should have a lot more
00:08:53progress, but we're getting there. I mean, you know, those women are, are powerful and they're really inspiring.
00:09:02My Adela, the one who always let the boys know that they are not as good as her, that Adela.
00:09:08If Adela gets something wrong, I actually have to go check to make sure that it's not a typo
00:09:15because she's always right. She's one of the smartest young ladies I know. And if it's time to do a
00:09:21project, it's done properly, timely and in order. So that's what I love about her.
00:09:30I've had all the girls as students. Let's just say that the skies is the limit for Rebecca. Now my
00:09:35age is going to show. I call Rebecca my punky brewster. She's the sweetest, smartest, um, attentive
00:09:45young lady I, I, I know. Um, and I definitely know that this field is so for her. She can
00:09:52go anywhere, anyplace.
00:10:01My name is Rebecca. I'm from Chicago. I'm 19 years old, and I'm currently getting my airframe and
00:10:09power plant license. I moved down here when I was around eight. I actually swam for HF for their club
00:10:16when I was, um, from, I want to say since I was like seven. So I was about like 12,
00:10:2214.
00:10:25It's rare to find another city like Chicago. Within Chicago, it's, it's so many different things you can
00:10:32see, so many museums. You have a lake. It's a city within a city. Our food, top tier. I can't
00:10:38go anywhere
00:10:39else. So I really do love it. Besides the snow. So a little bit about my family, uh,
00:10:50fly. I've got plans to go to Jamaica, Ireland, Liberia when I save up enough money.
00:11:00So I've lived with both of my parents my entire life. Um, they divorced when I was younger. My dad,
00:11:07uh, he comes from, uh, the country of Liberia and Africa. And my mom, she was born and raised in
00:11:13Chicago. I grew up on the south side of Chicago, um, around the Morton Park area. And it was pretty
00:11:20rough. You know, gang bangers and drug dealing and stuff like that. I grew up with the wrong crowd
00:11:26growing up. So I knew when I had children, I didn't want them to deal with that. Everything wasn't always
00:11:32perfect. But my parents always made an effort to put their kids first, no matter what it was. My dad,
00:11:38he broke his back to make sure his kids were taken care of. And my mom, she always pushed reading
00:11:44on me.
00:11:45I hated reading growing up. She was like, you need to read. That's something important. Everybody has to
00:11:50read. And so she would make me read to her every night. She hated it. And I knew 30 minutes
00:11:57a day is all
00:11:58it would take. And they play all day. And you know, they didn't have phones and the technology
00:12:03when they were growing up. And I'm not with it anyway. So I'm like, you're gonna read. You want
00:12:09to play? You're gonna read first. You can't do anything until you read. And so they thought they
00:12:15would just sit and pretend to read that time frame until now let's talk about what you read.
00:12:21And then it's like, uh-oh. Yeah, not only talk about it. Let's see how you picture it. How can
00:12:27you picture that in your mind? It's rare I've seen my father ever take a sick day. And he will
00:12:32be sick
00:12:32as a dog. And he will work his hardest, no matter what. And vice versa with my mom. Like, they're
00:12:38both
00:12:38extremely hardworking people. And I take heed to that, especially when I feel like I can't go anymore.
00:12:44I feel like this is too unbearable. I can't do this. And then I look at it full spectrum. And
00:12:49I look at,
00:12:50like, how far my family's coming. It's like, they can do this. No technology, no help at all.
00:12:55It's like, do I really struggle with this? Or is that just my mind wanting to stop because it
00:13:00doesn't like being uncomfortable? Well, yeah, you have a really good foundation. Yeah. It's funny how
00:13:08time flies. Oh, darn it. When you're having fun, right? She's all grown up. And that's good. And you
00:13:18I'm proud of you. Thank you. Aw. Because I did a lot of sports growing up. I used to wrestle.
00:13:26I used to
00:13:26play water polo. I used to play basketball. So I'm kind of accustomed to being the only female in the
00:13:31room and having to just freestyle, get to know people, make connections, and just enjoy the space.
00:13:37I didn't know of any females who were in the mechanic industry until maybe about like a year ago.
00:13:44And I felt like it just helped me realize this is something I really want to do. I work in
00:13:49a male
00:13:49dominated field and I know how tough that can be. So she tough though. So I'm not even worried about
00:13:56it.
00:13:56I'm worried about them that think they're going to mess with her.
00:14:02I think it's amazing that I'm one of the few women who get to represent female mechanics in this
00:14:08industry. And I feel like it's just an amazing opportunity to have. To be that pioneer is amazing.
00:14:14One of the first. And to be so young. I enjoyed everything from the planes to the people. Aviation is
00:14:22an industry where so many things happen every day and nothing's the same. You know,
00:14:27every day is something new. She comes in just full of energy, full of life, wanting knowledge,
00:14:35craving it. And how can you not give it to a person who yearns for it, who wants it and
00:14:40actually
00:14:41learns it and gives it back to you so you know it's well received. After being chosen for this team,
00:14:48we, I discovered we were sponsored by United. And United also has an all-female team called ChickFix.
00:14:56And they're extremely talented. When I saw them last year, they were dominating a lot of events.
00:15:01And I was like, man, to get a chance to work with them, that's a top-tier experience.
00:15:11So today we had the United ChickFix team come to our school and take a tour. Our aim team
00:15:17was at school as well in the meeting. And we got to take a tour. We got to talk to
00:15:24them.
00:15:24So this is our shirt wall. Basically shows the steps that we have to take to getting our A&P.
00:15:32So
00:15:33the first exam we take is our general. And then we receive our blue shirt. And then we go on
00:15:37to our
00:15:37airframe. And then we receive our red shirt. And our last one is our beautiful power plant.
00:15:42Yeah. And once we receive that, then, you know, we got our A&P.
00:15:47One of the P2-6, that was my engine. And we were in a group. And so we had like
00:15:52a week,
00:15:52two weeks to take it apart, make sure we did everything with accordance to the maintenance
00:15:56manual. And then we put it back together, had our instructor check and make sure we didn't do
00:16:00anything wrong. We did everything for them. And so after that, he'll grade us. So I got a 90,
00:16:0690-something on that card.
00:16:07All right.
00:16:10We are the magic that happens out here.
00:16:13Yay!
00:16:13It feels really nice to see just the excitement that they have. And it's the same excitement
00:16:19that we have when we show up to school every day. I like riveting. I like riveting a lot.
00:16:24I'm excited to see kind of what this year's team brings.
00:16:31Ladies, ladies. Are we ready? It's study time.
00:16:35I'm Captain. I'm Dana Eads. I'm a shift manager of Denver Maintenance. But I just now got the senior
00:16:41manager role here in Chicago, which I'll start February 5th. Thank you.
00:16:48Chicks Fix has been a very special group for United Airlines. And to be able to sponsor
00:16:56a female team from a school is really an honor for us. And we really are excited about it because
00:17:03we were in your shoes at one point. And now you're going to be taking over our spots. And my
00:17:08coach here
00:17:09is Laura. And I'll let her talk about herself and her experience. My name is Laura Spohler,
00:17:15and I'm the coach of the Chicks Fix team. And I have 38 years in the industry. In my position
00:17:20now,
00:17:21I'm currently an aircraft maintenance supervisor based in Orlando. And we work heavy meat.
00:17:26So the idea of Chicks Fix came when I was watching a competition in Orlando for the aerospace
00:17:32maintenance competition. And I looked around and I noticed there was no women there.
00:17:38And my vice president of maintenance was sitting next to me. And I made a mention to him,
00:17:44there's no women here. We need to change that. I was out in San Francisco and I was able to
00:17:50meet
00:17:50the managing director, Bonnie Turner. And I kind of pitched my idea, told her what I saw, what I thought,
00:17:57and she ran with it. November, December of 2017, we gathered some female technicians from all over the
00:18:06United System, had a meeting, kind of decided who was going to be on the team. The biggest thing is,
00:18:12what is our name going to be? So then one of the ladies was like, how about Chicks Fix? That's
00:18:16my
00:18:16email address. So that's why it ended up being Chicks Fix. My name is Katrina. And just like you
00:18:22guys, I'm an AIM alumni from Houston, Texas. And I got my MP there. And I also, like you guys,
00:18:29competed in a school team for AIM Houston. Katrina was an original Chicks also. We met her pretty much
00:18:36right out of school. And she's also a Marine. And so she was the first young lady that I ever
00:18:43met
00:18:43that was a Marine. And I'll tell you what, she's impressive. And I love her like she's my daughter.
00:18:50I currently live in Denver. I work for United in Denver. It's a really good time. Like, this team
00:18:57has been going for quite a few years now. And this will be our last year doing Chicks Fix. So
00:19:02you guys
00:19:02are kind of special to us. We would like to help you as much as we can and kind of
00:19:07guide you in the
00:19:08right direction and give you... This year will actually be our last year. We are going to retire
00:19:12the Chicks team. And it's not a bad thing. It's a good thing. It's time to move on. It's time
00:19:20to
00:19:20incorporate a mixed team. Bonding checks are really important because if it's not bonded correctly,
00:19:27the antenna is not going to work. What stood out to me the most today was,
00:19:31it was their passion and it was how chill it was. You don't have to stay where you start. You
00:19:38can move
00:19:38wherever you want. It was just, I'm here to make sure I can be helpful for you guys. And that's
00:19:49how
00:19:49they came. They came in very calming. It was very friendly. It was almost like a sisterhood. And I
00:19:55really appreciate that because they didn't have to do that. I really appreciate the variety of roles
00:20:01that you guys have. Because when I first came here, I was like, well, I want to do it. But
00:20:07like,
00:20:07what can I do? You know, like, where will I fit in at? You might be thinking, well, when you
00:20:12have 750
00:20:13technicians, there might not be anything. You know, that's so opposite though. We have a lot of senior
00:20:20technicians right now that have been with the company for a long time and they're not ready to retire.
00:20:24And so we need new people to come in and take those positions. This is a really good time.
00:20:30Yeah. There's a lot of space opening up and there's a great need for ANPs right now.
00:20:35Today was really empowering for me because, I don't know, I've always liked being surrounded by women,
00:20:41even if they aren't in the aviation field. But since today we all were in the aviation field,
00:20:46it just felt so nice. And then just hearing how far they've come and how young and how old they
00:20:51were,
00:20:51you know, it just made me think that I could really do anything.
00:20:54I'm just very happy and proud of this because I tell everyone about
00:20:59you guys. You know what I'm saying? No, it's real women mechanics. Tell them this is what
00:21:03you're trying to be. Here go our future A&Ps.
00:21:21This is the one we're going to fly in. Oh, I'll let TK, our maintenance guy,
00:21:26he'll tell you all about it. But I'll tell you a little bit. 600 horsepower, radio motor,
00:21:29some of you haven't done power plants yet. You'll get a little intro. The safe thing is at least one
00:21:36blade per cylinder. Okay. So we got nine cylinders. We want to pull it through at least nine times.
00:21:44Now me being superstitious like I am, if I have nine cylinders, I'm pulling it through 12 times.
00:21:50Now I'm going to school to fix airplanes. I love it so much. It's my favorite thing in the world.
00:21:56And I originally wanted to be a pilot when I was a kid. I wanted to be a fighter pilot
00:21:59like you.
00:22:00You know, who doesn't? But as you can tell, I'm a little short. I'm five foot one. You know,
00:22:05I'm almost legally blind here. So those were not in my cards. So what's the next best thing? A mechanic.
00:22:11I'm Madison. I'm from Roanoke, Virginia, and I'm a student at AIM Norfolk. When I was a kid,
00:22:17like I wanted to be on planes somehow, some way. I was probably 10 years old. I used to tell
00:22:22people,
00:22:23I'm going to be on planes one day. I'm going to be on jets. I'm going to be on helicopters.
00:22:27Like,
00:22:27just wait. I'm going to be there. So this is what you want to do for a career?
00:22:31Yes. I've known since I was like 10 years old that this is what I want to do.
00:22:35The average age for mechanics is significantly higher than in most career fields. So it does
00:22:43give younger people a really big leg up because not only are they understaffed,
00:22:48but also these people are getting ready to retire. So they need people.
00:22:55She's fully aerobatic. This one is built by North American. It was one of the things that propelled
00:23:03our pilots to greatness in World War II.
00:23:07Was Snoop your call sign? Yeah. Micah Snoop Lennox.
00:23:12All right. We're going to do a quick walk around.
00:23:14And then you got to earn your right to sit in the back seat by pulling that prop through,
00:23:18like we talked about earlier. Oh, I got to pull the prop through?
00:23:20You got to pull it. Oh gosh. I've never pulled a prop before.
00:23:25Yeah. It's a day of firsts.
00:23:28That's one. Then I'm going to pull mine. That's two.
00:23:32Two. Three. All right. 12.
00:23:45First, grab those and pull them down to the floor.
00:23:50Keep pulling, keep pulling, keep pulling. Yeah, there you go.
00:23:54The mic goes on the left side. Yeah.
00:23:59How do you feel right now? I am so excited. Like this is probably one of the happiest moments of
00:24:05my
00:24:05life right now. I've never been strapped into a fighter jet before. This is, there's so many
00:24:11straps in here, but I am ecstatic. I get to do, um, hopefully a barrel roll. Um, and I get
00:24:21to also
00:24:21help fly, um, this fighter jet with Snoop. He's actually going to let me have controls.
00:24:49I'm ready to go.
00:24:51I'm ready to go.
00:24:51All right.
00:25:08And we're up in the air.
00:25:16So here we go. We're going to try it. All right. Now start picking the nose up.
00:25:20Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up.
00:25:21Here we go. Roll. Go left, left, left. Nice job.
00:25:25Hold it up. Oh my gosh.
00:25:27Ha ha ha.
00:25:30Perfect. Ha ha ha.
00:25:38Nice job. Thank you.
00:25:40Too bad.
00:25:57That was amazing. That was amazing.
00:26:01That was the most fun I've ever had in my entire life.
00:26:07Not to brag or anything, but like I said, I was pretty good.
00:26:13Born to fly.
00:26:14And he said that in the sky. And I did a roll all by my, all by myself.
00:26:20It was amazing. I, let's do it again.
00:26:26I feel like I'm on high right now.
00:26:30That's so awesome.
00:26:31My adrenaline is through the roof.
00:26:33I may have been a little bit nervous going into the first roll.
00:26:38Cause I've never, I've never done that in a plane before.
00:26:41Then I was like, all right, I'm cool. I got this. I can do one now too.
00:26:45And we did not get stuck upside down. That was my biggest fear going into it.
00:26:49Is that I was going to pull back too soon. And we were going to get stuck upside down.
00:26:53But we did not like I'm ready to go skydiving now.
00:27:07The aerospace maintenance competition has 27 events and they range in anything
00:27:13from electrical troubleshooting to a fuel tank entry to even vacuum loading.
00:27:20We're going to show you the way that we know best. And if you need to edit it,
00:27:24modify it, swap people around, whatever you need to do to make it fastest for you, do that.
00:27:30So safety wire is basically a stainless steel or an inconel wire that we use to wrap around
00:27:37the head of a fastener. And it creates a pulling or tightening effect on that fastener. And then we
00:27:45attach it to a structure or another fastener so that when aircraft are moving,
00:27:49they have vibration. And with that vibration, those bolts can back off.
00:27:54The safety wire keeps it in a pulling tight direction. So even when it's vibrating,
00:27:58that wire keeps it from backing out and losing a fastener.
00:28:02I love safety wire. I can do safety wire to sleep, wake up, eat it for breakfast,
00:28:07and keep on going. More than one event has safety wire in it. So training for that can help you
00:28:13better
00:28:13at multiple events. And we want the fastest time possible. But we also want you to be safe and
00:28:18you want to finish it because every safety you don't do is a penalty. Right? When I was training
00:28:25and they were showing me how to safety, they said, you want to make music.
00:28:31That's how you know it's good. Is that it's ting, ting, ting, ting. All right. And then you just
00:28:39big tail it. Big tail will be smaller. And then you're, you're good.
00:28:46Not all the structures on the aircraft are metal. Some are actually composite.
00:28:50And so when we have something like that, we need to learn how to remove the damage
00:28:54and then what we're going to do to repair that damage. Composite is number six.
00:29:02On orientation day, take note of ply orientation. And when it vacuums down, you have the heating pad
00:29:08on here. It heats up that potting compound and it creates a structural repair. Right? So you have 15
00:29:14minutes to complete the event. The faster you finish, the better your score will be. These are your
00:29:20layers. Like here's your peel ply. And I have an acronym that I will teach you so that you know
00:29:24the layer,
00:29:24the stack for the layers. I have PBS. So I've got my peel, my bleeder and my separator already stacked.
00:29:34You will want them 12 or three, six, nine like. So today we worked with Adela and Alicia on the
00:29:43composite repair. And so we trained each of them on their individual steps, things to look out for,
00:29:49and how the procedure goes, and more on understanding why we're doing what we're doing. Because if you
00:29:54understand why you're doing repair and kind of the steps involved, then your outcome will definitely
00:30:00be better. If you ask the judge, can we move? Which one of y'all is the judge? You. Oh,
00:30:05okay. Hello,
00:30:05judge. Hi there. Thanks for coming to my event here. I did it myself. Are we, can we move around?
00:30:13Yes,
00:30:14you can. Okay. I said engineers, technicians, students. Ready, set, start. Go ahead. Put it over.
00:30:27The composite repair is one of my favorites. I don't know if it's because I last year practiced it so
00:30:35much
00:30:35that like I know it like the back of my hand or if it's kind of just when I competed
00:30:41it,
00:30:41I really felt connected to it. But definitely composite. That's the one I'm excited for this year.
00:30:50Alright, now one person grabbed the scissors and cut the little holes. The other person is pressing it
00:30:54down. Yeah, yeah. Oh, there we go. You got it. You got it. Say, I'm good. Are you, are you
00:31:00good?
00:31:01I'm good. And call time. We can't call until unmute, right? If it's still hissing, that's a penalty.
00:31:08Yeah. But very good. Good job. In my dreams, I'm dreaming about this competition. We've been
00:31:13practicing once a month. We got to go to Houston for a week and, you know, had that one-on
00:31:18-one with the
00:31:19one-on-one with the ladies. Okay. Uh, safe for entry. And then. You do have to verbally say that
00:31:32the
00:31:32meter reading is good. So not just safe for entry. Oh, close. Yeah. So we need to take a look
00:31:38and make
00:31:38sure it's clear, right? Right. So that it, you put like four screws in or so. If one of you
00:31:44snugs it up
00:31:45tight, it'll be easier to put the rest of this. Okay. The outcome that I won out of the aerospace
00:31:50maintenance competition, obviously a win. I love to win. I'm a very competitive person. I play sports
00:31:57and in Chicago, you know, keep that, that win in Chicago.
00:32:04Okay. So whenever you remove and replace the slide, you have to do the safety checklist. Observer,
00:32:11inspector, inspector. And you're the observer and inspector. Sure slide armed. So what I do is I say
00:32:16disarmed. Disarmed. And they do a check. So what? Here it goes. Oh, I see. Okay. Drop it down,
00:32:25but don't let it move. Don't let, yeah, don't let it move out of place. Oh. And a half. Roll
00:32:30that jam
00:32:30nut back. You can just leave it there. That's tight now. Okay? Okay.
00:32:35And here we go.
00:32:36Take your server, Tech 1, Tech 2.
00:32:38Tech 1, Tech 2.
00:32:39Supervisor, slide maintenance.
00:32:416442, 6442.
00:32:42R1.
00:32:43R1.
00:32:43R1.
00:32:43R1.
00:32:44R1.
00:32:44R1.
00:32:45R1.
00:32:46R1.
00:32:46R1.
00:32:46R1.
00:32:47R1.
00:32:47R1.
00:32:48R1.
00:32:48R1.
00:32:49R1.
00:32:50R1.
00:32:58R1.
00:32:59R1.
00:33:00KLaughlin, down.
00:33:01Unlock me!
00:33:04R8.
00:33:06Unlock.
00:33:07Unlock.
00:33:08Unlock.
00:33:08Ready we're made.
00:33:09Pull out.
00:33:10I'm watching.
00:33:13Done.
00:33:13One, two, three.
00:33:18OK.
00:33:20Verified.
00:33:21Verified.
00:33:22Verified.
00:33:23Verified.
00:33:23So my next step is going to be I'm going to remove the safety
00:33:26pin.
00:33:27OK, ROBERT.
00:33:29I'm good. I'm good. Done.
00:33:34I'm good. All right.
00:33:36Nope.
00:33:39I'm good. All right.
00:33:41Both in.
00:33:42All right. Yep.
00:33:44All right.
00:33:46Okay.
00:33:48449.
00:33:49Wow!
00:33:50Is that like a new low score?
00:33:52I feel like it is.
00:33:54You ladies, you ladies can get it.
00:33:57Now it's going to be your turn.
00:33:59Yes.
00:34:00And do it slowly and surely.
00:34:04I didn't know what to think because that was an event where so much was happening at the same time
00:34:11with three people.
00:34:13And I was like, wow, like I can't wait to get to that level one day.
00:34:16You know, right now I'm doing my best.
00:34:19I'm being slow, but as quick as I can.
00:34:22But I want to get to their level of expertise.
00:34:26I even said this.
00:34:28Oh, my God.
00:34:29I didn't even know what we thought was that.
00:34:33Oh, yes.
00:34:35And then you're going to separate these wide.
00:34:38Our altimeter is going up.
00:34:42And it's going to go up to $10,000.
00:34:44Just a second for it to get there.
00:34:47Come on down.
00:34:48We've got to get a little more energy than that.
00:34:50Black it up.
00:34:53Tell us what your position is one more time so that the students can write it down.
00:34:57My name is Stacey Rudzer.
00:34:59I'm an FAA-certificated airframe and power plant mechanic.
00:35:01I serve as the president of the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance, and I've
00:35:07been an A&P technician since 2009.
00:35:10I want to see women embraced for the critically important piece that we play.
00:35:15I want to see women not just tolerated, not just accepted.
00:35:20I want them championed and mentored and built up to where they can reach the highest levels
00:35:27of success, like Evie Garces at American Airlines.
00:35:30She started as an A&P mechanic in her toolbox, and now she's the vice president of line maintenance,
00:35:36and she's only going up from there.
00:35:38Please welcome Ms. Evie Garces, VP of line maintenance from American Airlines.
00:35:44Hearing Stacey speak, I can't help but think that we have a room full of tech ops personnel,
00:35:54and that the majority are women, right?
00:35:57So that's not what I entered the industry into 25 years ago.
00:36:02In New York City, you have the ability to choose the school that you want to go to in high
00:36:06school,
00:36:07and I remember reading a catalog that had all the high schools in there,
00:36:11and Aviation High School is one of the schools that was listed.
00:36:14So I applied for the school, and I got in.
00:36:17So at the age of 14, I was actually taking a one-hour subway ride from Manhattan to Queens
00:36:23and started the journey of high school, normal high school,
00:36:26but also getting my airframe and power plant license,
00:36:29which is what allows you to work and maintain aircraft.
00:36:33Coming from a Hispanic background, being an aircraft mechanic as a woman
00:36:37is not something that, you know, is accepted with open arms.
00:36:42I still remember my mom saying, like, really, is this what you want to do?
00:36:45I did well, started working for an airline, got picked up by American Airlines,
00:36:51and the rest is history.
00:36:54You see pilots, you see flight attendants,
00:36:57you even see ramp service agents and gate agents
00:37:00and all these wonderful careers in aviation.
00:37:03But maintenance happens behind the scenes.
00:37:05It happens at night. It happens in hangars.
00:37:08By nature, aviation maintenance is an invisible career.
00:37:12What we are trying to do is to raise awareness about the career.
00:37:16It's a vibrant and viable career field for everyone.
00:37:20And we need aircraft mechanics,
00:37:22and we know that this job can change people's lives,
00:37:25and they're not even aware of this.
00:37:32And then, this year is a brand new thing for us.
00:37:36You're the first off, you know, competition to me.
00:37:40The aerospace maintenance competition, you know, started over 10 years ago.
00:37:44The biggest benefit of it is to make sure that we showcase to the next generation.
00:37:48Rosie the Riveter, the first one.
00:37:51So that people that maybe have the interest see a career path
00:37:55and see what you actually do in the trade.
00:37:58It's a good feeling when you fix an airplane.
00:38:00I can still tell you the first day that I was able to sign Airworthiness for an aircraft, right?
00:38:04I was like, I fixed it.
00:38:06Wait, they trust me to fix it? First of all, I mean, I fixed it, you know?
00:38:10She's just, she's so amazing.
00:38:11She's a first generation like I am.
00:38:13She's a minority like I am.
00:38:15She's a female like I am.
00:38:16Like, I want to be up there.
00:38:18Like, I can see myself up there.
00:38:21And Andy's like, well, go tell her, go tell her, go tell her that you're taking her job and stuff
00:38:25like that.
00:38:25I was like, no, I'm not going to do that.
00:38:26Like, one, that's embarrassing, and I'm scared to do that.
00:38:29And so I went up to her, you know, Andy formally introduced us,
00:38:32and kind of behind the scenes, he was like,
00:38:35man, it's because you remind me so much of Evie, like your spirit, your drive.
00:38:38I told you from the beginning, I'm going for your job.
00:38:40I will be up there.
00:38:41I want to turn it over to another woman.
00:38:43That's my goal.
00:38:44That's my goal.
00:38:45So I need to climb up the ladder quick.
00:38:47That's my ambition.
00:38:48That's all I've ever wanted.
00:38:49And frankly, I don't know what came up or how I got to it,
00:38:52but I was like, you know what, I'm coming for your job.
00:38:55I want your job.
00:38:56I'm going to be up there.
00:38:56And she said, please take it.
00:38:58If I can do it, I can tell you, you can definitely do it.
00:39:05I am nervous.
00:39:06We got to see the floor a little bit today, kind of the behind the scenes,
00:39:10which was nice, you know,
00:39:12just going through kind of the whole construction of it,
00:39:16seeing all the MRO people.
00:39:20It's bringing back memories from Atlanta.
00:39:22It made me so excited.
00:39:23I don't know if it was nerves from like the next two days
00:39:26or if it was the coffee cooking that I had midday.
00:39:30But I feel good.
00:39:31I feel nervous as usual, but they're good nerves.
00:39:34Tomorrow is the first day of the MRO convention.
00:39:38So that is when all, I believe it is 93 teams.
00:39:44All of us are competing against each other.
00:39:46I am on edge, a little on the edge of my seat.
00:39:49But then the other part of me is like,
00:39:51whether I want it to, it's going to come tomorrow.
00:39:55You know, like, I'm going to have to do it.
00:39:57I'm going to have to get it over with.
00:39:58So I'm excited.
00:40:11We're at the AMC here in Chicago at McCormick.
00:40:15And I just did the leading,
00:40:16most leading edge core piece events.
00:40:20First event, I don't know what I'm doing.
00:40:22I'm just going to follow everything
00:40:24that I have practiced so far.
00:40:26But being with Adela,
00:40:27especially her being our team captain,
00:40:29I was pretty calm about it.
00:40:30And the judges said that we did really good.
00:40:33He really liked how we folded the edge of the board tape,
00:40:37because that helps in the event that we hit something.
00:40:40We're going to make sure they're tight.
00:40:42They're not too tight, but...
00:40:44There was a lot of people.
00:40:45I didn't expect it to be that big and that crowded.
00:40:51No, on this side, on this side. Sorry.
00:40:55Seeing my teachers walk around
00:40:57and especially seeing Tix-Fix just walking around
00:40:59and being next to us during the events,
00:41:01it helps me calm down.
00:41:05Done.
00:41:06Done?
00:41:06Great.
00:41:07Nine minutes, 42 seconds.
00:41:08Ooh!
00:41:09That's a good job.
00:41:12Definitely an experience.
00:41:13I can't wait for tomorrow.
00:41:14But I have to take care of you.
00:41:17You get your first one down.
00:41:18Yeah.
00:41:19Can I get that?
00:41:20Oh, 1 o'clock, I am doing the safety cable box,
00:41:24the blood box that we call it with my teammate
00:41:26and former teammate, Rebecca.
00:41:28And safety wire is, like, my ultimate favorite event.
00:41:31I like how much strength, especially hand strength
00:41:33and skill to be able to wire those two pieces of wire
00:41:37through the bolts.
00:41:38We got this.
00:41:38Ready?
00:41:41I'll grab the right screwdriver.
00:41:43This one?
00:41:44Your right?
00:41:45Okay.
00:41:46The blood box event, FedEx safety wire box
00:41:49is in itself an adventure.
00:41:54It's crazy.
00:41:56Starting on the right.
00:41:59They just pop out.
00:42:01Yeah.
00:42:09You know what?
00:42:10Shoot.
00:42:10I think I messed up.
00:42:11It's okay.
00:42:12I'm going to have to turn it off.
00:42:13Why?
00:42:14Because I can't get it from here.
00:42:15We messed up putting the cannon plugs in.
00:42:18We were a little delayed in the plan
00:42:19that I had originally set.
00:42:21And so I'm like, in those moments,
00:42:22I was like, I have two choices.
00:42:24I could even get really frustrated
00:42:26and just be completely off my rocker
00:42:28and off my game
00:42:29and just let that small problem affect the big outcome
00:42:32or I could get back on my toes.
00:42:35What is something that I could do in this moment
00:42:37that will help my time instead of hurting my time?
00:42:39Because I've already been hurting it.
00:42:41So what are some different ways I can look at that?
00:42:44Everything comes with time.
00:42:46Experience comes with time.
00:42:47And mistakes are important.
00:42:49And no matter what,
00:42:50like, nobody wants to make a mistake.
00:42:52But if you don't make a mistake,
00:42:54you're not learning.
00:42:55We needed to complete.
00:42:56I saw the U-boats were,
00:42:59hadn't been started on.
00:43:00And I saw Nella was doing the three-boat.
00:43:03It's this three-boat safety on the cannon plugs.
00:43:15ChickFix is such an amazing team.
00:43:18It's a, you know, very well-known in the industry.
00:43:21Not only it being there last year,
00:43:23you know, on top of that,
00:43:24they're also sponsoring the school team.
00:43:26So I would say just that interaction,
00:43:29the fact that, like,
00:43:29we get to live out these last moments
00:43:31of them being ChickFix with them.
00:43:34And so I think that has been the greatest experience.
00:43:53Mentoring the Ames Chicago team has been kind of an eye-opener.
00:43:59These ladies are a lot of fun.
00:44:02And they all have their unique personalities, just like we do.
00:44:05And it's kind of nice to know that they're going to be the ones
00:44:08that are coming into the industry next.
00:44:11So I just participated in what they would call the Click Lock Challenge.
00:44:15And so that's when it's a total of six stations.
00:44:18And so one through five is the standard procedure on how you would do it.
00:44:23And so on the other side,
00:44:25you'd have the business advertising their products
00:44:28and how it would be simpler.
00:44:29So I had to do both within 15 minutes.
00:44:32There it is.
00:44:32Nice.
00:44:33Okay.
00:44:39I would use that big socket.
00:44:41You've got to torque that, too.
00:44:44Torque it.
00:44:45There it is.
00:44:49Yep.
00:44:50Nice.
00:44:50Okay.
00:44:51Good job.
00:44:51Not.
00:44:52You're good.
00:44:53Okay.
00:44:54You're good.
00:44:55Okay.
00:44:56What about this one?
00:44:57Now, full time.
00:44:59Time.
00:45:01All right.
00:45:03You feel better?
00:45:04Yes, I do.
00:45:04Deep breath.
00:45:05You did great.
00:45:06All right.
00:45:07So, yeah, you'll end up on the 11.42.
00:45:12Okay.
00:45:12That's a good time, all right?
00:45:13All right.
00:45:14You did good.
00:45:14I'm nervous.
00:45:15With extra time to spare, that's so much better than last year.
00:45:19Yeah.
00:45:20Right?
00:45:21It is.
00:45:21That is true.
00:45:22You're so good.
00:45:23Yes.
00:45:23You're so good.
00:45:24Yes, you really helped, because I was getting nervous at the end.
00:45:26I know you were.
00:45:27At first, I was like, no, I'm not going to finish.
00:45:28No, no, no.
00:45:29Not on my watch.
00:45:31So, I didn't know what to expect this year.
00:45:33I know what I did last year.
00:45:35I wasn't able to finish it.
00:45:36Even though they gave us 15 minutes, I went over, because I was just in my head about it.
00:45:40I couldn't get it done.
00:45:41And this year, I really wanted to do it, because I knew I could finish it.
00:45:44And so, this year, I proved it.
00:45:45And it was just, like, an amazing experience.
00:45:47It's like, I finally got what I worked so hard to get.
00:45:50So, that's what we're here for.
00:45:51Yes.
00:45:57Fuel tank entries.
00:45:58Me and Adela were super nervous.
00:46:00I hadn't touched that event yet.
00:46:02So, going in, I was very nervous as to what our time would be, even though we have 15 minutes.
00:46:08Chicks Fix went right before us, too.
00:46:24And, man, they got it in, like, three minutes.
00:46:36We were just nervous.
00:46:38I knew I didn't want to drop a boat.
00:46:40I knew going in, we had to be steady.
00:46:42And the moment I heard Adela do her call-outs, I was on point with the ground and, you know,
00:46:47getting it down.
00:46:48We had so much fun doing that.
00:46:49And the fact that she's tall, she was able to get those screws, and I'm sure, and I was able
00:46:54to do what I did around her.
00:46:55Making sure we got every bolt, and making sure we re-tightened and re-torqued it, or at the proper
00:47:01measurement, so we wouldn't get any time added on.
00:47:07We got that event in, like, five minutes.
00:47:10Oh, that actually didn't show me this.
00:47:12Yes.
00:47:13That's bad.
00:47:16Yes.
00:47:16Look at these muscles.
00:47:18My arms are so heavy.
00:47:20You did good.
00:47:21You did hard.
00:47:22They reminded me of when I was young.
00:47:24You know, it's exhilarating, and it's a lot of fun to watch them because they're going through what I went
00:47:32through, and it brought back some memories.
00:47:35And so I'm really happy for them, and I really encourage them to not give up, keep doing what they're
00:47:41doing, and I'm just happy for them.
00:47:44I'm proud of them.
00:47:49The team events, I love working together with a partner and helping each other out.
00:47:58Confirmed?
00:47:59Yep.
00:48:00Begin.
00:48:00Supervisor Heather, Tech 1 Araya, Tech 2 Carry, Inspector Heather, Supervisor, slide maintenance.
00:48:086441.
00:48:096441.
00:48:10L1.
00:48:10L1.
00:48:11IAH.
00:48:12IAH.
00:48:12Area free and clear.
00:48:14Area free and clear.
00:48:15Remove and replace blood.
00:48:16I'm going to be replaced blood.
00:48:18Disarm?
00:48:18Disarm.
00:48:20Disarm.
00:48:20Disarm.
00:48:21No pillows.
00:48:22No pillows.
00:48:22You can switch on this side.
00:48:24Okay, my paperwork, please.
00:48:26There you go.
00:48:28Okay, bustle.
00:48:29I'm going to pull it.
00:48:31Go ahead.
00:48:32It's all yours.
00:48:33Point the bar is down.
00:48:34Point the bar is coming down, okay?
00:48:37Pass here, put your coffee.
00:48:40Oh, over here.
00:48:41That's a verify.
00:48:43I'm going to put it in a pocket.
00:48:44That's another verify.
00:48:46And then we're going to check the...
00:48:47And we're going to get scooping the verify.
00:48:50And then...
00:48:51Get to the pocket.
00:48:53Verify!
00:48:54You got it.
00:48:55Deep skin!
00:48:56Verify!
00:48:57Take that box.
00:48:58Take that box.
00:48:59Verify!
00:48:59Verify!
00:49:00Let's go!
00:49:00Verify!
00:49:01Paso ne paso!
00:49:05Let's go, ladies!
00:49:07Woo!
00:49:08Woo!
00:49:09Let's go!
00:49:15Time.
00:49:18Time.
00:49:19Time.
00:49:19Woo!
00:49:20Woo!
00:49:22Woo!
00:49:22Woo!
00:49:22Woo!
00:49:24Woo!
00:49:25Woo!
00:49:26Woo!
00:49:26Thanks, babe!
00:49:28Oh, my gosh.
00:49:29You did good.
00:49:29You guys are awesome.
00:49:31Woo!
00:49:31Woo!
00:49:32Woo!
00:49:32Woo!
00:49:32Woo!
00:49:33We kind of do it for each other.
00:49:35We do it for the team.
00:49:39It goes little, big, yeah.
00:49:43Composite has always been one of my favorite events.
00:49:45I absolutely adore it.
00:49:48When we were practicing, we were at 10 minutes.
00:49:50The one time we timed ourselves, I think we were somewhere around like seven.
00:49:54So we were averaging between seven to 12 minutes.
00:49:57Grab the blanket.
00:49:59Grab the peels.
00:50:00Start putting them.
00:50:03We're in or go.
00:50:05Stop.
00:50:07Stop.
00:50:07This time around, our time was five minutes and 37 seconds.
00:50:10Woo!
00:50:11Woo!
00:50:11That was a good-ass time.
00:50:14Woo!
00:50:15Woo!
00:50:15The communication was there.
00:50:16I was talking to her.
00:50:17I was letting her know what she needed to do, what I needed to do, just kind of what I
00:50:22needed
00:50:22her to do with me and how to move around.
00:50:24It was great.
00:50:25It was, it was a good turnaround and we had an amazing time.
00:50:28Positive.
00:50:29This is the last event on, on the day here.
00:50:31Okay.
00:50:31Thank you so much.
00:50:33It's over.
00:50:34We're done.
00:50:39It was an experience that I wish I could go back to again and again.
00:50:44Um, if I ever get the opportunity to compete again, I will take that opportunity and go
00:50:48back because you meet so many people from so many different backgrounds.
00:50:53It was amazing.
00:50:54It was fun.
00:50:55It was, it was just a wonderful experience.
00:51:02Yeah, I'd like to call up the Honorable John Golia.
00:51:11A wonderful event would not be possible without all of you.
00:51:16We do it for you.
00:51:17You provide us the energy.
00:51:19Give me some of it for some of you guys.
00:51:21Okay.
00:51:22Yeah.
00:51:22Because man, you want me out the last couple of days.
00:51:26But it is wonderful.
00:51:28I can't say enough.
00:51:30Chick fix.
00:51:32Because years ago, they brought the energy, they brought the women to this event.
00:51:43There is a right future in this business.
00:51:46And it, and it's a future that can help lots of people move up from where they are.
00:51:52These jobs are not McDonald's.
00:51:55These jobs can support families, build a future.
00:52:00We hear a lot about diversity.
00:52:02And some people like to give it lip service.
00:52:05We like to give it what all of us always do.
00:52:08Give it our best.
00:52:10This industry is just a reflection of the entire world.
00:52:16Right?
00:52:17And we can't exclude anybody.
00:52:19Ken says it best.
00:52:21You know, the airplane doesn't care the comfort of the person turning the wrench.
00:52:26Doesn't care.
00:52:28And what it cares about is the competency of the person turning the wrench.
00:52:32All right?
00:52:33Let's treat everybody like human beings.
00:52:36Treat them the way we want to be treated.
00:52:38And let's move on.
00:52:55Commercial category.
00:52:58In third place, let's hear it for United Airlines, Line.
00:53:14United has three teams.
00:53:16We have a Houston-based team.
00:53:18We have a Chicago Line team.
00:53:21And our Chicks Fix team, which is from various stations throughout the country.
00:53:25It's actually changed my life, meeting these ladies.
00:53:30I was kind of a loner before this.
00:53:33And then really didn't work with a lot of women at all.
00:53:38And for us to all come together from all these stations.
00:53:41And everybody has something so uniquely beautiful about them.
00:53:45And talented.
00:53:46And it's just amazing.
00:53:50Second place in the commercial category.
00:53:55Excited.
00:53:57Maybe not.
00:53:58The chair for United Airlines.
00:54:01Want to call yourselves out?
00:54:03Shakespeare!
00:54:04Theory!
00:54:11Oh my god!
00:54:15Oh my god!
00:54:19Oh my god!
00:54:20Cheers!
00:54:20Cheers!
00:54:20I'm so much bigger.
00:54:24Cheers!
00:54:24Cheers!
00:54:25Cheers!
00:54:26Cheers!
00:54:28Woo!
00:54:29When Chicks Fix won and they went on stage, I was so incredibly proud of them.
00:54:34I know other people were proud of them, but I feel personally I was so proud of them because
00:54:38just seeing them how hard they worked for everything and how hard and
00:54:43How hard they trained every day and you know how good they got at everything
00:54:48Just seeing them stand up there together for the last time it made me emotional
00:55:21You know I feel like we still need them I feel like we need people like them in general, but
00:55:27They're always gonna be around especially you know
00:55:30I know that I can always count on them and knowing that knowing that my mentors won and that I
00:55:35can see them as winners
00:55:37That meant a lot to me
00:55:52So glad I'm not wearing mascara
00:56:00Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
00:56:04We couldn't have done it without you
00:56:09I know
00:56:11We frickin' did it
00:56:14We did it
00:56:16Yes, we did
00:56:18Yeah, we beat the guys
00:56:23We did
00:56:24Oh my gosh, that's awesome
00:56:26I am so proud of them
00:56:27Oh my gosh
00:56:28For a second
00:56:32Well hopefully we will get to the point as a society that we will be recognized as technicians and not
00:56:40as female technicians
00:56:41Just as female pilots they'll be recognized as a pilot, not a female pilot
00:56:47That you will be recognized for your skill and not your gender
00:57:06Right now I'm at Willis Tower and it's a United Women in Tech Ops conference
00:57:14We were here last night for a little happy hour meeting and today we're here for the whole day for
00:57:19speakers and just networking
00:57:21Since the competition I met a lot of women in United
00:57:24I think right now that's all I want to do just meet as many people as I can and hear
00:57:28about their advice and their experience
00:57:30Just so I know what I can do in my journey as a mechanic soon-to-be mechanic
00:57:35You know being in aircraft maintenance it's like the world is your oyster
00:57:39I love aircraft maintenance for that reason because it has allowed me just to be things I would have never
00:57:44thought
00:57:44Today we had an event which is called Women Dating in Tech Ops
00:57:47And it's an event that empowers women to lead with distinction, resilience
00:57:53And we provided tools like leadership classes so they can become good leaders
00:58:00I used to be an aircraft technician and I am originally from Piano
00:58:04I used to go home crying because people would not understand me and some of the guys were not very
00:58:11patient
00:58:12And there were very few women that I could relate to because I was the only woman in a hangar
00:58:17of 170 guys
00:58:18The ecosystem has changed a little bit for women but we're still not there
00:58:23We spent a whole generation making strong women but we didn't teach men how to live with those strong women
00:58:31And making that awareness now for men is going to really position the ladies for those big leadership positions that
00:58:38they might be looking in the future
00:58:40Ten years ago a woman would be like a female VP of technical operations
00:58:46I don't think that's going to happen and we know that can happen now
00:58:49We have a lot of women that are CEOs now so I think the future is really bright for the
00:58:54ladies in aircraft maintenance
00:58:56In engineering and all these traditional male dominated careers because we are creating that environment for them
00:59:03So I think it's very bright
00:59:05We've learned a lot today
00:59:06Good
00:59:07Good
00:59:08I'm glad that you're here all of them
00:59:10Yeah
00:59:12Right now after I get my license I'm going to try to get my pilot's license
00:59:17If you have a pilot's license and a mechanic's license you can do so many things
00:59:21So if you're a mechanic you can fix the airplane and if you're also a pilot you can take it
00:59:27on like a check flight
00:59:28I don't have any limits I'll say that because I know that I can do so many things with this
00:59:32license
00:59:33Even though I do come from a different culture coming into this community
00:59:36I have been welcomed with open arms so it's been great
00:59:44So today I'm taking my powerplant written
00:59:46It's one out of my four tests I have to take
00:59:48For powerplant I have to do my written oral and practical
00:59:51Today is like my deciding factor on taking my other two tests for powerplant
00:59:57Like all my oral questions will be based off my written questions whenever I get wrong
01:00:00So the goal is to do very well on this test today
01:00:04So that we cut our time for taking our oral and practical portion like in half hopefully
01:00:11I am a ball of anxiety but like happy nervous today
01:00:14I've done about 12 laps in the parking lot
01:00:17To get this energy off me but I feel good
01:00:20I feel really hyped very confident myself today
01:00:31all stunk
01:00:33That convinced us to try Tamron
01:00:47Teameration
01:00:48Teameration
01:00:49Teameration
01:00:49Teameration
01:00:49Teameration
01:00:49Teameration
01:00:49Teameration
01:00:49Teamer
01:00:50Teameration
01:00:51Teamer understood
01:00:52to relax and rejoice in my passing and then and then I would decide to muster
01:00:58up the energy to start studying for the next
01:01:11it's graduation day we are all graduating today I'm very excited I'm
01:01:16you know ready to walk that stage with my girls and you know all of this has
01:01:21been built up to this obviously I'm still not done I still have to take my exams
01:01:25and I still have to get my license but at least I can put like the schooling part
01:01:30aside and so from our team it is Alicia who will be graduating Rebecca will be
01:01:36here and then Josie is also graduating on the stage I'm excited because my
01:01:41friends said like I literally started with they get to graduate with me
01:01:44so we can get we get to walk these things all together please stand as we welcome our grads
01:02:05how's it going everybody congratulations graduates it's great to be in your presence
01:02:16at aim we believe that if you take metal rubber flammable fluid shape it right and get into the
01:02:26right place and put enough thrust behind it you can fly we believe that there is a solution to the
01:02:34national aviation shortage we need more aircraft technicians the key to producing enough aircraft
01:02:41technicians is to look where the industry hasn't often looked we know that just just about three
01:02:47percent of all working aircraft technicians are women that's not nearly enough when I'm asked what
01:02:54are we going to do about that my answer is we have to provide an environment and role models that
01:03:02encourage women to say I too can work with my hands so my hats off for Tiffany Coleman miss Coleman
01:03:08would you stand up please
01:03:12Tiffany Coleman is not only an incredibly skilled mechanic not an not only an incredibly important
01:03:19teacher but a role model for all future technicians men or women in any brand we're here to be in
01:03:27the
01:03:27communities that we can make a great impact because I'm so bold as to believe that the education you've
01:03:32received the certifications you are receiving the job that you will join next will change your life and will
01:03:40change the lives of those in the city of Chicago for the better I absolutely push you out of the
01:03:46nest today and
01:03:47say go get that job make sure you get that certification and you graduates thank you for being who you
01:03:53are thank you for
01:03:55persevering and congratulations
01:04:01right
01:04:06I'm gonna just put my phone with things underneath my seat
01:04:09you're gonna stress me out
01:04:13I am gonna do best
01:04:19you're in
01:04:20you're in
01:04:21so
01:04:21you're in
01:04:22you're in
01:04:26you
01:04:33I'm gonna do
01:04:35you're in
01:04:35all right
01:04:35you're out
01:04:37submit
01:04:47All right.
01:04:52Ladella and Meggia!
01:05:00Congrats, Ladella.
01:05:03Congratulations.
01:05:14You're welcome.
01:05:18You did it, David.
01:05:20I'm so proud of y'all.
01:05:21I love y'all so much.
01:05:23You know we joined at the hip.
01:05:24Oh, absolutely.
01:05:26Congrats.
01:05:28I know, right?
01:06:11I hereby present the candidates for graduation together with all the appropriate honors,
01:06:17privileges, and responsibilities that follow.
01:06:20You may now move your taxes from right to left.
01:06:49I am in the spotlight with her.
01:06:51Do you believe that?
01:06:55A long, like, hard journey, but the people that we met along the way,
01:07:01the things that we accomplished, you know, we did three competitions together.
01:07:05You gonna cry?
01:07:08Definitely worth it.
01:07:10I am going to miss her stressing me out the most.
01:07:16I don't know if you know this, but yesterday she was stressing me out,
01:07:18today she stresses me out, the chair she was stressing me out.
01:07:22Starting to finally, you know, put those practices that we've had throughout the whole school year,
01:07:27you know, getting on that plane, actually fixing those planes,
01:07:30and, you know, seeing the planes take off and being able to say
01:07:34I worked up.
01:07:36I'm most excited that she's breaking into an industry that doesn't have a whole lot of women,
01:07:41and her, how passionate, how passionate she is about it.
01:07:45She, since she started the program, she's like, I haven't seen her so disciplined, so focused.
01:07:50And I'm most excited for her where this would take her in her future.
01:07:54Hey, what, are we?
01:07:55Woo!
01:07:56Woo!
01:07:57Woo!
01:07:57Woo!
01:07:58Woo!
01:07:59Woo!
01:07:59Woo!
01:07:59Woo!
01:08:01Woo!
01:08:01Woo!
01:08:01Woo!
01:08:13Woo!
01:08:16Woo!
01:08:16Woo!
01:08:28Woo!
01:08:29Woo!
01:08:30Woo!
01:08:30Woo!
01:08:31Woo!
01:08:33Woo!
01:08:35Woo!
01:08:41Woo!
01:08:43Woo!
01:08:46But she also wanted me to know that there's a lot more out there.
01:08:50Obviously, she wanted me to know that I don't have to do everything that a typical Mexican family household does.
01:08:58You know, I don't have to grow up in that environment because although it is lovely, there's so much more
01:09:03you can do.
01:09:10Hey, Josie, can you get the rotter?
01:09:15Yes.
01:09:16Okay, you're going to rotter me up, okay?
01:09:18Okay.
01:09:19You're called, you're called, ready for take-off.
01:09:22You're called, ready for take-off.
01:09:55Okay, let's go.
01:10:03Okay, let's go.
01:10:16Okay, let's go.
01:10:50I'm very happy.
01:10:52I'm asking my mom how I've been doing, and I would want to be able to get my pilot's license
01:10:56and then take them for a flight.
01:10:57You know, it's kind of like, thanks to you, I grew up to who I am, and I'm able to
01:11:02do this.
01:11:02I've just been really blessed with everything.
01:11:04I feel like everything was just really laid out perfectly.
01:11:17What's power to make up?
01:11:25And look over again.
01:11:26Real, real good.
01:11:28Yes, sir.
01:11:28Everything is correct.
01:11:36Stop it!
01:11:38Stop it!
01:11:39I did it!
01:11:40Look at her!
01:11:42Good job.
01:11:43Will you video me?
01:12:08I feel emotional. I don't like it.
01:12:11There's a ghost.
01:12:13No!
01:12:25Oh, it's carrying it.
01:12:27I feel emotional.
01:12:28I feel emotional.
01:12:29I feel emotional.
01:12:30I feel emotional.
01:12:31I feel emotional.
01:12:36Perfect.
01:12:37Thanks, everyone.
01:12:42Thank you, guys.
01:12:44Oh, my God.
01:12:45I know it's not.
01:12:46I don't like it.
01:12:47Oh.
01:12:49Okay.
01:12:50This is a little side.
01:12:52I'm outside over here.
01:12:54I'm looking for it.
01:12:56I'm outside.
01:12:57Okay.
01:12:59I'm going down.
01:13:00Here we go.
01:13:05Okay.
01:13:14Here we go.
01:13:15Here we go.
01:13:17Here we go.
01:13:18Here we go.
01:13:22Here we go.
01:13:29Mom, I would like to preface this, but you are on camera.
01:13:33But guess who's your newest A&P?
01:13:36Guess who?
01:13:38Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.
01:13:41I did it.
01:13:43Um, that was kind of hard.
01:13:45That was a bit difficult.
01:13:47Yeah, I'm done.
01:13:49Get done.
01:13:51She's definitely one of my biggest supporters, so I'm very glad to have her, you know.
01:13:56She definitely encourages me.
01:13:58She even, I'm teaching her my lingo right now, and last night she texted me and she was like,
01:14:04she was like, good luck on your test, I'm sending you good vibes, because I always say that all the
01:14:09time.
01:14:10So, I'm teaching her my lingo currently.
01:14:13Keeping her young.
01:14:15I am happy to be out of there, I'll tell you that.
01:14:18Yeah, that is the most stress-enduring thing I've ever experienced in my entire life.
01:14:23But it's over, and it's very rewarding.
01:14:25Now, I can say I'm an A&P, not just a power plant, now I'm an A&P.
01:14:29Oh!
01:14:29Oh, oh, oh!
01:14:30You see that?
01:14:31You see that?
01:14:33This is me.
01:14:34There's going to be another letter here added on.
01:14:37She is both, she is A and P.
01:14:40Oh!
01:14:40Oh!
01:14:41Oh, I'm relieved!
01:14:42Oh, I'm relieved!
01:14:43I can get a job anywhere now!
01:14:45Like, I went from learning about basic math and physics to now, like, learning about different
01:14:51cycles, different engines that are on planes.
01:14:53Like, I've really, I feel like I've grown a lot as a mechanic.
01:14:57Like, I went just knowing a few things about cars to, like, now I know the airplane.
01:15:02Like, I know the things that are on an airplane and where they're located at.
01:15:06Oh, what's up?
01:15:07Where are you working?
01:15:08Uh, you want to go stream on the bus, please?
01:15:10Are you really?
01:15:11I took an offer from them last week.
01:15:13You did?
01:15:13Yes!
01:15:14That's awesome.
01:15:15Awesome.
01:15:16We did it.
01:15:17We actually did it.
01:15:18Like, I, there was a point there where it was, like, working nights, being here during
01:15:22all the days.
01:15:24Like, I come in Wednesday and Thursday, get three, four hours of sleep, and then have to give
01:15:28my all while being here.
01:15:30So, I would just say that I'm, like, we made it.
01:15:33Like, we did it.
01:15:34Like, that was nothing.
01:15:36You're making me cry.
01:15:37I know.
01:15:37I'm making myself cry.
01:15:40But, yeah, I just, I think I thought then it would take me a lot longer to get to where
01:15:46I'm at now.
01:15:46Like, I did not imagine being, coming into Capstone single rated and two and a half weeks
01:15:52out of Capstone getting my last dual rating.
01:15:55Like, I did not.
01:15:56Like, I thought I would be here for months, to be honest.
01:15:58Like, I get so scared taking tests.
01:16:01I did not think out of my class that finished that I was going to do the first one.
01:16:04Like, I really did not think that.
01:16:06So, I'm like, girl, we're doing something with our lives.
01:16:10Like, we're making big money moves now, you know?
01:16:13It's, we don't, we're not sitting at the bottom forever.
01:16:15So, I think, I think that's just crazy to think about.
01:16:20I can't even say, I can't even say, I can't even say, I can't even say, I can't even say.
01:16:39Perfect.
01:16:39Good.
01:16:39How's it going?
01:16:40You look like you're doing some impressive stuff over there that I would have no idea
01:16:44what you're doing.
01:16:46I am working at Cameron Energetics.
01:16:48So, it is an aerospace company that also works, has military contracts as well as aerospace
01:16:54contracts.
01:16:54So, like NASA, Blue Origin.
01:16:55And the department that I work on is actually the electronics department.
01:17:00So, we build J-Cast, A-Cast, SCOTS, a whole bunch of testers for the military.
01:17:07And basically, if you've ever seen Top Gun, those fighter jets.
01:17:11So, our units are the things that we've built here, test all their masks, the helmets, the
01:17:18suits that they're wearing, up to the, basically all the equipment that the pilots are using.
01:17:23The thing that I like about here is, it's all electricity.
01:17:27It's all electronics.
01:17:28I am working on circuit boards.
01:17:30I'm working with wiring.
01:17:32I'm reading schematics, following procedures, making sure that everything is detailed, everything's
01:17:38the way it needs to be, and it's working at its 110%.
01:17:46So, I'll pump air into the system.
01:17:56Stop.
01:17:58So, Jisoo kind of just wraps around the legs.
01:18:01It's, make sure that the blood is circulating everywhere, as well as their vests.
01:18:08So, everything just, because they're flying at such a high altitude, that they need to make
01:18:13sure everything's just functioning and working.
01:18:17So, our Cal stands are calibrated, and we calibrate this to what that stand says, which is nice.
01:18:32So, I'll be able to see what the Cal stand says, and what the actual Jcast is reading.
01:18:39There's a unit, and that's how we also know if everything's calibrated or not, and then it just kind of
01:18:48blows up.
01:18:49You mentioned that some of your clients or the companies you work for are NASA and the military,
01:18:56which immediately makes me think that this has application for space flight, has application for military maneuvers, and what?
01:19:06Keeps the world safe because you're keeping the pilots safe.
01:19:09Yeah, we keep our pilots safe.
01:19:11Whatever it is, regardless if it's maintenance or not, as a female, go for it.
01:19:19Because people are going to say you're crazy, and people are going to say don't do it,
01:19:23and everybody's going to try to steer you maybe a different direction.
01:19:27Do it.
01:19:28It doesn't hurt to try, especially as a female, because at the end of the day, not choosing is still
01:19:37choosing.
01:19:38And so, why not just choose to do what you want to do?
01:19:41It is still more challenging, but once you're there, and once you've proven what you got, man, there's no one
01:19:51that can stop you.
01:19:52As a first generation, you know, coming from immigrant parents who struggled a lot, I'm so glad that I was
01:20:12put through this path where, you know,
01:20:14I am getting to that point where I can finally give back to my parents, and I can help them
01:20:21out, and I can provide for them.
01:20:24And soon enough, like, I'll be able to give them the life that they deserve.
01:20:29And to me, I'm so grateful for that.
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