Commercial: Into the Wild Blue: JetBlue Charts New Territory with Apprentice Mechanic Program

From their first flight in February of 2000, JetBlue Airways has been changing the way that airlines are managed and operated. Headquartered in Forest Hills, N.Y., "JetBlue is making an investment now, with an apprentice technician program, for the future of their company," said Frank Buratti, director of maintenance with JetBlue, "With a forecasted shortage of A&P technicians, this program allows us to utilize students right out of A&P school."

JetBlue’s apprentice program provides an opportunity to aircraft maintenance technicians that do not meet the minimum experience requirements for JetBlue. Anyone inside or outside of the company may apply for this program but the company prefers that people from within apply. JetBlue requires all applicants hold at least an A&P certificate, must have at least one year time in service with JetBlue and their manager’s approval. The apprentice technician is a full-time crew member and will hold their own seniority among their group and bid for schedules and paid time off separately from the full-time technicians. This allows the apprentice to be placed on various shifts without adversely affecting their operation by making sure there are always qualified technicians available. The apprentice will receive training that is identical to a technician’s training, but will not hold any qualifications until they have successfully passed the A320 line maintenance course, said JetBlue. After passing the course, the apprentice may be assigned a task that they have previously performed, as documented in their on-the-job-training logbook.

From Soup to Nuts

JetBlue’s apprentice program was set into motion last summer, and if a participant passes the apprenticeship program, the participant will be offered a full-time tech position. If the apprentice does not pass the program, employment is not guaranteed, says JetBlue. This program lasts for 18 months. With small classes of 10 technicians or less, the apprentice receives a tremendous amount of individualized instruction.

The program is broken up into three-month training segments. "For the first three months, the technician will gain valuable hangar and line maintenance experience," said Buratti. During this part of the apprenticeship, the technicians work side by side with qualified technicians, and face real-time testing, honing their skills along the way.

During the next part of the apprenticeship, the three to five month period, the apprentice attends the A320 line maintenance course, where they are entrenched in the study of the Airbus A320 systems. JetBlue even has its own designs for both hydraulic and electrical troubleshooting simulators. This really helps with problems that may be experienced at the gate and allows a technician to quickly rectify a situation.

Solid troubleshooting skills help cut down on departure delays and honing those skills is a major focus of the training. The apprentice must wait three months before taking this line course and must pass the exam with only one retest available to them. "This apprenticeship is tough for the technicians, but it is also rewarding" said Walter Kerzner, manager aircraft maintenance for JetBlue. After passing the program, the technician will receive a pay raise and will be offered a well-earned position as a full-time technician.

During the program, the technicians become well versed and familiarized with the company’s policies and procedures. After they have passed the A320 line course, in months four to six, they spend time with the material specialists while performing line maintenance alongside qualified technicians.

Working as a Team

During months six through nine, they work for a week at a time in the maintenance control center, planning/routing, engineering, quality control and quality assurance departments. While working in these other areas of the company, they learn the inner workings of the entire company and how they are networked together. This is important for the seamless operation of the company, according to JetBlue. And most importantly, they earn a great deal of respect for the other technicians and support crews that will work with them on a daily basis. This approach has contributed to the tight-knit community at JetBlue, a non-union shop.

The last nine months of their training is spent working on the line and taking various classes. "Technicians will take our in-house electrical troubleshooting course and a business course to help them understand the business aspects of the carrier," said Buratti. The business course gives the technicians insights on how money is spent in the company, shareholder expectations, and their part in the financial equation at JetBlue.

After 18 months, the apprentice may take the final test. Once they have passed this exam, the technician is offered a full-time tech position within JetBlue. If the technician decides to accept the offer, they will join the ranks of nearly 370 other JetBlue mechanics based in 11 major U.S. cities and they will help maintain a growing fleet of more than 130 aircraft.

Buratti and Kerzner, spoke with such excitement and enthusiasm about their new program and company. "JetBlue has an open-door policy and they really stand by it," Buratti said. "You can find Frank down on the floor with the techs during breaks playing foosball and chatting with his team," Kerzner said. But make no mistake about it, these apprentice technicians work hard and long hours to earn the right to maintain the company’s aircraft.

The first class of JetBlue apprentices is due to graduate in January 2008. This will add a fresh group of well-trained and enthusiastic individuals to the company. Everyone at JetBlue is excited to find out if their new apprentice program is going to work as anticipated.

Profiles

The Pleasure of Making It Happen

"I was standing on an air strip in Balad, Iraq. The war was so close I could hear rockets and mortars and smell the smoke. I was looking at that big C-17. It’s my favorite aircraft, and it was just sitting there on the runway completely crippled because of a blown main landing gear tire. Balad is one of those places where it’s safest to turn the mission around quickly, so a C-17 that can’t move is a valuable asset in jeopardy.

"Then it just hit me — how lucky I was to have the training and knowledge to get that aircraft back in the air. I knew what to do. I wasn’t just sitting back home watching world events play out on television. I was actually involved," said Staff Sergeant Tommy Lee, with the 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. SSgt. Lee is an Air Reserve Technician (ART). He works as an aircraft mechanic under Civil Service during the week and on duty weekends he serves as a member of the Air Force Reserve. This unique role that combines civil service with military service is one fulfilled by about ten percent of members of the Air Force Reserve. The continuity that this group provides makes it possible for traditional reservists to step into important jobs and perform about 20 percent of the work of the Air Force.

SSgt. Lee joined the Air Force out of high school. "Other than having pilots, I knew nothing about the Air Force. I had no idea how many people it took to get a plane in the air. I had no idea of the diversity of jobs just in aircraft maintenance — from avionics to missile and space system electronics to fuel systems to flight control — virtually every part of an aircraft has become an area of specialization.

"After four years in the Air Force, I went to Pratt and Whitney. After a while as a civilian, I realized I missed the military and wanted to be a part of the team again. By being a member of the Air Force Reserve, I can participate in something that’s very big and meaningful and still go home to my family every day.

"The Air Force Reserve is the rock of Charleston Air Force Base. Those on active duty are often deployed, and it is the Reserve that keeps the base humming. We Reservists are very proud of that.

"The Reserve offers excellent educational benefits and I take advantage of them." Educational benefits include a non-contributory Montgomery G.I. Bill and an additional tuition assistance program. It is also possible to prep for written and oral exams for FAA Air Frame or Power Plant Certificates through the Community College of the Air Force. This accredited institution can grant class credits for this work, which can lead to Associate Degrees, and it’s all free.

A mechanic has the opportunity to work on state-of-the-art aircraft in the Air Force Reserve. For instance, the C-5 Galaxy is a giant that transports large vehicles and equipment; the C-130 is so diverse it’s used by the Hurricane Hunters to fly into storm fronts, for aeromedical evacuation, to carry flame retardant to fight wildfires and to patrol the skies searching for unidentified aircraft; carrying equipment and supplies, the C-17 can take off quickly, land on sand and even back up; and soon the new F-22 that is a fighter jet with the "invisibility" of the Stealth will be added.

"If you are enthusiastic, can take pride in your ability to maintain these incredible aircraft and can develop a real affection for these beautiful machines, you should consider joining the Air Force Reserve," said SSgt. Tommy Lee, someone who enjoys going to work.