In response to Howard Fuller's guest commentary "A step above A&P Mechanic" (Aviation Maintenance April 2005): I wholeheartedly support the advanced recognition of A&Ps through the proposed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Certificate. I served a five-year apprenticeship in Aircraft Engineering with New Zealand National Airways, (now called Air New Zealand) in a past life, and for my trouble, I was given a certificate that stated I was a fully qualified aircraft engineer. As a result of attending the required night school trade classes, I was also awarded an advanced trade certificate in aircraft engineering. Until I moved to the U.S. in 1976, I thought this was the norm for the aviation industry. As aircraft engineers, we were accorded a lot more respect than I have sometimes encountered in my 29 years in the US.

While I realize there are significant differences in both countries' licensing systems, I think that it is time aircraft mechanics were recognized for what they truly do in our industry. I have never had a problem with being called an aircraft mechanic, but I do have a problem with the fact that the FAA and other government labor organizations denote our profession as semi-skilled labor. This is simply inaccurate and wrong.

In addition, I feel the new proposed certification will give A&Ps something else to aspire to, other than the Inspection Authorization, which I feel is a dinosaur in itself. Several of my technicians have become FlightSafety International Master Technicians on our aircraft, and while this is an admirable attainment and I am very proud of them, I feel it doesn't carry the weight of any formal qualification. All it means is that they attended the schools, maintained a 90 percent or better pass mark, and that our company was willing to pay for them to do it.

I agree with the proposal to join PAMA and push for this certifcation with your local congressman. You can count on me to do just that. As a group, we have been too complacent in letting others decide what is best for us, and not speaking out for ourselves. In doing so, we have let our credibility and the public perception of us slide.

John W. Gibson

A&P, IA, F/E, AME (NZ)

Is everyone in the maintenance industry willing to work together on this? Let us know what you think. -- Matt Thurber, editor

Who was the Author of the Mechanic's Creed?

In the March issue of Aviation Maintenance you ran a copy of the Aviation Mechanic's Creed and attributed it to Mr. Jerry Lederer. Could you give me some background on this? I have always been told that the quote's author was unknown. I would also like to know when it was first used.

Kent De Santis

A&P Program Director

Westwood College of

Aviation Technology

Thanks so much for writing and inquiring about the attribution of the Mechanic's Creed to Jerome Lederer. The piece was written by Jerome Lederer in 1941. Mr. Lederer was a leading-edge activist for aviation safety for many years and founder of the Flight Safety Foundation. The piece was, in the past, either attributed to anonymous or to the Flight Safety Foundation. A couple of years prior to his death, Mr. Lederer, in a conversation with PAMA president Brian Finnegan, admitted that he had written the creed back in 1941. This is also documented in the Flight Safety Digest August/September 2002 issue, page 48. That issue is completely devoted to a biography of Mr. Lederer on the occasion of his 100th birthday. His life's work in aviation safety is an inspiring read. -- Joy Finnegan, managing editor