Do Great Maintenance Jobs Exist? You Bet! Although our 2005 Salary Survey paints a mixed picture with worry about job security and career opportunities, there are some great jobs in the aviation maintenance business. Take a look at a few of those jobs and the lucky people that have them.

By Joy Finnegan, managing editor

Fresh from a two-week vacation to Florida including a trip to Walt Disney World, Mike Branham seems content. As maintenance manager for Wal-Mart Aviation, he has a great job that he finds challenging and enjoyable. As part of the largest corporate flight department in the U.S. with 20-plus aircraft, 80 pilots, and 42 mechanics, Branham supervises 10 to 12 people on a daily basis and is in charge of the non-destructive inspection program, the parts department, and budgeting.

Branham began his career in aviation in the military, first in the Air Force and later in the Coast Guard. He worked on many different aircraft including the KC135A, C-130, HU25A (Falcon), and HH-65A Dolphin. He received extensive NDI and composite training in the military, and that training has come in handy at his current job.

"One thing I like about Wal-Mart is they are very open to improving how we do business. I'm known for going against the grain, swimming upstream," said Branham. A colleague put it more diplomatically: "He's known for being innovative."

One of Branham's innovative ideas was to start an NDI program at Wal-Mart after looking at the amount they were spending on farming that work out. His extensive military experience and NDI training led him to the realization that training their own people and doing the NDI work themselves would be more cost effective. Since taking that in-house, he said, "we've quadrupled our savings."

Another of Branham's ideas also saved the company a bundle. "We bought a $3,000 pump so we could fill our own oxygen bottles," he said. Prior to buying the pump they were sending the bottles out to be filled when the pressure dropped below 1,500 psi, but getting charged for a whole bottle regardless of the amount remaining in the bottle. Again, in his military experience he knew there was a pump available and he knew how to persuade the right people to let him buy it. Now they are glad they did.

"A lot of companies are closed-minded about how they do things," he explained. "Before Wal-Mart, I had never worked at a company where I felt a part of the decision-making process. Other companies I worked for just shut me down. Here they encourage that." He added that it's important to be prepared to explain why a suggestion will benefit the company. If you are able to justify your suggestion, then company management will be open to trying it, especially if it means saving money. "We are always focused on the best price. We focus on everyday low cost," he said, sounding an awful lot like a Wal-Mart advertisement.

One thing the company doesn't scrimp on is training. "Wal-Mart is highly supportive of training," he said. "I got my IA [inspection authorization] a year after I got to Wal-Mart. I've never worked at a place where so many people have an IA. Half of the mechanics have their IA, and three quarters of them are level II dye penetrant and NDT certified," he said. The aviation department works closely with the aircraft manufacturers, FlightSafety, and other training companies.

There are also internal educational programs offered by the company. "We have the Sam Walton Development Center," said Branham. This educational center offers free personal development classes like supervisor school, conflict management, and almost any type of software training imaginable. "It's phenomenal," he said. "The company believes in bettering yourself, raising the bar, and reaching higher. I didn't know I would like that, but I do."

Wal-Mart also offers a full array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401K, paid holidays and vacation, and profit-sharing. The profit-sharing gets deposited into a 401K account once a year whether the employee has designated any regular pay to the 401K or not. The company estimated that in 2004 it gave back $4.1 billion in benefits to Wal-Mart employees. That number includes all benefits; insurance, 401K, profit- sharing, etc.

Although Branham loves his job, he said that family is the most important thing in his life and he enjoys spending time at Tablerock Lake with his wife of 12 years, Melissa, a Texas A & M graduate, and son, Wesley, 11. "Melissa supports and encourages me," Branham said. "I wouldn't be here without her."

When asked about his work schedule, he didn't pull any punches. "It's aviation, the hours are weird," he admitted. Branham added that Wal-Mart tries to provide a good work and life balance. "Nobody has to stay on a shift for more than a year."

The Wal-Mart Aviation department has been so supportive of Branham that they nominated him for the FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Award. "I felt Mike was a good choice because he has drive, integrity, a passion for aviation, and cares about the safety of people," said Mike Waggoner, aviation safety counselor for the department. "He's a continual learner and follows projects through to completion." To Branham's surprise, he won the national 2005 AMT of the Year Award.

Embry-Riddle Program Manager

Tom Yanus

Tom Yanus is an industry veteran since 1989 and before joining Embry-Riddle, he worked for GE Aircraft Engines and National Aviation Academy. He is currently program manager of the Charles Taylor Department of Aviation Maintenance Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Yanus moved to the university's Daytona Beach, Florida campus in 2001, starting as an adjunct professor. In his current position his wide-ranging responsibilities include scheduling courses, FAA liaison responsible for adherence to the Part 147 curriculum, accountable manager for the Part 145 engine repair station (where Embry-Riddle students overhaul engines used on the school fleet under the guidance of inspectors), and the oversight of outside revenue-generating ventures such as training initiatives with the Army and the Okaloosa County school system. In addition, Yanus teaches an occasional class to keep familiar with the technical side of aviation.

Yanus is happily situated in Daytona Beach, one of the two main Embry-Riddle campuses. He lives there with his wife Jill and daughters Emma (age six) and Sarah (age two), minutes from the beach, an hour from Walt Disney World, and close to family. "What I like about my job is the people I work with and the no-pressure, relaxed atmosphere," Yanus said. "The reason I get up in the morning looking forward to the day is our students. I feel I can get through to them." Yanus said he is reminded often of his own experience as a 17-year-old coming to Embry-Riddle and that the personal interest that the school takes in students to help them through their educational process is rewarding. "It's the best feeling knowing you've helped a student," he said.

As a company to work for Embry-Riddle is ideal, Yanus said, and although money is a factor in every business, he feels it is not the main motivation for the school. "I have never seen such an outpouring of desire to help students get the highest level of education possible," he said. "We respect the student here. It's a pervasive attitude from our department all the way to Dr. Ebbs [university president]. We have great leadership. Dean Brady [dean, College of Aviation] is very down to earth and understands our business."

"Embry-Riddle meets or exceeds [private sector companies] as a benefits provider," he said. "They offer not only health and life insurance, but also tuition reimbursement, access to all facilities on campus including a fitness center, and aircraft rentals." Embry-Riddle is dedicated to quality of life, Yanus added. "We have a display about the heritage of the university and there is a quote there that says `All work and no play--it's not the Embry-Riddle way.' It may have something to do with the Florida climate." To help employees take advantage of the Florida lifestyle, the university is generous with and encourages personal leave.

As for the area of compensation, Yanus said the university always tries to keep up with colleges in the area with competitive salary, benefits, and personal leave. "I think you will find that the people that work at Embry-Riddle want to be there. They want to be educators."

Yanus, with the university's support, is active in a number of professional and charitable organizations, including PAMA, NATA, and the United Way. "I feel privileged to represent Embry-Riddle in Washington, D.C. I'm proud to wear the Embry-Riddle colors into the industry," he said and added, "I believe I owe something to Embry-Riddle. They made me the professional that I am."

Midcoast Aviation's Senior Manager-Completion Sales, Roxanne Hilboldt

Roxanne Hilboldt is the first person at Midcoast Aviation to be named a senior manager. Her job is senior manager for completion sales, a position that she has had since 2004. Hilboldt worked her way up the ranks starting as the only female A&P mechanic on the Midcoast floor at the time she was hired. "I started out in the sheetmetal shop, bending metal and pounding rivets," she recalled. One of the best things about working for Midcoast, she added, is that the company encourages employees to improve and advance their careers. "They don't hold you back," she said. "I've wanted to experience different jobs, and they have allowed me to do that."

Hilboldt's extensive first-hand knowledge of the maintenance environment contributes to her success in completions sales. Knowing how long a job will take and being able to factor that into the quote is key. Midcoast works closely with Bombardier. "We do the avionics, interiors, and paint on Challenger 604s and Global 5000s," she said.

As a preferred completions center, Midcoast offers the operator highly-customized completion options, design and installation flexibility, plus expedited delivery. Customized interiors can slow down an OEM completions line. "When a customer wants his aircraft to look just like his yacht, with wood floors, wood paneling, lots of inlay in the galley, and to move the floorplan around, we can do that," said Hilboldt.

"I've helped streamline the bidding process by implementing standard pricing and options that assist in the bidding process," she said. Hilboldt has also had to travel extensively to see customers who can't make it to St. Louis for writing specifications. She has traveled to South Africa, Malaysia, Germany, Canada, and all over the U.S. That part of the job can be both fun and exhausting, Hilboldt added.

Midcoast offers great benefits including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, 401K with company-matching, paid vacation, and tuition reimbursement.

Midcoast has grown rapidly in recent years. "We've gone through a lot of change," said Hilboldt, who is in her twenty-third year with the company. "Midcoast has a core group of people that are dedicated, willing to change, and have vision. They want to see the company succeed," she said. "Midcoast is a large company, but like family," she concluded.