World War II was raging in Europe when Azriel Blackman began his apprenticeship at the age of 16. In 1942 he graduated from Aviation High School in Manhattan. American Export Airlines gave him a job.
Back then, the slender young man earned 50 cents an hour in the sheet metal workshop of the forerunner of American Airlines. And today, 80 years later, Blackman shows up for work five days a week. “For me, it’s more of a hobby that I’m lucky enough to be paid for,” said the 96-year-old on his 75th anniversary.
It’s not easy to say that he likes to work. Actually, Blackman’s work start time would have been 5 a.m. for years. But he regularly shows up at 3 a.m. in the American Airlines hangar at New York’s JFK Airport.
Blackman holds the Guinness World Record for longest career as an airline mechanic, with 80 years of service. Even if he is no longer allowed to do all the work that he used to do.
Blackman is no longer allowed to climb ladders, drive a car at the airport or even use tools because of his advanced age. Crew chief is his official job title. In this position, he reviews papers that show what work has been done and what needs to be done.
He then uses his notes to walk the airline’s JFK-based planes. Several times a day he sees a huge portrait of himself on the wall in the hangar that was made on the occasion of his 75th service anniversary.
Due to the strict safety requirements of the aviation authority FAA, Blackman’s work must always be checked by his co-boss. This has been the case for many years. If he was upset about it at first, he now understands it, as he tells the New York Times newspaper. “I don’t think it would be sensible for me to go back to doing all the old work.”
During his career, Blackman has witnessed aviation’s journey into the jet age. When he started, he was responsible for the maintenance of the legendary Clipper flying boats that were then used on transatlantic routes. By the time American Airlines brought the Boeing 747 into service, he had been with the airline for a quarter of a century.
By the way, the airline is really grateful to him for his services. For the 75th anniversary, American Airlines dedicated a Boeing 777 to him, which was christened in his name. On the plane was a plaque recognizing Blackman’s services.
Even though he no longer picks up tools, Blackman represents the history of the company, said Robert L. Crandall, American Airlines president from 1980 to 1998. He represents a kind of institutional reminder: “That’s how we do it here at American, that’s how important quality is to us.” Blackman passes all of this on to the next generations.
This article was written by Laura Frommberg
The original of this article “Mechanic has worked for American Airlines for 80 years” comes from aeroTelegraph.
