Avionics News October 2015 - 39

What takes place in
this Airbus facility?
Although we are part of the big
Airbus Group, here in our facility we are
50-plus employees in Mobile, Alabama.
The support for Airbus DS Military
Aircraft in the U.S. started in 1984
in Chantilly, Virginia, which provided
technical support, spare parts, technical publications and training. The office
was moved to Mobile in 2005, with only
four people. Now, 10 years later, we're
50-plus employees with a Part 145 and
EASA-145 repair station without any
limitations. We have an inventory of
spare parts of more than $14 million.
Our component repair shop performs
overhaul, testing and repair of hydraulic
systems, landing gears, avionics components, structural repairs and painting.
The engineering group provides repair,
troubleshooting, installation and modification of avionics systems, systems
design and integration, data approval
and STC support. We are fully integrated
with Airbus Defense and Space engineering in Spain and have access to the
same publications as them.
Were you into electronics
as a young boy?
I was always interested in engineering since I was a kid. When I was in
Nebraska going to school, I started
working for Metro TV & Audio Tech,
working on consumer electronics - TVs,
DVD players, camcorders, microwaves
and toasters. My interest started to go
into the electrical field. As a kid, I was

always interested and fascinated by
airplanes just like any other kid. When
I earned my degree, I was offered a job
with Duncan Aviation, and that is how
my dream came true by accident -
aviation picked me; I didn't pick it.
What's one of your
current projects?
One of the projects I'm working on is a
refurbishment program. We take retired
aircraft or aged aircraft and modernize
it with a new avionics package including
full glass-cockpit installation and flight
management systems. We install new
navs, comms, and an audio management
system, modify all internal and external
lighting to LED type and take all AC electrical systems out and make the airplane
a DC-operated aircraft.
What are you doing when
you're not working?
I am working on my master's degree
from the University of Alabama in
electrical engineering. I will graduate
this December so it takes most of my
free time. When I'm not working or
studying, I go to the beach. I like working out, hanging out with friends and
travel. I also like to listen to my wife
and take her shopping or do whatever
she tells me to do for fun.
Tell me about your wife.
Her name is Arian. Other people talk
about their better half, but for me she
is the whole thing, not just half. If I am
any better man, it's all because of her.

She finished school at the University
of Alabama with a bachelor's degree
in nursing, and now she is working as
a labor and delivery nurse for the USA
Children's & Women's hospital.
What was it like to return to
school while working?
I have a whole new perspective and
a different way of looking at school
now. I did well in school in my undergrad days, but things make a lot more
sense now going to school. I recommend younger engineers or undergrads not go straight into a master's
program. I think they'd find it very
advantageous if they work a few years
and then go back to school. They will
see school from a whole new angle or
viewpoint instead of just reading the
books and becoming book smart. This
will give them field experience, which
has been working for me.
What about your future?
I will get my master's degree in
December. By the end of the year, I'll be
applying for company DER and move
into the certification world a little bit. I
see myself in Mobile in the near future.
Airbus makes it difficult to want to
move. It would be tough for any other
company to match the benefits, not just
financially, but with the overall experience of working for Airbus. q
To learn more about Airbus Defense
and Space Military Aircraft, visit
militaryaircraftna-airbusds.com.
avionics news

october

2015

http://www.militaryaircraftna-airbusds.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News October 2015