Howdy, everyone!
From time to time, I go on the road for work. Sometimes it is to actually work airplanes, sometimes it is for trade shows, and sometimes it is for training. This road trip is for the latter two, and I managed to fit in some sightseeing and visiting while I'm travelling. More on that in a minute…
The Story of The Old Guy
Last week, as I was getting done with the last tests of an air data computer that had been exchanged, I came to a stark realization. Back when I first got out of school and was as helpless as a newborn kitten, I learned the bulk of my trade by doing. And, of course, the first time you get thrown out on the hangar floor and told, "There it is kid, have at it", you start thinking you may have just bitten off more than you can chew. Everything you do takes too long, or isn't working like they told you it should in school, or you screw it up. In my case, I was patient to a point, but got frustrated very quickly–the frustration killed my focus on the job. The frustration coupled with some of the Old Guys on the floor made it worse for me–I'm an introvert, and don't like being criticized in front of God and everyone, all it does is make me even more frustrated. So, invariably when I was on a task new to me, I'd get frustrated and lose my cool.
Usually, what they do next is to send the Old Guy out there to help you, since he usually has been at it longer than anyone else, knows the most, and can fix anything with a small screwdriver and a tie wrap. As you get to work with the Old Guy, you wonder if you'll ever have the same knowledge and abilities as he does–and if you ever do know that much, you wonder where you're going to learn it. See, back in the day, a lot of the Old Guys didn't want to share what they knew. What they knew was their job security. If they let you know what they knew, they lose that job security of being the only guy in the shop who can do that particular task or group of tasks. Personally, I don't subscribe to that train of through for a few reasons–one, I don't want to be 60 years old, fat and arthritic, and crawling around on airplanes. Second, the more people in the organization who know how a certain task is done gives that organization flexibility. If both my technicians can do all the tasks I can, we don't have to rely on one guy to do this and the other guy to do that.
Anyway, I did what everyone has done in the past–I found a guy who was older than I was, but younger than the Old Guy was, tagged along with him, listened, and learned. There was a lot of trial an error, there were times that nothing made sense, there were times that it was frustrating as hell. It came to me, though, slowly. That's why, last week during that seemingly inconsequential air data test, that I realized that I have become the Old Guy in the shop. My guys, though older than I am, come to me for answers to questions that crop up on the airplanes we work. They haven't had as much corporate jet experience as I've had, so they come to me for the answers. And I have learned over the years, too, how to deal with frustration. I no longer allow the airplane to fluster me. Which is good…
Certain tasks that used to fill me with dread are child's play. I no longer have trouble diagnosing pitot-static system or autopilot system problems. Part of it was learned via the sink-or-swim method, part of it through the immersion method, and part of it was through a few good, learned people (other old guys) who weren't afraid to answer my stupid questions or tell me where I went astray. There's a lot to be said for schools, but there's even more merit in the apprentice system. I wish it were better organized in the avionics industry, because it is alive and well…and working.
I went back to my city, and my city was gone…
Do you recall my two-part post where I gave you a tour around Daytona Beach? Well, forget most of what you read…
I stayed in Daytona last night on my way to my training/trade session. I had some time late in the afternoon, so I took a drive. I first took a drive around what the signs say is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I recognized three buildings. Out of about two dozen. I could barely navigate the campus. Nothing was the same as it was thirty-some years ago except the University Center and two original dorms–at least that I could see. I know time marches on, and progress needs to be made, but as I drove around campus, I began to recollect those six years I spent there and was again made pain fully aware than I am, officially, The Old Guy.
Then I took a ride around town. The Speedway is in the closing stages of their renovation and the completion of the Daytona Rising project–the whole look of the speedway from U.S. 92 is completely different. The Holiday Inn (later Ramada Inn) across from Turn 4 is gone–replaced by a Bahama Breeze, IHoP, Olive Garden, and Cheddar's. I wondered about that, because the Olive Garden is next to the Hampton Inn…er, was next to the Hampton. That property is under construction–the sign says a Houligan's is moving in.
The look of Beach Street hasn't changed, but the shops out there sure have. Dunn Hardware and Dunn Toys and Hobbies are long gone, but so are some of the older Mom and Pop shops, too. Stavro's Pizza is still hanging in there, though…
Another Daytona Beach constant is still hanging in there, too–the Streamline Hotel, long little more than a flophouse, is being renovated and restored as is fitting the birthplace of NA$CAR. I was glad to see they hadn't plowed the old place down in the name of progress.
The rest of the beachfront is depressing–it is becoming more and more another coastal concrete canyon, much the same as Miami Beach. But I did stop in at the Oyster Pub for supper–much the same as I remember it, I must say, and well worth the visit. That is one of two watering holes from back in the day (Razzle's being the other, fans!) still open and looking much as they did back in the day.
Without family, what do you have?
I got a chance to spend a few hours with my brother and sister-in-law this afternoon on my way through O-Town on my way to Tampa. I hadn't seen either one on a year, and wish I had a few days to spend catching up with them. Alas, I had to get on down the road, but we will have to get together again soon…
Planning for both the 2016 AMPS International Convention and the 2016 IPMS/USA National Convention is going smoothly. Both shows will be First Rate, and I hope to see you all at one or both. I'm the seminars coordinator for the IPMS Show, and I do believe you'll like the slate of speakers we've put together. If you are interested in hosting a Seminar for either show, please contact me through the Seminars link on the 2016 IPMS/USA Nationals site.
With the Big Shows coming up quickly, you need to get your models ready…
Thanks for reading. Be good to one another, and, as always, I bid you Peace.