Aircraft Maintenance Technology Timeline

Nov. 25, 2014
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, here are some of the highlights throughout AMT's history

November/December 1989: First issue of Aircraft Technician appeared as a tabloid size magazine. Sections included Recip Technology, Turbine Technology, Airframe Technology, Accessories Technology, Professionalism, Staying Legal, Airworthiness Directives and Service Difficulty Reports, Industry News, Product News and Product Spotlight.

July/August 1990: Bill O’Brien’s first column: Wedged Between a Rock and a Hard Place

1991: Jim Sparks’ first article appeared; became a regular contributor in 1996

November/December 1993: Magazine renamed Aircraft Maintenance Technology

January/February 1996: AMT Exam accepted toward FAA and Transport Canada recurrency training requirements along with Aircraft Maintenance Technician Awards credit

March/April 1996: Magazine switches to a journal size

October 2000: Michelle Garetson named editor of AMT

December 2001: Michelle Garetson named editor of Ground Support, Joe Escobar promoted to editor

December 2001: Barb Zuehlke added as managing editor; was copy editor from 1989 to 1994

2002: First Technical ReSource Directory supplement

2005: AMTSociety created

June 2005: Technical Support Directory became separate issue

August 2006: Charles Taylor bust donated to Smithsonian Institute's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

2007: Thomas Hendershot hired as executive director of AMTSociety

November 2007: e-Military Product News introduced

April 2007: Former Associate Publisher Deanna Haraldson died after a courageous fight against pancreatic cancer

2008: Bill O’Brien died. His last article, Hiring Time, was published in April 2009

May 2008: Barb Zuehlke promoted to senior editor

August 2008: Nick Sergi added as director of content

December 2008: Charles Chandler started as contributing editor, later named field editor

August 2009: John Goglia adds regular column to the pages of AMT. He was a regular contributor during the ‘90s with his Violations column

February 2010: Ronald Donner hired as editor of Aircraft Maintenance Technology

October 2010: MRO Operations section added to magazine

2011: AviationPros.com portal launched

March 2012: Ronald Donner receives NATA Aviation Journalism Award

June 2012: First Aircraft Maintenance Technology App Edition

January 2013: Aeronautical Repair Station Association ARSA Outlook column added

February 2013: Tom Hendershot died

March 2013: Snap-on debutes the William O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance at AviationPros LIVE 

May 2013: Ronald Donner named Executive Director of AMTSociety

July 2013: Nick Sergi, a true advocate for the aircraft maintenance profession, died

November 2013: Ronald Donner selected as industry board member of Aviation Technician Education Council

November 2013: Jerome Greer Chandler added as contributor to AMT

January 2014: Market segments added to magazine to cover more aircraft maintenance: Airline, Business Aviation, Commercial MRO, General Aviation, Military, and Rotorcraft

January 2014: Increased AMT newsletter to a daily

January 2014: Brett Ryden named publisher of Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Airport Business, and Ground Support Worldwide

April 2014: Jamie Benthusen, NationAir Insurance, added as regular columnist

May 2014: Barb Zuehlke achieved 35-year milestone at the publishing company, Cygnus Business Media

October 2014: AMT updates logo and tagline: Management • Operations • Insight to reflect the scope of its editorial content

November/December 2014: AMT celebrates 25 years as the industry resource