History Is Everything

I returned from my last trip to headquarters with a large and heavy box containing what I was told are all the past issues of AMT Magazine. I must admit this heavy box remained in the trunk of the car for awhile. It eventually made its way into the house and because it was near the holidays and I was in no hurry to open it for fear I would add to the clutter by having more magazines around. Ultimately I moved the box to my office and after finally opening it I soon realized what I really had was a great holiday gift. As I page through past issues it’s interesting to see the many names and faces of the previous AMT staff, article contributors, and names and faces of people in the news. Some of these same people I’ve met yet many others are new names for me. Despite the understandable younger appearance of most I’m encouraged to see many of the same names and faces still associated with the aviation industry today. The page count varies between issues and some advertisers I recognize while others I don’t. I’m sure some may no longer be in the business. My review of these past magazine issues is just beginning and it appears most of the past issues contain similar editorial content as today’s AMT issues. There are technical articles relating to aircraft, engine, and avionics technology, and others on maintenance and inspection practices. Management matters, safety, industry outlook, and regulatory compliance articles similar to today. I’m making regular time to pick up a copy, carefully page through them and yes even read many of the past articles. Some of the covers I recognize having received AMT over the years. A long-time aviation friend likes to use the phrase; History is Everything. Aviation has gone through significant changes since the first edition of AMT Magazine, yet it’s interesting to see the similarity of today’s articles and industry issues with articles from years past. How similar or different are the challenges and issues facing today’s technician and maintenance organizations? Some are huge. Which sections of AMT do you read the most? See our new AMTOnline Poll. Ron