Last weekend, I attended a retirement gathering for a friend with whom I attended aircraft maintenance school decades ago. Eight of us who all attended school at the same time were there. Some I hadn’t seen since, while others I see from time to time. It was great fun.
There were a few younger folks attending (not everyone was of retirement age), but in our group of eight, two were retired and well, the rest of us were of that age. Eventually many of our discussions ended with: “How many more years for you?” or “When are you pulling the plug?”
One of the guys had an interesting and appropriate response regarding the retirement discussion. Joe stated he’d supported his son through aircraft maintenance school, his son received his A&P and eventually had the opportunity to work for the same company that Joe now does. My friend concluded by saying, “Now the time has come I can think about retirement.” What a noble thing and I commend Joe for thinking that way.
Out of the eight of us, one had planned for his replacement into the aircraft maintenance profession; not very good statistics. To all of you nearing retirement age with plans of leaving the aircraft maintenance workforce, have you found, chosen, or mentored your replacement yet? I haven’t either.
Ron
