The Lost Art Of the Skilled Trades · 2026-07-14 · 25 min
Aviation maintenance technician Brianna De Armond breaks down what it really takes to become an aircraft mechanic - and why one signature on the paperwork can define an entire career. Brianna is a student in the Aviation Maintenance Technician program at San Bernardino Valley College and a competitor at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC). In this episode, she shares the moment she realized aircraft maintenance is as much about reading manuals and ATA codes as it is about turning wrenches - and what it feels like to sign off on a plane carrying a couple hundred people, knowing your name is the only one on that paper. She also opens up about growing up around the trades with her welding-and-HVAC dad, the classmate-turned-mentor who talked her into pursuing her pilot's license, and what it's actually like to be one of a small percentage of women in aircraft maintenance - including the harassment many women face and what real support on the shop floor looks like.
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