Essential Question:

How would I construct a Jet?

I selected this question because honestly I have no knowledge behind how to construct a Jet. This research would allow me to learn new facts about this area I previously did not know. This question ultimately excites me because I want to fly Jets one day, and maybe even work on Jets one day. The answer would intrigue me as to all the steps it takes to build such a complex machine, and how the steps progress to make the complete aircraft. This question definitely fits me because I love air planes, and want to glean as much information as possible. I also believe this question is right for me because this project will be fun rather than just another school project we get for a grade, but we all get to look in depth to the career interest we all desire!

11/10 blog post

I have been interning at Lanier Flight Center for three months now, and couldn't be more interested in my career! My dream career is to become an Air Force pilot, but you have to know what you are flying prior to learning to fly the aircraft. I have gained endless knowledge from the men I have been working with in these three months. They have shared their knowledge with me, and I have put it to use while working on the aircraft. I work tuesdays and thursdays for four hours each at my internship. I usually follow one of the guys in the shop around helping them with their tasks such as changing the oil, taking compressions on the cylinders, taking the prop off, etc. It never slows down in the shop, so there is always something to learn on aviation! In high school I took a physical science class where we performed many experiments to learn both physics and chemistry! Those experiments helped me in this mentorship because you used tools and outside the box thinking to resolve problems or obtain data. You also use these kind of skills to work maintenance on these complex aircraft.

10/13 assignment

When I am doing what I love, working around airplanes, I see no boring parts to the internship, but there are slow days when we do not have planes to do any work on. There are always areas you can learn in the maintenance arena. Whether it involves stocking the shelves with new supplies, putting inventory into the system, cleaning the oil, or taking the trash out, you still learn how to do all these things through the slow days at the office. You have to know it all, so learning all the aspects of maintenance comes in handy when straightening up.

Social Intelligence

Through reading this article, The First Soft Skill To Develop In Students, you gain the knowledge of what someone is looking for in a first impression meeting. This article also provides you with the definition of social intelligence, and how this can improve relationships with others in the workplace. When you are mentoring somewhere, there are always jobs that you do not like to do, but you are there to work and learn. You may perceive the "dirty work" as punishment from your mentor and have a bad attitude about it, but he can pick this attitude up. We will all face this challenge, but we have to stay positive and willing to do the work. Social intelligence can make or break a working relationship with anyone. It is defined as the ability to negotiate or talk with other co-workers in the work place to solve problems. If you do not with hold this trait a work environment will be very hard dealing for the rest of your life. Your relationships with other workers will be much stronger, and you will be more willing to ask questions about the project you were assigned. The main thing that spoke to me in this article is social intelligence. If you have a problem working on something in the workplace, all of you can bring your ideas together to solve the problem working together. Teamwork is a key term when on the job with others. You can read this article by clicking this link http://growingleaders.com/blog/first-blog-soft-skill-develop-students/

Profile

My name is Josh. I am a senior at North Hall High School, and I have been involved in our baseball program for a total of five years including my senior year. I am likely to attend college playing baseball, so I can continue to play the game I love. I am looking to attend either the United States Air Force Academy or the United States Coast Guard Academy. If I attend one of these schools, I will look to major in mechanical engineering, systems engineering or aeronautical engineering. I will use one of these majors to enroll into flight school post graduation of the academy. Once I have finished flight school on whatever I can get my hands on, I would like to stay in the Air Force for twenty years. Once I retire, I would like to go into the commercial business of flying for Delta, Southwest, American Airlines, etc.

            I gained my internship through a program my county offers to all the schools. We entered an application and went through an interview to be selected for this program. To be selected for this program we had to know what we want to do post high school, and delve into the profession we desire. I have chosen to go in depth with aviation. I am interning at Lanier Flight Center in Gainesville, GA. I am working in the maintenance hangar with four other men on aircraft the company owns or any other plane an owner wants work done on. I have replaced an engine, replaced wheel bearings, take out the interior of the aircraft, take off the wing panels, replaced the oil in an engine, etc.

            

Week 10/6

Through my internship I have done mainly maintenance on aircraft owned by Lanier Flight Center. I am interested in becoming a pilot, however, through working maintenance on these aircraft I have gained interest in mechanics. They have flexible hours, work on planes and get paid well. Mechanics has become an interest in a career. They are always overloaded with work to perform on aircraft needing maintenance, so through my help I am lowering the amount of work they have to perform. I have worked hard to learn more knowledge everyday, and complete the tasks they ask me to complete 100% thorough. 

Aspirations of becoming a Pilot

From interning at the airport, there are many factors to come into consideration. You have to become aware of the protocol, hierarchy and communication among the team running the flight center.  I have worked in the maintenance section of the flight center, and keeping a paper copy of everything we do on a plane is key to the protocol of maintenance. Everything we take off or put on the plane must be written down on an order form, so we can keep a paper trail in case a customer has a question about the maintenance his plane underwent. The hierarchy pertains to the employees in charge, and how the power goes down in order. With the maintenance the man in charge can be given to Paul Kyst. Paul overlooks Wes, Dave and Jon, and these are the main guys that I mentor with. When we are trying to clear something to being done we all ask Paul, and when I am asking a question I can ask any of them. Our communication becomes key when there are many things we have to perform on an aircraft. With the communication among us five we can split the task of the aircraft, and use teamwork to finish the project much quicker. How you dress can change the first impression someone may have about you. I dress in gym clothes and a t-shirt or jeans and a t-shirt because we get dirty, and I think this impacts my interaction with the owner of the flight center. He is dressed very professionally, and I am not. I feel as though he thinks less of me, but this is the clothing I am required to wear. However, I have been able to gain close relationships with the men I am working with in maintenance. With the skills I already obtained, I feel as though my impression has come across as a well-rounded young man who has aspirations, and he is chasing these dreams.