CORPORATE PLAYBOOK

BY 1976 AIR REPAIR HAD GROWN TO A LEVEL WHERE THE component shop was no longer able to operate from the old hangar. There was a shed where the hydraulic test bench was installed. There was also a 40-foot trailer with an office that doubled up as our component shop. Meanwhile, there was trouble brewing on the personnel side with the management considering a reshuffle.

Though Paul was the acting supervisor, Bob Trimble had started considering that I would make a better supervisor. I was quite firm and told him that Paul had the experience and seniority to be the supervisor. Bob told me that my reasoning and common sense would make me a better supervisor. So reluctantly I accepted the job.

Paul was not happy at all but accepted the decision. It took him but a year to move out. He took a job overseas with Saudi Arabian Airlines and moved to Jeddah for five years. We continued to keep in touch, considering our early days together and whenever he came to town every year he would call me. Even though I thought about going to school, I was unable to do so due to the heavy overtime I had to put in at work. Those days, I used to put in 20-28 hours of overtime every week. In other words, I used to work 5-6 extra hours a day.

One time we were working non-stop for about 28 hours. I was working in the wheel well of a Wien Air Alaska airline 737-200 and fell asleep, almost falling to the ground.
There were times when some of us could be found sleeping on wire bundles with rivet guns held close to their chest, in the electronic bay. Sometimes we were not able to go home until the aircraft took off. We were all dedicated to finishing the job at hand.

The most fascinating aircraft I worked on at that time was the one owned by a Saudi Arabian prince. It was a brand new 707 with gold-plated bathtubs. The prince wanted us to install an entertainment system which was a movie projector.

When we worked on this aircraft we had to wear gloves on our hands and socks over our shoes. The strict security protocol made sure that we followed the rules as laid down by the prince.
I did what all American youngsters want to do after turning 16 when I bought my first car. This was about a year after I came to the US. It was an Opel. Beautiful red car with stripes. It was a sports coupe.

Built in 1968 with about 48,000 miles. I had taken Pastor Short, my old apartment manager to bargain but he didn't do much. I finally agreed to pay $1200.00. What I had in my hand was $200.00 which I paid as a down payment.

The balance amount was arranged through finance from Bon Marche Credit Union where I was a member. This helped me establish the mandatory credit history for me which would prove vital later on. I made monthly payments for the next 36 months.

This was the car we used to go everywhere with roommates. Three years later, I rear-ended three cars and totaled my Opel which is the American way of declaring the vehicle as unworthy of repair.

It was a sad day. After that, I bought a brand new red Datsun sedan for $3300.00. It came with a stick shift or a manual gear shift. I sold the Datsun in 1977 because my wife wanted an automatic transmission. But I am getting ahead of my story because there is a bit of a tale to tell about how I got married and how I discovered another aspect of myself that would prove to be of equal importance as my career, perhaps more so.

Read More: https://www.emalayalee.com/writer/313