(gentle guitar music)
(gentle guitar music)

- Good day, students.
- Good day, students.

Welcome to our Flight Standards panel.
Welcome to our Flight Standards panel.

My name is Mahanand Manbahal.
My name is Mahanand Manbahal.

Everyone calls me Manny.
Everyone calls me Manny.

I work for the Federal Aviation Administration
I work for the Federal Aviation Administration

as an aviation safety inspector,
as an aviation safety inspector,

otherwise known as an ASI.
otherwise known as an ASI.

Many of you may not know what we do or that we even exist,
Many of you may not know what we do or that we even exist,

but we play a key role in the safety of national air space.
but we play a key role in the safety of national air space.

My primary responsibility as an ASI is to make sure
My primary responsibility as an ASI is to make sure

that the repairs being accomplished
that the repairs being accomplished

on the aircraft are compliant with the federal regulations.
on the aircraft are compliant with the federal regulations.

I accomplish physical inspections of planes
I accomplish physical inspections of planes

as well as maintenance records
as well as maintenance records

to make sure that they are safe in flight.
to make sure that they are safe in flight.

I also accomplish flight inspections
I also accomplish flight inspections

where I monitor the flight crew
where I monitor the flight crew

during the performance of their duties.
during the performance of their duties.

I grew up in New York City and was afforded an opportunity
I grew up in New York City and was afforded an opportunity

to attend Aviation High School,
to attend Aviation High School,

which is a public high school
which is a public high school

that taught kids how to fix airplanes.
that taught kids how to fix airplanes.

This is where my love for aviation began.
This is where my love for aviation began.

At 14 years old, I was being taught how to fix airplanes,
At 14 years old, I was being taught how to fix airplanes,

how to weld, do repairs on electrical systems,
how to weld, do repairs on electrical systems,

and build basic aircraft structures.
and build basic aircraft structures.

It was amazing, and it was the beginning
It was amazing, and it was the beginning

of my love for this industry.
of my love for this industry.

To meet the requirements that the FAA has
To meet the requirements that the FAA has

to become a licensed aircraft mechanic,
to become a licensed aircraft mechanic,

man, I had to have long days at school
man, I had to have long days at school

and lots of hard work,
and lots of hard work,

but it was all worth it in the end.
but it was all worth it in the end.

I've had many different positions
I've had many different positions

during my career in aviation,
during my career in aviation,

but none more rewarding than that of being an ASI.
but none more rewarding than that of being an ASI.

I encourage you all to never give up.
I encourage you all to never give up.

Do anything that you set your minds to.
Do anything that you set your minds to.

Study hard, work hard,
Study hard, work hard,

and keep striving to be the best that you can.
and keep striving to be the best that you can.

This will lead you to be successful in life
This will lead you to be successful in life

and in any career path that you choose.
and in any career path that you choose.

I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors.
I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors.

Just remember that our job at the FFA is safety.
Just remember that our job at the FFA is safety.

Now I'd like to do to introduce you to Dante,
Now I'd like to do to introduce you to Dante,

another ASI at the FAA.
another ASI at the FAA.

- Thanks, Manny.
- Thanks, Manny.

And my name's Dante Fontenot, and I'm an ASI as well,
And my name's Dante Fontenot, and I'm an ASI as well,

specialized in rotorcraft,
specialized in rotorcraft,

or helicopters they're better known as.
or helicopters they're better known as.

I had a successful career in the military
I had a successful career in the military

and then onto the FAA,
and then onto the FAA,

where I've been with the FAA for about seven years now.
where I've been with the FAA for about seven years now.

I'm that kid that always wanted to fly,
I'm that kid that always wanted to fly,

whether it was a helicopter or an airplane.
whether it was a helicopter or an airplane.

I was always looking at the sky,
I was always looking at the sky,

looking to take on that challenge.
looking to take on that challenge.

My job now that I do with the FAA
My job now that I do with the FAA

is I oversee the inspection
is I oversee the inspection

of the helipads that allow the HAA operators,
of the helipads that allow the HAA operators,

or the hospitals, and their flight procedures
or the hospitals, and their flight procedures

that get them in and out of the hospitals.
that get them in and out of the hospitals.

So we're trying to keep the airspace safe for everyone
So we're trying to keep the airspace safe for everyone

as they travel in and out of these hospital helipads.
as they travel in and out of these hospital helipads.

There's a lot of opportunity in aviation.
There's a lot of opportunity in aviation.

A lot of the older guys, the mechanics and pilots,
A lot of the older guys, the mechanics and pilots,

they're starting to retire now.
they're starting to retire now.

So there's a lot of opportunity
So there's a lot of opportunity

for you young folks that have the aviation passion
for you young folks that have the aviation passion

to be able to get involved
to be able to get involved

and set your heights on bigger things.
and set your heights on bigger things.

So I'm gonna hand it over to Martha
So I'm gonna hand it over to Martha

and to give you her perspective on aviation careers.
and to give you her perspective on aviation careers.

- Hi there, my name is Martha Parish.
- Hi there, my name is Martha Parish.

I am also an aviation safety inspector
I am also an aviation safety inspector

with an operation specialty for the FAA.
with an operation specialty for the FAA.

I started my all-civilian career as a flight instructor
I started my all-civilian career as a flight instructor

for a college in New Hampshire 30 years ago.
for a college in New Hampshire 30 years ago.

My career trajectory has taken me all over the world,
My career trajectory has taken me all over the world,

including China.
including China.

I have more than 10,000 flight hours
I have more than 10,000 flight hours

in more than 25 different aircraft, hold six type ratings,
in more than 25 different aircraft, hold six type ratings,

certificated in gliders and sea planes.
certificated in gliders and sea planes.

As a current aircraft owner, I have the ability to fly when
As a current aircraft owner, I have the ability to fly when

and where I choose from my local airport.
and where I choose from my local airport.

My career is still in its upward trajectory
My career is still in its upward trajectory

for gaining more great experiences and more opportunities.
for gaining more great experiences and more opportunities.

I flew Boeing 737s for US Airways up until just before 9/11,
I flew Boeing 737s for US Airways up until just before 9/11,

when many of us in the industry lost our jobs.
when many of us in the industry lost our jobs.

I've worked as a veterinarian tech and drove a snowplow
I've worked as a veterinarian tech and drove a snowplow

before getting a job flying a corporate jet,
before getting a job flying a corporate jet,

then came to the FAA over 18 years ago.
then came to the FAA over 18 years ago.

I flew out of Atlantic City
I flew out of Atlantic City

as a flight inspection pilot for the FAA.
as a flight inspection pilot for the FAA.

Then I came to headquarters
Then I came to headquarters

in the flight technologies and procedures division.
in the flight technologies and procedures division.

Currently I work on regulations, writing policy,
Currently I work on regulations, writing policy,

and validating air carriers for special areas of operations
and validating air carriers for special areas of operations

and grant them authorizations for them to fly
and grant them authorizations for them to fly

to other countries and all over the world.
to other countries and all over the world.

The opportunities in an aviation career are limitless.
The opportunities in an aviation career are limitless.

The more you explore, the more different types
The more you explore, the more different types

of great fun, exciting jobs are out there
of great fun, exciting jobs are out there

to see if they interest you.
to see if they interest you.

It's okay to not know what you wanna do when you grow up.
It's okay to not know what you wanna do when you grow up.

I still don't.
I still don't.

Just explore all you can.
Just explore all you can.

Don't hesitate to speak
Don't hesitate to speak

with people who are in jobs that you think interest you.
with people who are in jobs that you think interest you.

There are many jobs out there that don't feel like jobs
There are many jobs out there that don't feel like jobs

because it's something you're passionate about.
because it's something you're passionate about.

I found many.
I found many.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of the fair.
Thank you and enjoy the rest of the fair.

And now I'll turn it over
And now I'll turn it over

to another aviation safety inspector, Jennifer.
to another aviation safety inspector, Jennifer.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

My name's Jennifer Curry, and as Martha said,
My name's Jennifer Curry, and as Martha said,

I'm an aviation safety inspector as well.
I'm an aviation safety inspector as well.

My specialty is cabin safety.
My specialty is cabin safety.

So when you think about cabin safety, what does that mean?
So when you think about cabin safety, what does that mean?

Well, think of the flight attendants
Well, think of the flight attendants

when you're onboard the aircraft
when you're onboard the aircraft

who are telling you to fasten your seatbelts.
who are telling you to fasten your seatbelts.

In addition to that,
In addition to that,

we do everything from telling passengers
we do everything from telling passengers

about how to safely carry your favorite pet
about how to safely carry your favorite pet

or carry-on bags
or carry-on bags

or to fasten your seatbelt and things like that.
or to fasten your seatbelt and things like that.

So I began my career as a flight attendant,
So I began my career as a flight attendant,

and I worked for three airlines prior to joining the FAA.
and I worked for three airlines prior to joining the FAA.

When I was in college, one of the upper-class students,
When I was in college, one of the upper-class students,

who I really looked up to
who I really looked up to

and who actually was going to school for law enforcement,
and who actually was going to school for law enforcement,

joined Pan Am as a flight attendant.
joined Pan Am as a flight attendant.

And she came back and spoke to our class.
And she came back and spoke to our class.

And I knew that that was something
And I knew that that was something

that I was really excited about.
that I was really excited about.

So like I said, I went to work for the airlines
So like I said, I went to work for the airlines

as a flight attendant and held various responsibilities.
as a flight attendant and held various responsibilities.

While a flight attendant,
While a flight attendant,

and actually while working in the training department,
and actually while working in the training department,

a cabin safety inspector came to observe one
a cabin safety inspector came to observe one

of our training classes.
of our training classes.

And that's when I really was first introduced
And that's when I really was first introduced

to the FAA position and started getting an interest
to the FAA position and started getting an interest

in wanting to do more things outside
in wanting to do more things outside

of working for an airline.
of working for an airline.

So I joined the FAA six years ago,
So I joined the FAA six years ago,

and since that time, some of the things that we work
and since that time, some of the things that we work

on here are certification of new aircraft.
on here are certification of new aircraft.

Right now, I'm working with two carriers
Right now, I'm working with two carriers

on certifying new aircraft.
on certifying new aircraft.

That involves things like training the flight attendants
That involves things like training the flight attendants

on how to successfully evacuate a aircraft.
on how to successfully evacuate a aircraft.

And one thing that's really fun
And one thing that's really fun

that a lot of people don't realize is that
that a lot of people don't realize is that

as you go through this training,
as you go through this training,

you have to slide down an evacuation slide.
you have to slide down an evacuation slide.

I think for most people who become flight attendants,
I think for most people who become flight attendants,

that really is the highlight of their career
that really is the highlight of their career

because it's a one-time exercise
because it's a one-time exercise

that you have to get involved in.
that you have to get involved in.

As my colleagues have spoken about already,
As my colleagues have spoken about already,

becoming an aviation inspector involves a lot of work,
becoming an aviation inspector involves a lot of work,

a lot of dedication,
a lot of dedication,

but it also means that at times when you apply,
but it also means that at times when you apply,

you might first be told no.
you might first be told no.

I was told eight times
I was told eight times

before I actually got hired with the FAA.
before I actually got hired with the FAA.

So I really wanna encourage you that if this is something
So I really wanna encourage you that if this is something

that you wanna do, to never give up your dream.
that you wanna do, to never give up your dream.

Keep pursuing it.
Keep pursuing it.

Keep learning more.
Keep learning more.

Keep building on your experience.
Keep building on your experience.

And eventually, you will hit the mark
And eventually, you will hit the mark

and get to the goal that you want in terms of your life.
and get to the goal that you want in terms of your life.

We're really excited that you stopped by today,
We're really excited that you stopped by today,

and we hope that you'll come by our virtual booth
and we hope that you'll come by our virtual booth

to learn more about careers in aviation
to learn more about careers in aviation

but specifically how you can join the FAA.
but specifically how you can join the FAA.

Thank you and have a great day.
Thank you and have a great day.