Feb 2010 Rena H. Smith (Denver area A&P with I.A.)
Hi Everyone,
I am not a pilot (yet), but I am an A&P with I.A. Â I just wanted to say that I think this group (and others like it) are fantastic. Women in aviation are few & far between. I would like to share my kuddos to all you female pilots, I hope to join you one day. Â Most of my experience is helicopters, but I have worked on a couple of Cub’s, Citabria’s, Maules, even a Luscomb and my fav the Cessna 185.
I’m originally from California, but call Montana my true home and am now in Colorado. Â While I’m at it, if any of you ever find yourselves in the Northern Colorado/Southern Wyoming area and are in need of an A&P w/I.A, just drop me a line and I will do everything I can to help. I would love to get back into GA & airplanes. Â Keep the blue side up ladies (or not).
Take Care.
Rena H. Smith
Rena H. Smith
Posted at 07:44h, 10 MarchHello Vickie,
Well, in continuing my travels and adventures, I have taken a position overseas (again.) Currently I am working as an aviation maintenance instructor (advisor) for a company in the United Arab Emirates. I live in Dubai and work in Abu Dhabi. Adventure is stating it lightly as the fun and excitement I experience is on a daily basis (and I’m just talking about the drive back and forth to work.)
The UAE has given me an opportunity to see the world like never before. Spending most of my life in the United States and not traveling much, I had a very narrow view of other societies and cultures. This experience has given me a whole new insight.
Being in Iraq last year did the same thing but in a different way. I had spent 6 years in the military never have been deployed. I did support my husband through numerous overseas deployments (Honduras, El Salvador, Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq) but actually being there, in the war-zone, wow, I gained a whole new perspective on the dedication, commitment and perseverance our military personnel give by just doing their job.
Here in Dubai, things are much different than Iraq. No war zone (yay!), the people are very religious (Islam). If you are like some of my family, that had very similar travel experience as myself, I have found Islam to be a very loving religion. The ideals and beliefs are similar to Christianity in many ways. But that is for the individual to understand. I just know that the country is very progressive and open (in certain ways)
Dubai is expanding at every corner. The Burj Al Arab (7-star hotel), the Burj Khalifah (tallest building on Earth), the beaches and the malls and the shopping, you can experience something new every weekend, and believe me, I’m trying.
The society is very “class system” based. There are the people that build the city and those that are born here. There are definitely people who have money and those that don’t and it’s easy to tell. I see Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, BMW, Bentley, Bugatti vehicles on a daily basis, some parked right next to my Honda Accord. It’s o.k though. The UAE is providing a place to work and live and earn a decent wage for those people that may not have the opportunity otherwise. In return the country is expanding, becoming a tourism hot spot, and building a future.
There are more nationalities here than I’ve ever seen. Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Philippines, Lebanese, Syria, UK, Scotland, Ireland, U.S, we are all here, making our dreams come true, and the UAE is helping us.
The country has very different laws than the United States, it is not “Westernized”, and Dubai is more expat friendly than most.
The crime rate is next to zero, the roads are wide and expansive, the people are friendly and helpful, and it is “do-able.”
Like anything and anywhere else, it’s what you make of it. I am making the most of it. If you get a chance, check out my facebook profile. I have lots of photo albums of the UAE and areas I have explored.
Other than bragging, I am writing to let you know, that I am not able to help out with any maintenance request from members in the Northern Colorado area. Upon returning to the U.S, I will most definitely update you on my status and once again be willing to turn wrenches on those Citabrias, Maules and Cubs we all know and love.
Thanks Vicky.
Blue Skies and green pastures,
Rena
Vickie Domke
Posted at 02:27h, 17 FebruaryRena,
Great to see another female A&P who actually works on aircraft. When I started working on airplanes I thought that the female percentage of A&P’s would increase proportionally to that of the percentage increase in pilots. Not so.
Do you get the comment, “Oh, I’ve never met a women A&P!”
I hope you are able to pursue your piloting goals.
Vickie