Mostly installation of wiring harnesses in the Wing-box and belly fairing of the Cessna Latitude aircraft on the Final Line.It was a good job, but I have to say it could have been a lot better. My step-son has been working at Cessna for some time now, and tells me that the negatives I experienced in this job aren't universal at Textron. One of these problems was finding even common hardware. There was a gigantic Excel program file on the computers that was supposed to give all the plant locations for any given part. (There were parts bins scattered throughout the plant...) I had a list of eight to ten items that were missing from the kit I was working with, and looked up all the part numbers and the supposed locations and went looking for them. After searching for half a shift, I found three of them. seriously... The other problem was that there were certain people working there who, though they weren't in any sense in a management or leadership position, (at least officially) they disrupted at least some part(s) of nearly every day by trying to boss people around. I had to deal with one of these people frequently who went into a tyrade whenever I had the gall to go under a plane, (even for a moment that I chose to avoid her...) in order to apply connector identifications in six areas, none of which put me in her way... It was like she had a proximity sensor that activated her warpath mode... The bosses knew about this annoying behavior, but never seemed to have the will to address it. I have a theory that she was some drug lord's girlfriend. Who knows?

This is a very good place to work. Most of the people here are friendly and the work is challenging, but not impossible. When I originally moved here, it was to assist in the operation of the "Pick and Place" Surface Mount Component printed circuit board populating machine. When I arrived, I was told that I would be sent to the training facility in Massachusets for this. But something happened that nixed that plan. I was never let in on why. I continued to help with running the machine, but typically with supervision from the only one there who had an actual certification.The reasons I left this position weren't work related, but personal. I would actually have liked to stay. But it was better for my wife to live in the Wichita area. (There were openings when last I looked...)

Working from documentation, I used hand-tools and Jig boards to build various cable assemblies for use in the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The work involved wire termination with contacts, using certified crimping tools, insertion of contacts into connectors, clocking of connector back shells according to instructions and drawings, close-out of back shells, application of sealants in various locations on assembly, etc. Assemblies were rung-out using automated DITMCO equipment prior to inspection.

Until fairly recently, I would have told anyone who asked that this was the best job I ever had. But the days that led up to the end of that employment have completely disillusioned me about it. In Late July / early August of 2018 I was assigned the job of trying to determine why a certain shop-created device intended to simulate landing gear "weight-on" / "weight-off" conditions (without actually raising and lowering the aircraft...) wasn't working as intended. In the course of my investigation, I found that a misunderstanding (on the part of the designers of the device...) as to what electrical condition change the aircraft systems were testing to determine the weight-on-wheel / weight-off-wheels condition.. That misunderstanding led them to the used of two Zener Diodes in the circuit in the place of two constant-current devices. I reported these findings to one of the engineers involved in the project, and the next day I was instructed to discontinue the project and put all the materials and documents into a tote-container and turn it in. I was unaware during this time that what had happened, even before I had anything to do with it, was (or at least could be seen as...) "reverse engineering" in an attempt to avoid the need of purchasing a probably expensive proper squat-simulator box made by a contracted vendor. I sent an email to the engineer in charge, just in case there were any questions. I didn't get a reply from him, or anyone else on the project, which seemed strange. That was the last contact I had with anyone concerning the incident. THEN, in August came the big lay-off, with myself being one of the only three affected in Lab Services. The other two already knew before-hand, because they actually were planning to leave anyway. So I was the only one who was forced to leave against my wishes. Later, Bombardier started advertising open positions for the same job I did, and I applied - repeatedly...

I had never before worked on flying manned aircraft; but I've always had an interest in science & technology. I applied for this position at a job fair in St. Louis, MO and aced the written electronics test. (Which Rick Kampschroeder, who was running this company's area there, said was a first for him...) By the next week or so I was in Wichita... After a time of orientation, I was sent to one of this company's sites, where I assisted in the installations & calibrations of the (mostly) experimental systems & wiring of the next aircraft going to Wichita. These work-functions were the main things I performed until a labor reduction forced us to combine the remaining instrumentation & avionics groups.Afterward, I was taken into Lab Services. I've performed home & remote-site roles. I performed installations, calibrations, & modifications. I performed pre-flights. I assisted with aircraft moving / launching. I placed, set up & maintained ground support equipment. I built and help to design and build prototypes used for flight test. Of all the places I've worked, this was the hardest place to leave, though, because of family issues that came up about a month afterward, the "free time" came in handy.After being hired for this role, I moved around a bit. I served as a Flight Test Avionics, Instrumentation technician. I later started working as a Lab Services Technician. I have performed home and remote-site roles. I can perform installations, calibrations, and modifications according to planning. I can perform instrumentation pre-flights. I can assist with aircraft moving and launching. I can place, set up and maintain ground support equipment. I can build (and help in designing...) prototype equipment used for flight test. I also became one of the group that did periodic maintenance of aircraft batteries. I also was the person bequeathed the honor of managing the inventory of pyrotechnic devices used on flight test aircraft.

I performed the following activities related to the flight testing of Bombardier Aerospace test aircraft:> Build-up, calibration and testing of telemetry packages for Flight Test aircraft. Some of these activities were performed at the factory and some after arrival at the Flight Test center. The instrumentation complement and configuration of the aircraft was periodically changed as needed for particular tests.> Preflight checks and set-ups of actual aircraft systems and instrumentation equipment.> Indoor / Outdoor equipment set-up and prep. for flight and/or ground testing.> Photo / Video / Data collection pre-flight set-up and post-flight collection. > Maintenance, calibration & repair of test equipment.

6545 W Pueblo Dr Wichita, KS 67209 (316) 425-0999 Working from engineering drawings, diagrams, and verbal instructions, planning, assembly and testing of various electrical / electronic sub assemblies & wiring harnesses. RVSM Modifications for in-service aircraft. Active Noise Cancellation system for U.S. Navy C-130s. I performed technical writing functions. (Assembly & testing procedures…) I performed some low-level engineering functions. (Designing & building of assemblies & test rigs…)This job was held concurrently with approximately eight years of the time I worked at Bombardier Flight Test Center. It was mostly part-time, but sometimes full time. I had to leave, because, at a certain point, I was unable to work two jobs without both suffering. I kept the job at Bombardier, which was my primary. (But I really did like this job...)

945 Hornet Drive Hazelwood, MO 63042 (No Phone Number Available...) Working from engineering drawings, wiring charts, diagrams, etc., I assembled, tested, repaired as necessary, and packaged for shipment automatic electrical metering telemetry equipment. This job involved assembly from component level up to finished tested and packaged product. I operated various power equipment such as a component locator for circuit board assembly, and wave-solder equipment. Performed documentation processes related to tests and quality control. I observed ESD prevention measures. I left this job because it was preparing to move its manufacturing operations to Florida, and I had already been offered the job with Learjet...NOTE: This company appears to be defunct. I found it on the Manta website, which lists it's name and location, However, its information is wrong, as it shows the company starting in 2008. I think it more likely that this is when it closed. (Maybe I shouldn't have left...) I have no current telephone number...

142 James S. McDonnell Blvd Hazelwood, MO 63042 (No Telephone No. Available...) Using drawings and written and verbal instructions, I fabricated various cable harnesses and sub-assemblies, including guidance system parts for Cruise Missiles. I assembled and tested specialized hermetically sealed miniature Ferrite toroid core transformers. I received training in High-reliability soldering and utilized it in the construction of these components. I was trained in and used ESD preventative measures throughout. NOTE: This company was bought out by Boeing. I'm uncertain as to how to contact them for a reference...

Human Resources Command Attn: AHRC-PDR-VIB 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue Dept 420 Fort Knox, KY 40122-5402 1-888-276-9472 MOS 33S10) I maintained, trouble-shot, repaired and performed calibrations on various electronic devices and systems related to electronic countermeasures, including receivers, transmitters, jamming equipment, recorders (audio and wide band video) and radio direction finders. Worked in both tactical and strategic environments. (For this Military Occupational Specialty I held a Top Secret Security Clearance.)