Farewell and Thank You AMFA Members
By Jay Johnson, National Secretary/Treasurer
First, I'd like to congratulate Rui Leonardo on becoming the new Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) National Secretary/Treasurer. I wish you great success.
As outgoing AMFA National Secretary/Treasurer, I am grateful to the members for allowing me to serve you for the past eight years. Your trust in me has meant a great deal, and I thank you for your support.
 I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the National Executive Council (NEC) and my administrative team for their unwavering support and confidence. Your assistance has been instrumental in my growth and achievements, and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve with you. To my wife, thank you for understanding the ups and downs and the long days spent working for AMFA.
 To my team, Ryanne Pelletier, you have been AMFA's resident historian, persistently upholding the AMFA Constitution and the 'AMFA way' with professionalism and integrity. Thank you for your hard work and countless late nights. Joy Gordon, since you arrived at AMFA, you have embraced our culture and made significant improvements to the National financial procedures and office, assisting the locals with their issues and everyday business. Your dedication and hard work have been invaluable to our success.
During my tenure, I have worked diligently to keep AMFA compliant with the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). Through that work, my team and I have administered more than 85 referendums, elections, and annual, contractual, and informational surveys, to ensure the continued democratic functioning of our organization. Over the past several years, we have also improved communication through our enhanced website and new software like UnionLink. And I am excited to introduce MemberLink which will streamline dues payments, be more cost-efficient for members, and improve recordkeeping.
Beyond the day-to-day responsibilities as Secretary/Treasurer, much of the work we do revolves around the IRS and the Department of Labor's required filings, including, the overseeing of the National and Local annual 990 tax filings, Labor Management (LM) audits, and internal yearly audits.
As a member of the NEC, I am proud of the work AMFA has done to advance the interests of our membership and improve workplace conditions for Aircraft Technicians/Engineers and Airline Support Personnel in the aviation community. I am thrilled to have contributed to the mission of the AMFA to promote and protect the interests of our membership and elevate the moral, intellectual, and social conditions of all Aircraft Technicians/Engineers and Airline Support Personnel. My goal has always been to elevate the skill level, standards, and recognition of Aircraft Technicians/Engineers to ensure a higher standard of professionalism within the industry.
For eight years, the NEC has made significant gains for our Association members. We have expanded our representation from two airlines to seven, including now having a presence in Canada. That expansion signifies our growing influence and commitment to serving a larger community of Aviation Maintenance Technicians and Engineers (AMT and AME). Our focus has always been on the best interests of our members, and we have achieved the best contracts, including pay and work rules, in the USA and Canada. The advancements we've made, along with our efforts to improve the workplace atmosphere and quality of life for our members, fills me with pride and optimism for the future of our industry. Overall, I'm inspired by our substantial growth and progress. AMFA's accomplishments are a testament to the potential and future of the Association.
As I leave, I am confident AMFA is poised for even greater success.
I Don't Need Help!
By Tom Wiggins, National Safety and Standards Director
When we think about aviation safety, the first thing that comes to mind is rules and regulations, not mental health. Aircraft maintenance technicians/engineers (AMT/AME) play a crucial role in safeguarding every aircraft in the sky so that they operate safely. We are skilled professionals responsible for maintaining, inspecting, and repairing aircraft, ensuring they meet the rigorous safety standards required for flight. Every task, whether it’s a routine inspection or a complex repair, must be completed with absolute precision.
The demanding nature of our job is exacerbated by irregular hours, long shifts, and the need to work under various environmental conditions. AMTs/AMEs often work late at night, early in the morning, or during weekends, anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays, which can disrupt sleep patterns and make it challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, the job's physical demands, such as working in confined spaces or at heights, add to the stress load.
Over time, this constant pressure can lead to significant mental health issues. Anxiety, depression, and burnout are not uncommon among aircraft technicians/engineers, but these issues often go unrecognized and untreated due to the stigma surrounding mental health in the aviation industry.
The stigma attached to mental health issues is a pervasive problem across many industries, but it is particularly pronounced in aviation. We are often reluctant to disclose mental health struggles for fear of being perceived as unfit for the job, vulnerable, and weak, leading many mechanics to suffer in silence rather than seek support.
Mental health issues can impair concentration, decision-making, and attention to detail, all of which are critical in ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft, not to mention the stressors at home. Your home life can affect your work life; dealing with a divorce, child support, death, terminal illness, cancer, bankruptcy, or even child substance abuse can be stressful and carry over into your work. We can experience burnout, depression, or chronic stress, and we may be more prone to making mistakes, which can have serious, even fatal consequences.
We need to create a supportive environment for each other. It is essential to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues. We can educate and have awareness campaigns that emphasize the importance of mental health and encourage AMTs/AMEs to seek help without fear of judgment. It can also be achieved by just asking your friends how they’re doing. When was the last time you asked your friend or work-wife if everything was okay?
I, myself, was struggling with a close family member diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. In addition, I had a teenager in a toxic relationship that resulted in them acting out and abusing illegal drugs. If not for the resources of the programs available to me, I would not have been able to navigate and seek help during this difficult time in a healthy way.
There are resources and programs available to help you. These programs offer confidential counseling services and resources to help employees and their families cope with stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
By reducing this stigma, providing support, and fostering a culture that values mental health as much as physical safety, the aviation industry can help ensure that aircraft mechanics are not only skilled and knowledgeable but also mentally resilient and capable of performing their vital roles safely and effectively.
There are multiple resources available to you, no matter what you or a loved one is dealing with.
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Parenting problems
- Financial trouble
- Marital difficulties
- Substance abuse
- Adolescent behavioral problems or substance abuse
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, please do not hesitate to reach out for help before it’s too late.
Resources For Help:
MemberLink Puts Members in the Driver's Seat
 AMFA is proud to introduce a new software platform for members -- MemberLink. This online portal allows members to view their AMFA record, update contact information (phone, email, address), and US-based members can make dues payments there. As a bonus, on this platform, members will not incur a credit card processing fee when paying dues! It's a win-win.
With monthly dues payments coming due soon, there is no better time than now to register with MemberLink and maintain your Member in Good Standing (MIGS) status. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes to set up.
Steps to Register:
- Click here: MemberLink and select "Sign Up Now"
- Enter your information and select "Register"
Spirit and Sun Country Members — Steps to Pay Membership Dues:
- Login here: MemberLink
- Select My Payments >> Make a Payment
- Select “Schedule ongoing payments for a specific amount”
- Enter your Base Rate and the dues rate will be auto-calculated
The system sets the payment frequency to monthly, and the start date of the 10th of next month.
Your SIDA Badge and Your Job: Confirmation that the Government is Your First Master
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24)
We have borne witness to maintenance managers who have coaxed, cajoled and coerced Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) for the purpose of rushing aircraft into revenue service at the risk of being unairworthy. It is, however, the government and not our employer, who issues our Airframe and Powerplant license. And it is the government, not our employer, that has the authority to revoke that license if we fail to perform our work in accordance with the applicable manuals. The United States Congress enacted the AIR 21 whistleblower statute to reaffirm that any conflict between these two masters must be resolved in favor of adherence to government-mandated safety standards.
Last year, two SFO-based AMTs confronted an airport security turnstile that jammed after the first man passed through. Knowing that the airworthiness of their employer’s aircraft depended on their services. The first AMT passed through successfully, and the second scanned his badge, but he became stuck in the turnstile. The second AMT passed his badge to his colleague, who reset the system so the second AMT could continue through the turnstile to the tarmac. Both employees were fully vetted and maintained background checks and security clearances. Neither AMT had any previous airport security violations. SFO authorities responded not just by revoking the AMTs’ SIDA badges but also entering their names in the Centralized Revocation Database (CRD) list, effectively denying them employment throughout the country. The AMTs’ airline employer terminated them.
AMFA sponsored litigation seeking to reverse the revocation as excessively severe and implemented without due process. On August 5, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed the claims, holding that the airport operator possessed unfettered discretion to revoke an AMT’s SIDA badge even where the process was manifestly corrupt. Because CRD placement is a direct result of SIDA badge revocation, due process rights also do not apply to CRD placement.
We feel instinctive loyalty to our employers and our passion is fixing planes and putting them back in the air. However, our retention of our licenses and SIDA badges depends on our adherence to government standards. The government – including both the FAA and the airport authority – is our first master. Through bitter experience, we have learned that we cannot depend on our employers to defend or protect us from the government’s wrath.
Ensure airworthiness and protect your jobs. Work in accordance with your manuals and the security standards promulgated by your local airport authority.
About AMFA
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is a craft/trade-oriented, independent aviation union representing licensed and unlicensed technicians/engineers and related employees actively involved in the aviation industry. These skilled professionals work directly on aircraft and/or components, support equipment, and facilities. AMFA is committed to elevating the professional standing and to achieving progressive improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions of the skilled employees it represents. (see our brochure)
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