In episode 15 of Vaughn’s Futureproof Focus, Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, president and chief executive officer of Vaughn College and host of the podcast, sat down with PSA Airlines executives Richard Ugarte, vice president of maintenance and engineering and Robert Bridges, maintenance supervisor, for an engaging conversation about helping Vaughn students to develop skills to compete at the MRO Americas Conference—and possibly land a job with the airline.

What is the MRO Americas Conference?

The MRO Americas Conference is the world’s largest aviation maintenance conference. Thousands of aviation maintenance professionals, students and even prospective job candidates gather for industry workshops, a job fair and the aerospace maintenance competition. This past April marked the 29^th annual MRO conference, where PSA had a significant presence which  included a team of Vaughn students. “The team was amazing this year,” said Ugarte. “Robbie and I worked with the Vaughn team to develop their skill sets and challenge them to be ready to compete against top-notch teams from across the country,” he continued. “We are proud to say they did very well. We even hired one of the students!”

So, for Ugarte and Bridges, where does their passion to help students become the best they can be in the aviation industry stem from? Dr. DeVivo summed it up best: “You have to see it to be it.” Read on to hear how paying it forward is paying off for Vaughn students in a big way.

Experience at every level

Although Ugarte and Bridges come from different backgrounds, both share not only a love for aviation but service to our country as United States Air Force veterans.

“My love for aviation began from childhood,” Ugarte said. “We lived in the approach path of LaGuardia Airport. I loved planes from the start.” After graduating from Aviation High School in Long Island City, he joined the United States Air Force, where he worked on C-141 aircraft. At the time of his discharge, Ugarte said the airlines were not hiring so he teamed up with FedEx, where he worked for the next 33 years. “I started as an aircraft maintenance technician at Washington Dulles Airport and worked my way up the ranks from a lead, district manager, senior manager and ultimately managing director,” he said. “My area of responsibility spanned 63 cities in 36 countries.” He loved every minute of it—until an opportunity came along one day. Ugarte said he was offered the position of vice president of PSA Airlines. “As a man of faith, I prayed about it. I’m not one to make rash decisions.” Two years later, his journey with PSA continues. One of the best parts, he said, is mentoring and recruiting students for our airline.

Bridges’ story begins in a small town. “I didn’t know anything about airplanes before joining the Air Force,” he said. “In fact, my first plane ride was flying to basic training.” During his time in the service, he worked several positions that included: crew chief on F-16s, phase inspections on Thunderbirds, section chief (where he was responsible for 90 airmen) and production supervisor (where he oversaw flight schedules and maintenance). After retiring from the Air Force in 2013, he joined Mesa Airlines in Charlotte, N.C., where he worked for two years. Then, 10 years ago, he joined PSA.

How the military contributed to their careers

Quoting author John Maxwell, Ugarte says: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” He continued: “The Air Force influenced the leadership bug in me. I felt like I was being called to a leadership role. Teamwork is essential to leading anyone or any group of people.” The four foundational attributes Ugarte learned from the military that helped him become the leader he is today are teamwork, leadership, responsibility and discipline.

As for Bridges, he said the military was instrumental in his career and how he lives his life. “The Air Force played a huge role in the person I am today,” he humbly stated. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for learning the skills the military taught me. It’s had a major impact on my life.” The most influential skills and attributes that Bridges learned in the military are critical thinking skills and compassion for others.

How paying it forward is a win-win

By partnering with Vaughn and sponsoring the College’s aerospace maintenance team, PSA not only supports students in the MRO competition but is paying forward its collective experience to groom the best workforce in the industry. In addition to its partnership with Vaughn, PSA works closely with Aviation High School to introduce students to aviation maintenance at an earlier age. By grooming students at the high school level and sponsoring teams—similar to the one at Vaughn—PSA is in a great position to recruit and hire students to fill maintenance roles during this critical aviation workforce shortage.

How PSA is meeting the demand

Ugarte said filling maintenance roles is one of the company’s biggest challenges. “Everyone is competing for the same resources. There’s a tremendous amount of competition out there. We are all hiring,” he stated. “We are looking for talent—like everyone else.” He said the best ways that PSA is setting itself apart from competitors includes:

• Emphasizing good pay
• Practicing a positive work culture
• Working with driven, reliable and caring people
• Offering opportunities for advancement
• Providing the best training programs

“Our employees move up quickly compared to those who work for larger carriers,” said Ugarte. “By offering our employees good pay, training, advancement opportunities and a good work culture, we are positioning ourselves to stay ahead of the competition.”

Why diversity matters

When it comes to diversity in hiring, Ugarte stated: “It’s very important. Diversity provides diverse ideas, thinking and experiences that are valuable across the board.” Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Spanish Harlem, he knows what it’s like to grow up from humble beginnings. “I was from an underrepresented group,” he explained. “Although that was my upbringing, I never let it get me down. I always challenged myself to be the best student I could be. Now that I’m older, it’s all about giving back and offering the underprivileged the opportunities to live their best lives.” Ugarte said that partnerships—like those with Vaughn and Aviation High School—are helping to fill the gap. “One of our missions is to entice more women into aviation careers. Queens is one of the most diverse areas in the country. We actually had one of the first women on the maintenance team this year!”

The Future of PSA and artificial intelligence

Both Ugarte and Bridges agree that there are tremendous opportunities via artificial intelligence (AI) in aircraft maintenance. Here are some ways that PSA is applying emerging technologies and AI in its aircraft maintenance planning area:

• Last year, PSA began an initiative using AI and machine learning through the Microsoft Azure platform. Ugarte explained how they loaded an enormous amount of reliability data and delay data into machine learning program with American Airlines—with a reliability accuracy of 97 percent. This automated process would have required a massive manual effort.
• Using video technology to produce how-to video clips for maintenance tasks. An example of this is the embedding of short videos and technical tips into manuals that show technicians how to perform certain tasks.

Are you interested in a career in aviation maintenance? With industry demand soaring, Vaughn’s Aviation Training Institute can give you the knowledge and practical hands-on skills you need to work in this exciting field. Apply today!