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Career Quick Look
| Salary: |
$16-28/hour
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Education:
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| Years
in Field: |
studying since 1997, started work/training program with United in 2001 |
Air Frame and Power Plant certificates, College of Alameda; FCC license in Avionics. |
| City/State: |
Oakland, CA |
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"College of Alameda's preparation is excellent. They have all types of projects that you work on, and you work on everything."
"You don't have to have any prior training or anything. They will train you in all that you need."
Getting Started:
Tonia was working as a receipts processing clerk for the U.S. Navy base in Alameda - where her grandfather was an aircraft mechanic - when the base was shut down in 1996. "When they folded," she says, "I didn't want to be looking for a job without a skill, per se. I'd worked in the medical field before, and just different jobs. I was kind of wanting to narrow it down to one field."
On the bus one day she ran into Anita Hall, who was coordinating a program at College of Alameda to introduce women to the aviation field. "She was telling some young girls about the program," Tonia remembers, "and I told her I was interested, so she told me to come on in."
Education:
Tonia signed up to start class in 1997, and soon found herself attracted to the maintenance/mechanics field. "I worked for a can company for about nine years," she says. "So I had experience with machinery." From the initial Air Frame course, which teaches all about the aircraft body, to Power Plant (where you learn engines) and ultimately Avionics (cockpit and communications equipment), Tonia excelled in her work.
She credits College of Alameda instructor Dan Gunter - "Teacher of the Millennium," in Tonia's words - with pushing her to achieve her very best. She was recognized with the College's Chancellor's Award for her outstanding performance, and upon completing her program this year, Tonia won a scholarship for further training with United Airlines.
"College of Alameda's preparation is excellent," Tonia says. "They have all types of projects that you work on, and you work on everything." From the basics of learning to handle your tools, to dismantling and then reassembling different types of engines, she says the hands-on work really helps to build confidence. "Watching something work after you've torn it down," she says, "is a great feeling."
Greatest Professional Achievement:
"Everything, really," she says. "From my first certificate to the last one. They all felt good." Receiving the prestigious scholarship from United Airlines, Tonia admits "was just the icing on the cake, because everybody wants to go there."
Barriers:
Going back to school as a single mom after years of working was a major challenge, financially and emotionally, Tonia says. She was instrumental in organizing her fellow students - from forming a study group to arranging rides to class - to helping each other through the tough times. "We all just kind of pulled together," she recalls.
She credits much of her success to simple faith. "I had a determination to succeed in a field that's not typically occupied by women, to try to rise up and be the best that I could be," Tonia says.
Working with Men:
In the classroom, Tonia stressed the importance of taking initiative, not letting yourself get left out. "If there were five guys on a project and you're the only female on the project, you had to make sure you got the hands-on," she says "and not let them just do the project, so when you have to take a test you don't know what you're doing."
As a woman in the field, she says, it's important to feel and act an equal part of the team. "Your confidence level is important," she says. "Just knowing how to deal with guys, you know, be firm. Stick to what you're saying or doing. And listen a lot."
Advice for Women:
Tonia says she found the Women in Aviation group to be "a big help and support for me. There were women in there that will help you and mentor you." The organization has chapters worldwide, and holds yearly conferences for networking and further education. "It's just good to see all these women," she says. "It boosts your confidence."
Tonia says she only wishes she'd discovered aviation years ago. "I wish I had started earlier. If I had something to say it would be to start looking, get into a program like this while you're young. And in 20 years you could be retired!" she laughs. As for prior experience, she says, "You don't have to have any prior training or anything. They will train you in all that you need."
Typical Workday/Environment:
A typical day for a mechanic/technician can involve everything from routine inspection to major repair operations. "The first thing we do is wash the entire aircraft," Tonia says, "and then we start our inspections from there. If there's something wrong you have to know how to trouble-shoot. And there's assembly and disassembly of the aircraft parts."
With safety and precision as their number one priority, she describes the work environment as "very much a team environment. Definitely - you're working around people, and it's a team effort."
Career Ladder:
Tonia says the sky's the limit, when it comes to aviation. "You can always further your career," she says. In addition to their hourly salary, avionics technicians for the major airlines receive benefits including medical, dental, and free flights.
For mechanics and technicians there are various levels of training, or, she says, "you can go into the business side of it - aviation management. There are a lot of different careers in aviation." For herself, Tonia says, she may use her experience to encourage others into the field someday. "I would love to be a recruiter," she says. "That would be a future goal for me."
Professional Associations:
Member of Women in Aviation.
Hobbies:
When she's away from the airplanes, Tonia says, "I love to read - and water ski." She grew up in a household of sports fans - "football, basketball, baseball," she says, "I still go to the games." Tonia is also active as a volunteer for the Oakland Boys and Girls Club, where she spent much of her time growing up. "That's my way of giving back," she says.
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