flying. A nonprofit corporation, the association allows mem- helps pilots understand the airplane from the mechanical bers to purchase shares, making them co-owners of the club. side of the house, and association members get educated Members are also volunteers, who lend a hand to support the across the board.” Seattle-area flight community, including the Future Aviators It was the association’s volunteers who helped Price when program and Women in Aviation. Limited membership is avail- the FAA denied his request for a pilot’s license under a Class 3 able to non-Boeing personnel who pass a background check. medical certificate. At that point, Price had recovered from his A background check is not required for Boeing badge holders. successful lung transplant surgery and was running marathons. Rearick is one of the volunteers. “To prove I was healthy enough to fly, I even challenged A 787 flight-line mechanic, he became a field service repre- the Federal Aviation Administration inspector to beat me at sentative at Boeing last year. He and several other club members tennis,” Price said. volunteer every Thursday, performing oil changes and minor A year later, with guidance from one of the club’s instruc- preventive maintenance on the aircraft fleet. That helps Rearick tors, Price finally achieved his dream. remain current on his Airframe & Powerplant mechanic’s license That was 13 years ago. Today, like Dalby, Klug, Rearick and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Inspection Authorization. and nearly 500 others, Price, now a Commercial Airplanes “This is a small, tightknit community,” he said, acknowledging regional marketing director, is still with the Boeing Employees the value in teaching the people of Boeing about civil aviation. Flying Association. “Volunteering with the club helps foster a brotherhood and And he’s working on his instrument rating. n teresa.m.kuhn@boeing.com Want to join? The Boeing Employees Flying Association is looking for new members. Membership is open to current Boeing employees and to retirees, customers, vendors and government representatives who hold a Boeing badge. Employee flying groups are in Puget Sound (www.befa.org), Philadelphia (www.flybefa. com), Mesa (http://bears.club.tripod.com) and St. Louis (www.heilmannpub.com/ BEFCSTL), and another is being formed in South Carolina. For a listing of other Boeing recreation clubs, visit the Boeing Enterprise Recreation website (www.boeing.com/ companyoffices/aboutus/recreation). BOEING FRONTIERS / SEPTEMBER 2012 21
Frontiers September 2012 Issue
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