The International Cessna^® 170 Association

In Memoriam: William F. O’Brien
The aviation maintenance industry lost a key friend on Sunday, November 9, when retired FAA national resource specialist Bill O’Brien passed away. O’Brien was a familiar and much appreciated presence at inspection authorization renewal seminars, gently but firmly and often humorously admonishing mechanics not to cut regulatory corners and afterwards always taking time to answer detailed questions that often turned into confessions and promises to do better. At IA seminars and in airline and general aviation maintenance shops, O’Brien would be animated when discussing the program he helped create at Eastern New Mexico University to help A&P mechanics obtain their associate’s degree or when introducing another deserving recipient of the Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic Award or handing out FAA maintenance technician training awards. Since 1990 and until recently, O’Brien wrote a column for Aircraft Maintenance Technology magazine, helping thousands of mechanics understand and apply the regulations that govern their careers.

I had the honor of meeting Bill O'brien when he addressed an IA seminar at Reedley College in central CA a few years back. My biggest impression was of the attention and respect he commanded from even the most experienced aviation maintenance technicians. Bill put a face on the unsung heroes who keep our aircraft correct and safe. A big part of what makes us pilots look so good. I am sure he has taken his place with Charles Taylor somewhere in the great beyond.

Bill came to the North Dakota aviation symposium several times and it was always a highlight to listen to his talks and chat with him. George sums it up pretty well, "questions that turned to confessions and promises to do better"

a real down-to-earth guy who put a whole different light on how regulations work and how we could use them instead of being bound by them.