Stories and experiences told by the work force who made it happen
Dan Pemble spoke to the McDonnell Douglas website to tell us his aviation career at McDonnell Douglas on to Boeing and finally his retirement.
I’ve often said that once you have been around jet-powered airplanes and get some kerosene in your blood, you become addicted and are destined to pursue a career in aviation! It certainly did happen to me! After first truly getting my feet wet in kerosene during a 3-year hitch as a US Navy Aviation Electrician while troubleshooting a fuel quantity system fault on a F4B “Phantom”, I had an extremely exciting and rewarding 40.5-year career in commercial aviation - at McDonnell Douglas for 28 years and finally at Boeing for 12.5 years!
I first served as a Publications Writer, then as a Principal Technical Specialist (auto pilots & navigation systems)/ Customer Service Representative, and, for over 31 years, as a Senior Field Service Representative/Base Manager/Team Leader. As A Publications Writer at Douglas-Long Beach, I was responsible for research & development of DC-8/9/10 descriptive, troubleshooting and maintenance practices material for publication in official Company Aircraft Maintenance Manuals as used by our airline Customers.
As a Customer Service Rep I was assigned to the Flight Guidance & Navigation group and primarily served as a DC-10 autopilot/auto land function technical expert and provided both on and off-site support and training to many of our DC-10 Customers.
Finally, in Field Service I had permanent on-site assignments as follows: London-Heathrow airport with British Airways (DC-10s), Rio de Janeiro with Varig (DC-10s), San Diego & San Francisco with Pacific Southwest Airlines (DC-9s & MD-80s), Island of Sardinia in Italy with Alisarda Airlines (DC-9s &MD-80s), Stockholm with Scanair (DC-10s & MD-80s), Oslo with SAS (DC-9s & MD-80s), Orlando & Atlanta with AirTran Airways (DC-9s, 717s, & 737-700s). I also had temporary Field Service assignments in Cologne, Germany with Germanwings (717), in Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines (717s & 767s), and finally at National Jet Systems in Perth, Australia (operators of 717s for Qantas)!
I retired in September of 2009 and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss all the excitement and “adrenalin shots” I got during my career!!
I first served as a Publications Writer, then as a Principal Technical Specialist (auto pilots & navigation systems)/ Customer Service Representative, and, for over 31 years, as a Senior Field Service Representative/Base Manager/Team Leader. As A Publications Writer at Douglas-Long Beach, I was responsible for research & development of DC-8/9/10 descriptive, troubleshooting and maintenance practices material for publication in official Company Aircraft Maintenance Manuals as used by our airline Customers.
As a Customer Service Rep I was assigned to the Flight Guidance & Navigation group and primarily served as a DC-10 autopilot/auto land function technical expert and provided both on and off-site support and training to many of our DC-10 Customers.
Finally, in Field Service I had permanent on-site assignments as follows: London-Heathrow airport with British Airways (DC-10s), Rio de Janeiro with Varig (DC-10s), San Diego & San Francisco with Pacific Southwest Airlines (DC-9s & MD-80s), Island of Sardinia in Italy with Alisarda Airlines (DC-9s &MD-80s), Stockholm with Scanair (DC-10s & MD-80s), Oslo with SAS (DC-9s & MD-80s), Orlando & Atlanta with AirTran Airways (DC-9s, 717s, & 737-700s). I also had temporary Field Service assignments in Cologne, Germany with Germanwings (717), in Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines (717s & 767s), and finally at National Jet Systems in Perth, Australia (operators of 717s for Qantas)!
I retired in September of 2009 and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss all the excitement and “adrenalin shots” I got during my career!!
Created By Shane Peet