Check out this Powerpoint presentation to accompany my new book
A Wrench in the Wings, Life Lessons from an Aircraft Mechanic
A Wrench in the Wings
Sam Longo AME A&P
A compilation of essays revealing the personal and career adventures of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.
Most of the flying public is acutely aware of the qualified pilots that sit up front, expertly controlling and guiding their passengers safely from point A to B.
Surprisingly, very few of these same folks have any knowledge of the 17,000 Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME’s) who are equally responsible for their flying safety. No aircraft can legally leave the ground without their license and signature prior to departure. It is a rather obscure profession that is rarely highlighted yet remains necessary to all commercial flight.
This book brings that career into sharp focus outlining the job with insight, lessons and real-life consequences. A compilation of 75 columns from Air Maintenance Update magazine, the author brings humanity and humor into the mix to make it an interesting and insightful read.
- “Of all the aircraft types flown by the company the most intimidating was the Boeing 747. You could work on it for a lifetime and still leave many maintenance tasks unexplored.”
- “Frobisher Bay on Baffin Island is a long way from home, especially for a 22-year-old kid who had rarely left the suburbs of Toronto.”
- “Perhaps the ultimate beauty of fixing things is that its sublime satisfaction transcends all types of mechanical devises.”
- “There is nothing quite like working on a DC9 on a beautiful summer night, hangar doors wide open, being serenaded by Pink Floyd, live!”
- “As aircraft maintainers the most valuable tool that we possess is not located in our toolbox. It is a resource that we continue to covet and collect. That intangible commodity is commonly known as experience.”
SAM LONGO has over 40 years’ experience as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and Professor-Coordinator at Centennial Colleges Aerospace Department. He also holds an FAA A&P rating as well as a Certificate in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University. He is a qualified trainer in Aviation Human Factors and is the past president of both the AME Association of Ontario and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Canada (AMEC/TEAC) His extensive writing has been published in both aviation and motorcycle publications across Canada.
A Wrench in the Wings by Sam Longo
Transportation – Aviation – Technical – Career – Mentoring
Paperback / 235 pages / 9780228850946 /$15 US / Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Book Depository. https://amazon.com/dp/0228850940 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-wrench-in-the-wings-a-p-sam-longo-ame/1138868377
eBook / 9780228855439 / $8 US https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1081065
Tellwell Talent – http://www.tellwell.ca
Release date; May 14th, 2021
Contact Sam Longo
416-462-0271
Sam Longo AME, A&P 
Hi Sam,
My name is Zack. I believe I purchased one of your old motorcycles at the AMA vintage days in Ohio this summer. It is a red and white 1972 CB350 set up as a race/cafe bike. I’m sure you remember it. I’m looking to get a little more history on it. Please let me know if you’d be willing to talk/email with me briefly sometime, I’d appreciate it. This was the only way I found to potentially contact you. Feel free to send me an email at your convenience.
Thanks,
Zack
Hello Zack; Sorry but I do not know a lot about that CB350 Cafe Racer. It did pass through my hands and I did do some work and improvements on it before it went back to the fellow that I purchased it from. Not sure who sold it to you down in mid-Ohio but it was not me. My email is samlongo750@gmail.com if you wish to contact me to discuss the bike further…..great little bike by the way! Cheers, Sam