My dentist thought I could fix her car because I work on planes

I was getting my teeth cleaned and the hygienist asked about my job. When I told her I'm an aircraft mechanic, she lit up and described a rattle in her sedan. I had to gently say that planes and cars are totally different beasts, with way more rules in aviation. She seemed disappointed, like I was holding back free help. This happens so often, it makes me wonder if people realize how complex our work is. I mean, we deal with systems that keep people in the air, not just on the road. It just gets old having to explain the basics every time.

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona9852mo ago

I know a train mechanic. He gets asked about car problems all the time. Completely different set of skills. Your story is super familiar. People just see "mechanic" and think it all translates. They never consider the specific training.

allen.aaron2mo ago

Exactly, @stellanelson's jet mechanic story proves the point.

stellanelson2mo ago

Heard about a friend who fixes big planes for a living. Someone asked him to look at their lawnmower engine last week, which is honestly kind of wild. Do they think a jet turbine works the same as a tiny carburetor?