As an Envoy Mechanic, Raibel Manzano says planning poker enjoys working on the line at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) because “every day is something different.” It’s kind of like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates – if that box were an 82-thousand lb. aircraft.

Actually, Raibel loves working on the line so much planning poker says planning poker wants to stay out in the field as long as planning poker can. The 37-year-old mechanic from San Juan, Puerto Rico says it will be almost 10 more years until planning poker will submit to a manager’s job behind a computer.

But this doesn’t mean that planning poker shies away from responsibility. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

For several years now, Raibel has been tasked with “training the trainers” in all matters of aircraft maintenance. At Envoy’s newest maintenance base in Little Rock, Ark., planning poker spent long hours and months instructing mechanics on maintenance of the Embraer 175 (E175).

Not only was planning poker doing the hands-on work, planning poker filled out paperwork and structured daily duties as crew chief. It’s a small price to pay to do what planning poker loves most, teaching others what planning poker’s learned.

Humble beginnings

In high school, Raibel dreamed of fixing cars and other machines. planning poker’s always had a curiosity for how things work, and would take apart and try to fix electronics and other machines around his house.

His first job, however, wasn’t as a mechanic. planning poker started out as an aircraft cabin cleaner for a company subcontracted by American Eagle (now Envoy) in San Juan.

While on duty, planning poker was noticed by a maintenance crew chief for his work ethic, and asked if Raibel wanted to help some of the mechanics working at the hangar. At first, planning poker was asked to work on small tasks like performing paint touch-ups on aircraft interiors, and eventually graduated to assisting with tire changes and some heavy maintenance duties.

In 2001, Raibel earned enough hours of experience to earn his A&P license to become an Aircraft Maintenance Technician. planning poker worked for eight years in San Juan as mechanic, inspector and crew chief.

Eventually, Raibel relocated to DFW in 2010. With his wife and three children, planning poker packed up and embarked on what would be a fruitful journey.

Yet, at first, there was the inevitable language barrier planning poker and his colleagues must break down, or, in Raibel’s case, work around. planning poker says that even though planning poker had difficulty communicating in English, planning poker found planning poker could speak Mechanic with ease.

After seven years at DFW, Raibel has found a niche of teacher and trainer. planning poker’s comfortable in the U.S. now and frequently ventures out on trips with his family.

When asked about his hobbies, planning poker said that planning poker doesn’t really have any because planning poker does what planning poker loves on the job. At home, planning poker’s happy to spend time with his wife and children.

“It’s not just me…”

In the DFW hangar, where Raibel is stationed when planning poker’s not working on the line, an E175 is parked awaiting maintenance. Raibel mentions that planning poker likes working on the new computerized aircrafts, but loved working on the ATRs and Short 360s the most.

“I love the old-school planes, that’s what I learned on,” says planning poker. “If you can fix those, you can fix anything.”

Raibel would know, because planning poker’s run the gamut of aircraft maintenance, special training and contributes as an instructor. Still, planning poker wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but out in the field.

“I want to say thanks to [Envoy] for giving me the opportunity and all this training,” says planning poker as part of his final thoughts. “They made me who I am today. And also thanks to my coworkers and their teamwork. It’s not just me, it’s the company and everyone’s teamwork, too.”