{"podcast":{"title":"The Lost Art Of the Skilled Trades","slug":"the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648","podcast_index_feed_id":6923648,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-lost-art-of-skilled-trades/","website_url":"https://www.andrewbrown.net","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/646c90b5-c725-4a9f-b15c-452ed30769ee/Cover-TLAOST-3.jpg","author":"Andrew Brown","episode_count":98,"summary":"Welcome to The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades, the ultimate podcast dedicated to celebrating and exploring the world of skilled trades. Hosted by Andrew Brown, a passionate advocate for the trades industry, this podcast is your go-to source for knowledge, inspiration, and practical advice. Andrew brings a unique perspective shaped by years of hands-on experience, entrepreneurial success, and a deep commitment to elevating the trades. Dive into the fascinating and ever-evolving world of skilled trades, where creativity, problem-solving, and dedication come together to build the world around us. From carpentry and HVAC systems to electricians, plumbers, millwrights, and beyond, every episode uncovers the grit, determination, and artistry that define the people behind these essential professions. Andrew’s journey began with a life-changing moment on September 11, 2001, when he worked alongside tradespeople, first responders, and community helpers at Ground Zero. This experience inspired him to dedicate his life to advocating for the unsung heroes of the trades. Through his company, Andrew has helped provide tools, equipment, and resources to industry professionals worldwide. Now, thr…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-01T10:20:44.576717+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648"},"episode":{"title":"Inside Aircraft Maintenance Careers: Pay, Pathways & the Fight to Keep Talent (with AMFA)","slug":"inside-aircraft-maintenance-careers-pay-pathways-the-fight-to-keep-talent-with-amfa","published_at":"2026-05-05T22:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/inside-aircraft-maintenance-careers-pay-pathways-the-fight-to-keep-talent-with-amfa","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648","url":"https://the-lost-art-of-skilled-trades.captivate.fm/episode/inside-aircraft-maintenance-careers-pay-pathways-the-fight-to-keep-talent-with-amfa","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/180ee2e8-e5bb-42cd-b475-ea9bfac49a64.mp3","summary":"Aircraft maintenance technician careers start at $75K and climb past six figures — but a 40,000-person shortage is threatening aviation. Rob Cush of AMFA joins Andrew Brown. By 2028, the aviation industry is expected to hit peak retirements — and the average aircraft maintenance technician is already 56 or 57 years old. The wave is coming. At the same time, new A&P graduates are being poached between school and their first job by oil and gas, because a $500–$1,000 testing cost creates a 60–120 day gap that other industries are happy to fill. The pipeline is leaking at every stage. Rob Cush is the Director of Government Affairs at AMFA (Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association) and an aircraft maintenance controller at Southwest Airlines. He's spent decades on the floor turning wrenches — and now he takes that firsthand experience directly to Capitol Hill, advocating for workforce funding, veteran transition programs, and pathways to bring more young people and women into aviation maintenance. If you're a trade-minded person looking for a career that pays well, offers real advancement, and keeps planes in the sky — or if you work in workforce development and want to understand what aviation maintenance needs right now — this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) – The 40,000 Technician Crisis: Rob breaks down the scale of the aircraft maintenance shortage and the retirement wave hitting peak in 2028. (05:00) – Why Gen Z Is Choosing Oil & Gas: Work-life balance is beating pay — how airlines are rethinking day shift access to compete for new graduates. (12:00) – The Testing Bottleneck Nobody Talks About: The $500–$1,000 cost of DME oral and practical exams is creating a 60–120 day gap where other industries poach new A&P graduates before they get license…","meta_description":"Aircraft maintenance technician careers start at $75K and climb past six figures — but a 40,000-person shortage is threatening aviation. Rob Cush of AMFA…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2476,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/episodes/inside-aircraft-maintenance-careers-pay-pathways-the-fight-to-keep-talent-with-amfa/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-lost-art-of-the-skilled-trades-6923648/inside-aircraft-maintenance-careers-pay-pathways-the-fight-to-keep-talent-with-amfa.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}