The aviation industry is mourning the loss of one of its most remarkable figures after American Airlines mechanic Azriel “Al” Blackman passed away at the age of 100. His life defined aviation maintenance for the whole airline. According to announcements shared by American Airlines and members of the aircraft maintenance community on social media , Blackman died on the evening of Friday, July 24, bringing to a close an extraordinary career that spanned more than 80 years.
Blackman’s story was unlike any other in commercial aviation. As the Guinness World Records holder for the longest career as an airline mechanic, he dedicated his entire professional life to a single airline, witnessing the industry’s transformation from flying boats to modern twin-engine widebodies. His career became synonymous with American Airlines itself, inspiring generations of aircraft maintenance technicians.
Blackman’s aviation journey began during WWII on July 17, 1942, when he joined American Export Airlines, the predecessor of American Airlines, at just 16 years old. Fresh out of Aviation High School in Manhattan, he needed his mother’s permission to accept the job and started as an apprentice in the sheet metal shop, earning just 50 cents per hour.
His first assignments reflected a very different era of aviation. Working at New York’s LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal, Blackman helped maintain Sikorsky flying boats, even wading into Flushing Bay to secure seaplanes before they were hauled into the hangar for maintenance. Over the following decades, he would work on virtually every aircraft type operated by American Airlines, culminating with the Boeing 777 fleet.
American Airlines paid tribute to Blackman following his passing, describing him as a “true aviation legend” whose commitment, professionalism and mentorship influenced countless colleagues throughout the company. The airline also recognized that his impact extended well beyond maintenance, making him one of the most respected employees in its history.
Azriel “Al” Blackman loved his job, as he described it on the AA website, alluding to a famous saying about passion that makes labor feel light:
Very few people in history experienced aviation’s technological evolution as closely as Blackman. He began his career before the jet age, when American still operated flying boats across the Atlantic. Over the next eight decades, he witnessed the arrival of piston-powered airliners, the dawn of jet travel, the introduction of widebody aircraft, and eventually modern long-haul twinjets.
His longevity was equally remarkable inside the airline. While countless aircraft types entered and left American’s fleet, Blackman remained a constant presence, serving as an Aviation Maintenance Technician Crew Chief based at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). His knowledge became invaluable to younger mechanics, many of whom regarded him as both a mentor and a living history book.
Even in his later years, Blackman’s routine reflected an unwavering dedication to his work. Although his official shift began at 5:00 a.m., he typically arrived at the hangar before 3:00 a.m. His late wife, Delores, reportedly joked that he should “go to work” and “play with your friends,” highlighting how much he genuinely enjoyed spending time alongside fellow mechanics, as reported by the Aviation Circle.
A closer look at an astonishing lady who loved to fly.
American Airlines also honored Blackman’s unprecedented career in spectacular fashion during his 75th anniversary with the company in 2017. In what the airline said was a first for one of its mechanics, it dedicated a Boeing 777-200 to him, registration N751AN, complete with a commemorative plaque recognizing what it described as the largest career in aviation history as an Aviation Maintenance Technician.
The aircraft quickly became one of the airline’s most recognizable widebodies among maintenance employees. Mechanics affectionately nicknamed it “7BK” in tribute to Blackman, while Guinness World Records officials attended the dedication ceremony to formally recognize his record-breaking achievement. American also arranged for a US Capitol flag to be flown in his honor, underscoring the national significance of his accomplishment.
Blackman’s milestones did not stop there. He continued working for another five years, celebrating an astonishing 80 years with the airline in 2022. Few employees in any industry have remained with a single organization for so long, making his achievement virtually unique in commercial aviation history.
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