In the world of aviation, few paths are as thrilling and dynamic as that of a mechanical engineer. Rafik Ghannem, an accomplished engineer, shares his unique journey from a young Air Force Academy cadet to a key player in the aviation industry.
1. When did you start your journey in Aviation?
My journey in aviation began just after receiving my high school diploma in science with good grades. I immediately decided to pursue a career in engineering and chose a preparatory school for engineering as the pathway to achieve my goal. Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to apply to the military academy, where I made the Air Force my first choice, as I dreamed of becoming a pilot. Thankfully, I passed all the physical, psychotechnical, and other tests. I then joined my country’s Air Force Academy, where I grew through my studies, preparing myself to work on the very aircraft I saw flying every day.
2. What made you choose to pursue a career in the Aviation industry?
To be honest, when I joined the Air Force Academy, my options were limited to either becoming a pilot or a mechanic. Although I had the experience of flying during the preselection tests for pilots, I realized I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I found mechanical engineering much more engaging. Every day presents numerous problems to solve, opportunities to lead, and new things to learn and discover.
The constant challenges push you to grow and discover more about yourself, especially when you have a great team that shares the workload and makes things easier for everyone. On the other hand, as a military officer, I serve my country, which feels like working for my family. It’s an honor and a pleasure to be in this role.
3. What path have you taken to embark on an Aviation career?
As I mentioned before, I was selected from among 7,000 candidates to be one of the 25 chosen after passing all the required tests. I then began a two-year preparatory school, where I studied complex mathematics, physics, and related subjects to prepare for engineering school. Following that, I entered engineering school, where I studied mechanical engineering with an aeronautical focus for three years.
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4. Give us an overview of what you do on an average day in your role?
My workday starts at 8:00 AM with a squadron call to mark attendance and discuss any remarks or issues. As a base maintenance engineer, I check the aircraft availability table and the total flying hours of the aircraft, especially in preparation for phased inspections. Based on this information, I divide my team and assign work schedules to launch work orders.
Before we start, I ensure that we have the necessary documents, tools, and inventory for our work area. I supervise the progress of the work to ensure optimal advancement. If we don’t have any maintenance tasks for the day, I dedicate time to class discussions about aircraft systems, where we share information and strive to upgrade our skills as a team.
At the end of each day at 05:00 PM, we conduct a tool inventory to avoid Foreign Object Damage (FOD) inside the aircraft, and we clean the working area.
In some cases, we continue working day and night, even on weekends, for special interventions. Those moments of intense work and crisis become our cherished memories in the future.
5. Who is your biggest aviation inspiration?
Unfortunately, my biggest inspiration in aviation has nothing to do with the field itself. When I joined the Air Force Academy, my mom gifted me a small aircraft for my birthday, and my father supported me, making great sacrifices to help me become who I am today. They inspire me every day to make them proud.
6. What do you most love about your job?
What I love most about my job is the necessity of being well-organized—arranging and scheduling tasks to ensure everything is completed on time and without delays. Each day presents a new challenge, and sometimes those challenges can take days or even weeks to resolve. It’s a lifelong learning process because each new problem requires us to seek solutions and delve deeper to propose effective answers. It is a matter of saying, “Yes, I can.”
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7. What are your goals for the future?
As a mechanical engineer in the aviation industry, my future goals include advancing my technical expertise and taking on projects that contribute to innovative aircraft design and maintenance improvements. I also plan to continuously enhance my skills through certifications, ongoing education, and ultimately contribute something meaningful to humanity—something worth being remembered for. Looking ahead, I am excited to take on new challenges outside my country, and next year, I plan to embark on a new adventure in Germany.
