American Airlines celebrates the seven-decade service of a New York mechanic who turns 87 in August and has no plans to retire. Azriel (Al) Blackman was 16 when he started as an apprentice mechanic in July 1942, long before bag fees, airport security, or even the introduction of the jet engine. He was paid 50 cents an hour (equivalent to about $12 today). Blackman began working for American Export Airlines, which later merged into American. He was drafted into the Army and served two years in Korea, then returned to his mechanic's job in New York.
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