Ever since she took her first flight on an airplane, Chrishanna Frayser has known she wanted to work in the aviation industry. She thought for the longest time that her only options were to be a pilot or air traffic controller. In adulthood and unsatisfied with her career options, Frayser turned back to her childhood fascination with aviation.
“I was looking to go into electronics because I like working with my hands. And while I was looking for schooling for that, I saw that the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics had a campus right down the road from my house. So, I went in, I checked it out and I'm like, ‘Oh my gosh, I could work with my hands and work with planes. That's amazing.’ So I just went from there and I haven't looked back,” recounts Frayser.
Today, Frayser works as an aviation maintenance technician with Plane Care, providing general maintenance to the general aviation clients.
“When planes come in, they need any general work done, oil changes, tire changes, inspections, and then basically anything that is found on the inspection. As long as it's not heavy sheet metal, I pretty much help take care of that. So it's a little bit of everything and I really enjoy it,” she said.
Frayser said she loves the work, seeing how all the components are supposed to work, taking them apart and putting them back together to have an aircraft working properly again. She especially enjoys watching the aircraft take off.
"So just that feeling of fulfillment of seeing I have a hand in this, I know how it works and I'm keeping it safe for everyone,” said Frayser.
Currently, Frayser is working towards getting her IA certification.
