Azriel “Al” Blackman, the Guinness World Records holder for the longest career as an airline mechanic, died on July 24 at the age of 100. Over more than 80 years with American Airlines and its predecessor, he transitioned from maintaining World War II flying boats to inspecting modern Boeing 777 widebody jets at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Commercial aviation lost a living link to its earliest days when Azriel “Al” Blackman passed away on the evening of Friday, July 24. His death closed a chapter on an unmatched professional journey that stretched across eight decades, earning global recognition and cementing his status as a fixture of aircraft maintenance.
From Manhattan High School to Flushing Bay Flying Boats
Blackman’s career began long before the jet age took hold of commercial travel. Fresh out of Aviation High School in Manhattan, he joined American Export Airlines on July 17, 1942, at just 16 years old. Because of his age, he required his mother’s formal permission to accept the job.
He started as an apprentice in the sheet metal shop, pulling an hourly wage of just 50 cents while helping maintain aircraft during World War II. His earliest assignments brought him to New York’s LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal, where the carrier operated Sikorsky flying boats. Blackman regularly waded into Flushing Bay to secure the seaplanes before ground crews hauled them into the hangar for maintenance.
A Constant Presence Through Eight Decades of Aviation Evolution
As American Export Airlines evolved into American Airlines, Blackman remained at his post through every major technological shift in the industry. He witnessed the transition from piston-powered airliners to pressurized cabins, the arrival of commercial jet travel, the introduction of widebody aircraft, and eventually the deployment of long-haul twinjets.
Based at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) serving as an Aviation Maintenance Technician Crew Chief, Blackman worked on virtually every aircraft type the carrier ever operated, culminating with the Boeing 777 fleet. That rare longevity made him a repository of institutional knowledge for younger mechanics who joined the hangars decades later.
That philosophy defined his daily routine. Although his official shift started at 5:00 a.m., colleagues noted he often arrived at the hangar before 3:00 a.m. simply out of a desire to be around airplanes and fellow mechanics. His late wife, Delores, routinely joked that he was eager to go to work and play with your friends.
Guinness Recognition and the Boeing 777 Named 7BK
American Airlines formally celebrated Blackman’s historic milestone during his 75th anniversary with the company in 2017. In a gesture the airline noted was a first for an aircraft mechanic, it dedicated a Boeing 777-200, registration N751AN, to his career.
Guinness World Records officials attended the dedication ceremony to officially recognize him as the holder of the longest career as an airline mechanic. Maintenance employees quickly adopted the widebody, affectionately nicknaming the aircraft “7BK” in honor of his initials and career milestone. Alongside the aircraft dedication, the carrier arranged for a United States Capitol flag to be flown in his honor.
An Unprecedented Legacy in Commercial Maintenance
Rather than stepping away after his 75th anniversary celebrations, Blackman continued working for another five years. He officially reached an astonishing 80 years of continuous service in 2022, an employment tenure virtually unmatched in aviation history.
American Airlines paid tribute to him, honoring the maintenance veteran as a true aviation legend
whose dedication and mentorship shaped generations of technicians across the airline.
