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LAWRENCE (LARRY) JOSEPH THERIAULT

September 25, 2008  By Administrator

lawrence_theriault_smallLawrence (Larry) Thériault spent most of his working career in Quebec and Atlantic region. He was born on October 03, 1938 in Berwick, Nova Scotia and grew up in South-West Nova Scotia.  He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1956 and worked as an Airframe Technician on DC3, DC4, C119 and CL44 aircraft. In 1967 Larry worked at United Aircraft and Pratt & Whitney Canada in St-Hubert, Quebec as an assembler and overhaul mechanic on helicopters, engines and as the experimental flight mechanic. He was surprised at the lack of training available for Aircraft Maintenance, and his interest in AME training started there. During this time he obtained his Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s licence by working part-time with local flying clubs and on private airplanes. During the period of 1973-76 Larry hired eight aircraft technicians and went to work on bush aircraft in central and northern Quebec repairing aircraft floats, rebuilding damaged aircraft and performing general aircraft maintenance. In this same period he became Chief Engineer for Brochu Air at St-Michel-des-Saints, Quebec. He later became Crew Chief with Air Transit, a commuter company in Montréal that flew Twin Otters between Montréal and Ottawa.


lawrence_theriault
LAWRENCE (LARRY) JOSEPH THERIAULT
Saulnierville, Nova Scotia

In 1976 Larry returned East to work and contract with different companies in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. His work involved piston engine aircraft, turbo-props, helicopters and corporate jets. He obtained his AME “B” (structures) licence and his “R” (helicopter) licence during this time. Larry, with others, became one of the founding members of the Atlantic AME Association. In 1979 he returned to Quebec to work at Canadair as Flight Operations Supervisor, Corporate Aircraft Maintenance and later he was appointed manager. While still with Canadair, he, with partners, incorporated Aero St-Hubert and maintained small aircraft at the St-Hubert airport. Larry saw a need for the Quebec AMEs to organize, and with a group, formed an association. Larry was then elected as the founding president of the Quebec Professional Association of AME (Association Professionelle des TEA du Quebec).

In 1982 Larry joined Transport Canada in Moncton, New Brunswick as a Large Air Carrier Inspector and later as an Enforcement Officer. In 1989 he worked as a consultant with various companies from Ontario to Newfoundland. In 1991 he went to work with Bell Helicopter in Quebec as an internal inspector and became one of the first three in Canada to receive Transport Canada approval as a Minister’s Delegate. He participated in the Canadian Aviation Regulatory Advisory Council (CARAC) Technical Committee and Working Groups involved with AME Training.  In 1999 he contracted with Bombardier Aerospace in Montreal and Toronto working as a Minister’s Delegate.  One of his tasks was to train three new delegates for the company in Toronto.

In 2001 Larry retired but not for long, returning to Bombardier Aerospace in Montreal and Toronto on a part-time basis. In 2003 at the Quebec Aircraft Maintenance Symposium Larry was presented the Vachon Trophy for his outstanding contributions in the Canadian aircraft maintenance field. During his career Larry obtained many endorsements to his Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Licence, both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

Larry believes that today the younger generation of AMEs are receiving the recognition that they deserve because of better training in the Aircraft Maintenance field.

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