From the Flight Deck

The Marshfield resident busies himself fueling planes, cleaning planes, and managing planes coming on and off the Marshfield Municipal Airport ramp. He also tows aircraft in and out of hangars with the powerful, remote-controlled tug. He provides additional customer service by getting Shoreline Aviation charter customers’ bags from the aircraft and even cleaning customers’ cars. But Rick Armstrong’s enthusiasm for the world of aviation only begins there.

When not at the airport, Rick can often be found busy in the Aviation Maintenance programs of Cape Cod Community College, based at Plymouth Municipal Airport, where he studies in the classroom and gets his fingernails dirty in the hangar.

Rick, 32, is pursuing certificate programs at 4C’s. The mechanic’s airframe and powerplant programs run two full years. Completing them will allow him to take the FAA tests for his aviation maintenance certifications.

“I had interest in being a pilot initially,” he said. “But I couldn’t pass the medical, so I looked into the program at 4C’s. I’d like to work on jets someday. I’d like to go to the airlines and try that out.”

Rick Armstrong is studying aircraft mechanics while working on Shoreline Aviation’s line team.

Rick grew up in Duxbury and located to Marshfield about 15 years ago. He and his wife, Hansol Joung, from Korea, met in New Zealand.

“I went there with a friend in 2018 and traveled the country in a van, then settled for the winter in a ski town,” he said. “Hansol worked there too, and we met there. We lived in New Zealand for three years. We got married and came here. She likes it here.”

Before coming stateside, though, Rick and his wife, who goes by Sol, stayed in Korea while her visa came through. Rick got a student visa to be able to stay there and learn Korean. He says they hope to visit Korea annually.

They’re thinking of bringing Sol’s mom here someday. Sol also has an older brother. Rick’s parents live in Green Harbor, and he has two older brothers, one in Seattle and one in New York City.

So, how did Rick end up at Shoreline?

Rick was of course aware of Marshfield Municipal Airport and sent Shoreline an email with his resume, looking to get a job for experience while in school. 4C’s also referred him to job openings. Next thing you know, he’s a part of Shoreline Aviation’s line team while studying to go into aircraft maintenance.