A worker in the USA has broken the world record for the longest-serving airline mechanic. Azriel Blackman, 91, started work in 1942, aged 16. He has been working for 75 years. His starting salary was 50 cents an hour. The nonagenarian works five days a week, starting at 5am at JFK International Airport. His age means his employers stop him doing some tasks for safety reasons. He is not allowed to climb up ladders, drive on the runways or use certain tools. He is responsible for assessing the maintenance needs of the airplanes that park in the hangars overnight.
Mr Blackman has been recognized for his dedication. His employer dedicated a plane in his honor. His signature was painted on the front of an American Airlines Boeing 777. The 91-year-old received a standing ovation from his colleagues at the naming ceremony. Blackman said: "I'm proud to be a mechanic." Reporters asked him about the secret behind his record. He said: "When you like what you do, it's not work." When asked about retirement, he said: "That's not up to me. That's up to the man upstairs….When I get up in the morning…I say 'thank you for another day'."