feature Industry professionalism S T O R Y F B Y our years ago, I wrote a story about professionalism and posed a few rhetorical questions. I asked what a profession is, what professionalism is, and whether or not avionics technicians are professionals. It's a subject worthy of review. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 50 50 avionics news avionics news * * august 2014 august 2014 T H O M A S I N M A N professionalism is conduct that characterizes or marks a profession. In addition, it defines a profession as a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation, or a principle calling, vocation or employment. Another definition regards payment - we get paid, and amateurs do not; therefore, we are professional.