SJM,
I worked as a Line Service Technician towing and refueling aircraft for two different companies at a fairly busy airport, back when I was in college, working on my ratings and trying to get pilot qualified in the USAF through ROTC.
I learned quite a bit about the "people" who fly for a living and I made it a protocol to always "ask a lot of questions" of pilots doing what I thought I might want to do later in life. I learned that some aircraft were nice to look at, while others were nice to fly. I learned the importance of good aircraft maint. and how poor maint. could shut down an operation almost over night. I learned that not all pilots are the same, regardless of the fact that they might hold the same ratings. I learned that some pilots are foolish while others are very wise - some make good decisions while operating their aircraft and others don't. Some have egos the size of Texas, while others are more than willing to sit down with you over a Coke and share with you what they've learned over the years and how to avoid making the same mistakes they did when they were just getting started.
There is a TON of good "aviation related" stuff that you could learn while working on the ramp at a fairly busy airport. During such a process, you are going to meet people from all walks of life, flying aircraft from all parts of the world. I remember having the opportunity to meet with an old Stearman Pilot, who could fly the aircraft like it was meant to be flown. I remember, spending lots of hanger time with an old Navy Panther pilot who flew off the deck of aircraft carriers for years before leaving the Navy.
I refueled aircraft like the little Tiger Grumman (the very first aircraft I ever flew - and very fund, too!), all the way up to Beech 18's, Lears, Citations, Falcons, Hawkers, DC-8/9's, 727's, 757's and DC-10's. I met pilots from private up through ATP, from personal flyers up to commercial airline Captains, FOs and Combat pilots - not to mention California Highway Patrol Bell Jet Ranger pilots.
You will also have the opportunity to come in contact with some interesting people working the line, too. I saw Robert Redford, Pia Zadora and a few professional sports team members as well. You also meet the guy/gal who just a few steps ahead of where you are in your aviation career and they can help you understand what you are about to go through over the next couple of years as you progress up the ratings tree.
If I were young, still in school and had an eye on an aviation related career that involved flying, I would not do anything different as working the line exposed me to a broad range of aircraft types, pilots and operational experiences, from private to executive, charter, commuter, regional, major (United, USAir, Delta, SouthWest, etc.) and cargo (FedEx, UPS, DHL, Southern, etc.).
Of course, the most fun I ever had during that time in my life, was flying the Citaborea doing aerobatics. Of course, you already know citaborea is aerobatic spelled backwards! Working at the airport out ON THE LINE puts you right smack in the middle of it all. You get to know what aviation in general looks like, smells like, feels like and tastes like.
There is nothing like the smell of burnt Avgas and Shell oil on a Saturday morning coming off the prop wash of an aircraft. If you can think of a sweeter smell than that, let me know.
I wish you the best in your aviation endeavors!
I am 16 by the way
