All you airplane techs out there...

[Hammerhead1st]

Not sure how many people here work at airports, but I was checking into an airframe/powerplant school in Atlanta, and before I commit to 18 months of schooling (at age 36), I'd love to have some input on things like pay scale, holidays, benefits, hours you work, etc., etc.

I have 8 kids here in my home with my fiance', so every decision that gets made is weighed very heavily before anything gets done. I'm looking for something I can support my whole herd with right from the start. I make 14.21 an hour right now with Union benefits and 40+ hour workweeks, but with 3 teens and 4 pre-teens, and a 2 year old...it just isn't enough. Not to mention the 3 dogs and 50lbs of dog food every week. OY....it's enough to make one cringe a little bit.

SOOO...any info you can send my way would be appreciated!!

[prometheus578]

'Don't know about New York..."

...who does.(and who really cares)
But anyway... here's Wa.
Numbers might not be the same, but it's info.
http://www.workforceexplorer.com//cg...rea=5301000000

[jetmechmarty]

You had best like working out in the cold....at night....in the rain...on weekends and holidays. You had best be prepared to move...a lot.

It could work out well for you, but it is a tough industry.

[Wildkat]

Turning a negative into a positive...

We now celebrate every holiday for a week... at least John can enjoy some of it at one point... Took a few years of missed Christmases to finally get accustomed to that one... The kids are usually chomping at the bit by the time he gets home Christmas afternoon... It's almost amusing to watch them (in some sadistic manner....)
(what do you mean you can't be sadistic at Christmas?)


If you are lucky enough to get employed at a hub... you may not have to move so much... but it is REALLY tough right now...

[Hammerhead1st]

Ok...outdoor work I can handle...I trimmed trees for utility lines for 6 years...

long hours are good with me, I drove a truck for 6 years.

At this point, I believe things at home are changing to the point where moving actually looks good to me. SOOO

The week after Memorial Day I'm heading to Atlanta, to school at Briscoe Field. Taking the Exploder, the XS, and whatever else will fit in the trailer. My older boys will come to live when I get settled in a place.

Actually thinking someplace in TN might work well, it's not a bad commute to GA from there. I dunno...at this point, anything's better than sitting in NY and not being able to afford the air tax (ok, there isnt one yet but I'm SURE it's coming.)New place, new start, new career, new attitude...Here's hoping...

[planedick]

So

Did Hillary screw up NY that bad? Folks in Woodhull think so and say they wouldn't vote for her no matter what.

[mastan]

It's a tough industry. The days of the airlines providing good paying jobs is long gone. Much of the maintenance is now outsourced. Airlines with international destinations now outsource much of their maintenance to foreign workers.
It's a great industry if you are a CEO. You just come in, run the company into the ground, and take off with the booty.
The industry is in a strange transition now with the price of oil and merger mania running rampant. I hate to sound negative and don't want to discourage you from pursuing your dream, but it is what it is.
Mark

[wingnut]

I have to agree with Mark its a tough industry. Had my A&P since 1978. I did the 3 year apprenticeship and got an associate degree in the process. Thing about the 18 month schools is you will be exposed to every aspect of aviation maintenance. From dope & fabric repair to the internal workings of gas turbine engines, to pressurization systems, to the correct procedure for repacking wheel bearings. That's what it take to pass the written, oral and piratical exams Its a lot like the medical professions. Tons of information and most people end up specializing. Problem is when you come out of the school with that brand new A&P license you will have a great general knowledge. Any potential employer will recognize that but... He is not going to turn you loose on a multi million dollar aircraft. To him you will have proven that you are a trainable individual and he will want to pay you accordingly. Until you are a proven inenity. The 3 main fields within the industry are ATR (airline transport) mostly union and becoming more and more outsourced, BGA (Business and General Aviation) high dollar for the corporate stuff and work your butt off to make a dollar on the little stuff, and Military which is owned by you guessed it Uncle Sam or the OEMs in the manufacturing sector. Depending what is available in your area you will find jobs within the industry that require the license or you could go to work for one of the repair stations which will cover your work under their license. Mostly the A&P will one get your foot in the door before the guy without it and may be about .50 to 1.00 more an hour than the guy without it. On the plus side you will always have it and maybe find a way to do a little tailgate maintenance on the side at the local airport if you want to. Check out PAMA http://pama.org/content.asp?contentid=247
They have a real good finger on the pulse of the industry

Dave

[Pat Kelly]

My father has as a pilot and mechanic all his life (turned 80 years old last year). It's the only job he's ever done.
About 15 years ago the FAA had a banquet in his honor as the only person ever to be a certified pilot and mechanic for over 50 years (at that time) with no violations or accidents and only unemployed 3 days that whole time. I don't think the FAA had been around back then, it was civil aviation admin. or something like that.
He used to fly charter hauling passengers and cargo. When I was born (1959) he was a crop-duster. When I was 6 he changed jobs (see the above 3 days unemployed) to fire-fighting (slurry or borate bomber). He never flew in the military (never have gotten a straight answer how he got out of that).
The first plane I remember him flying in this job was a TBM. A few years later it was (my favorite) an F7F Tigercat.
The life was tough. In the summer he lived 150 miles away and we'd visit him on the weekends in the sumer. When winter came they'd switch from flying to maintainence and we'd be in school so he'd come home on the weekends.
When I was 14 my parents divorced. He and I drifted apart. I was quite angry at him. We have since mended and talk quite often and visit when able to.
He always made very good money but never seemed to send any our (his family) way, it was always being saved. It wasn't just being frugal, I had to wrap my sneakers in duct tape because of the holes in the soles. Same for the holes in my jeans, etc.
Like others have said, it can be tough. There is money to be made, but times are changing.

At 80 years old he still has his pilots license. He hasn't retired yet.

[Hammerhead1st]

Wow, you guys all seem to have the same opinions. I can't ignore the great advice given to me by members here. I think adversity seems to drive me, and I DO want that AAS in Applied Science, but perhaps I'll do some fishing around and see if there's other areas I can apply my studies to.

Meantime, I have a Class A CDL I can fall back on for income while schooling.

Have to admit though, Ga has always been a favorite destination of mine and I WILL enjoy being there while I am. I'm still going, with MUCH new GOOD advice and knowledge. Thank you all who responded, I know this isn't really the place for posting this stuff, but really....THANK YOU!!!

[jetmechmarty]

There are a lot of good technical jobs in this country. Probably the best is in the medical field. We haven't stopped caring for the sick or figured out how to send them overseas for repairs. Hospitals are full of technical equipment that requires service and repair.

The automotive industry is always short of GOOD technicians. You pay your dues and you can work your way into a rewarding career.

A & P mechanics were once more highly compensated than any other technicians. Some are still good. UPS pays $43 per hour. There is tough competition for these jobs.

[Shappers]

Have to agree with you there Marty,

I spent half my working life fixing aircraft as an Avionic Engineer. I got to 35 and realised I was never going to get rich or progress very far in an industry that's getting squeezed tighter and tighter.

I started again in the healthcare industry as an MRI Engineer, after 2 years I was back to the same salary, now after 6 years I'm way ahead and business is booming. People never stop getting old or sick that's for sure.

My experience is that ex-aircraft people are especially welcomed in other occupations as they known to be trained to a high level and when they do a job, it gets done right!

Good luck with what you decide..

[Hammerhead1st]

Ok, so you guys are honest...

I still want the education, the AAS, the GA beauty and sunshine. I can use that education in a LOT of other fields and make decent money at it. In the meantime, I plan to fall back on my CDL or other experience for income.

To be honest, I just wanted a change of scenery and lifestyle, and the school offered that for me. They gave me an out, a place to stay, and motivation to get there. I'm so sick of NYS I could just hurl. One thing I've wanted to do for a long time is spend some time in the Smoky Mts Nat'l Park. SOOOO...

Memorial Day weekend is the target date for making the trip to GA. Classes begin June 13th, so I'll have a little R & R time, but not really much in the way of cash to play. However, I DO plan to do some riding in the area to get to know my surroundings...at least, that's what I'm telling SWMBO...