Changing Careers: Aircraft Mechanic

[Andy Perreault]

After kicking around the idea for many years, I decided to go back to college to get my Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. I presently work as a truck driver for a major cargo airline, and I have at least 17 years to go until I can retire. I just can’t see myself driving trucks for that many years!

The final thing that convinced me to stop dreaming and get going was a newspaper article that a co-worker showed me. The article talked about the shortage of A&P’s nationwide. Not many young people are entering the field, and a lot of older guys are retiring. Northwest Airlines’ mechanics just got a new contract, with a top pay of $37/hr. The other airlines’ mechanics unions are sure to demand a similar raise.

So, anyway, I’ve been waffling over the idea of going back to school for many years, and I finally decided to get off my butt and do it. I start this fall at a local community college. BTW, my employer will pay for it with their tuition refund program .

As a side benefit, I can put a lot of my education to use on my truck, like machining, metal fabricating, electrical, hydraulics? (you never know!), etc.

Are there any A&P’s on these forums?

Andy

 

[Doc Tinker]

Andy,



Good luck with the schooling. That $37/hr sure is a great incentive.



I'm sitting here trying to figure out what you'd "fabricate" on an airliner. Guess I don't want to know.



Doc

 

[Tim Hayosh]

I've been an A&P for 8 years and trying to find another career. I hate to be a pesimest (sp. ), but you're not gonna walk out of A&P school and make $37/hour. Almost no airline will hire you without experience. If your school had any planes, they will probably be of the cessna type. That's a long way from an Airbus.



By the way, once you finish school, get your licenses, and get that first break and go to work for somebody, you'll be working the grave yard shift for years. (HINT: Look at what time this is being posted!)



Working on planes is fun, but car mech's make ALOT more money. And, if you screw up, no one dies.



Sorry to rain on your parade. Just wanted to let you know the grass isn't always greener.

 

[illflem]

Andy, when I was getting out of the apple business I checked into the Big Bend CC, in Moses Lake, AMT program, which is supposedly excellent and the state would have paid for in a worker reeducation program. What turned me off was the employment offers that Big Bend has on their website, I would of thought that an aircraft mechanic would make more money, they were all a far cry from $37/hr. http://www.wa.gov/careerguide/v0/career/jobs/job3116.html

 

[JConley]

I have been an A&P for about 10 years. I also got my IA rating. I found another career. I really like working on aircraft, and the 14 months of school was worth every penny. I worked on general aviation aircraft. I preferred this since I could work on the whole plane rather than starting out at a major airline removing seats for the first few years. After about 5 years, it got pretty mundane working on the same thing over and over. In general aviation, a Cessna 182 is just like every other Cessna 182, and after taking about 5 of them apart and putting them back together, its gets boring. Its not all gloom and doom as I make it out to be. My first job out of A&P school was doing recip enging overhauls. I learned a lot, and I really enjoyed the work. The only problem was when the weather turned bad, people stopped flying, and the work slowed down. Moving up in the A&P world is pretty slow, so you have to decide if paying your dues is worth the effort. I am using my A&P skills to restore my Mustang, and working on the Ram. My A&P might come in to use at a later date if my son wants to fly (I. e third generation pilot) Someday, I would like to build a plane that my son and I could fly.



Now, I work as a Network Administrator. Things are always changing, and there is always something new coming out. I like to learn new things which is why I like the computer world. Piston engine aircraft still use the same technology from 40 years ago, and this isnt going to change any time soon. I also agree that auto mechanics make more money, and the working hours are better. If you go into the computer training with as much drive and determination that A&P school takes, you could make twice as much as an A&P.

 

[Doc Tinker]

One thing Andy has going for him, is that he's already an insider. Don't you think after paying for his training that his employer will let him transfer? It sounds like Andy's at the right place, at the right time.



Don't let these guys scare you out of it Andy. The worst that can happen is you'll stay a truck driver for 17 more years. Having the degree will allow you to advance to management, you can always take that route if you don't become a mechanic.



Doc

 

[Archive]

Andy... congrats on your choices! I wish you the very best.

 

[Andy Perreault]

I appreciate the frank, realistic comments. I know I won't be starting out at $37/hr. I know that I won't be a line mechanic off the bat. The company I work for puts the greenhorns to work at the major hangars in Memphis and L. A. A manager told me that they will be hiring 600 mechanics in the next few years. After putting in my time in either Memphis or L. A. , I can bid on jobs posted weekly all over the country. And if I don't like the location, 18 months later I can bid on another one. By the time I finish school I will have 15 years of seniority. My employer doesn't pay as high as the major passenger airlines, but the top out pay right now is $10/hr more than I'm making as a topped-out truck driver, and rumor has it that a/c mx will be getting a pretty good raise soon, because people are moving on. Well, if they are moving on, that just makes it easier for me to get in. As I stand right now, I won't make any more money in truck driving until the next cost of living adjustment. I've reached the top, and this is it. However, getting into a/c mx will get me off the road. I've grown tired of all the baloney I have to put up with, from both management and the general public. There's a lot more that would require a long reply and will bore you to death.

This is the best alternative for me. I like airplanes, I like working with my hands, and I have an excellent mechanical ability. I will make more money without having to become a suit-and-tie Dilbert-type cubicle-dweller for the rest of my life. I've put in many years with this company and I have a nice big 401K in building up. It makes more sense for me to stay with this company than start out fresh somewhere else. By becoming an aircraft mechanic, I can move laterally within the company to a better paying and more enjoyable job.

So, don't worry about raining on my parade. I'm going to do it anyway. It won't be the best job, but by the time I finish school, I'll be halfway to retirement. That's how far down the road I'm looking.

 

[Andy Perreault]

Originally posted by Doc Tinker

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what you'd "fabricate" on an airliner.

What I meant was, I will learn more about metal fabrication, etc. in school. I know welding (although it's been a while), and I know a bit about sheet metal work, but I've always wanted to learn machining. I toured the school that I will be attending, they have machine, welding, and sheet metal shops. The instructor told me, "If you have some kind of project you want to work on, bring it in, you can use the equipment here. " I already have plans for building my own gauge & switch panel. More ideas are in the works, some which may appeal to other TDR members. Just give me a few more years and I may have my own business on the side, selling stuff to you guys!

Andy

 

[Pine Sap]

Andy, I've been in the aviation industry for 26 years and was a jet engine mechanic for 13 of those which included overhauling, testing, installing and final testing of engines in the aircraft for the Navy and the USMC.



I have long since gone into management, but most of the mechanics where I work are lining up to get their A&P licenses. All of our military depots are under the threat of privitization and that means these license will be vey handy if and when that happens.



If you like turning wrenches and you are very organized... aviation is the way to go. Most of the saftey issues that could cause a mishap deal with laziness/inatention to details. You just need to keep sharp, ask questions and don't ever become a "know-it-all"... even if you do know it all .



good luck.

 

[WOWZY]

About 10 years ago I was dating this girl that had to bug me every time I worked on my Blazer. She would practically beg me to let her help, but I refused.



We parted ways a few months later and I haven't seen her until the other day. I asked her how she was doing and she replied very good! I asked her where she was working and she said that she has been working as an airline mechanic for 6 years.



I was impressed.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Yeah WOWSY, and now she's making 37 bucks an hour and would be happy to change your lift pump on the Cummins over the weekend. What a loser



Doc

 

[merryman]

One of my sons is A/P licensed, and he found that to get a job with realistic pay he had to go to a major city. To work in southern Oregon where he wanted to live, he had to take a job that paid just a few bucks over minimum wage, as there were plenty of air mechanics who want to live here.

He now has a well drilling business.



Vaughn

 

[EMDDIESEL]

When CSX was hiring conductors last year, we had a bunch of retired cops and postal workers plus one guy who was 63. He is a great worker in a physically demanding job that has no set schedule and no mercy for the weather. My point is, its never to old to start something new, no matter what the job. Go for it.

 

[WOWZY]

Doc,

The ole lady said that she better keep her hands off my lift pump!

 

[DRR-24V]

Andy,

I would go for it in a heartbeat. Sounds like you have nothing to loose. Most job oppertunities will be near major citys, but if given a choice between LA and Memphis I would not be in LA.

 

[Gunny]

Andy, Good luck dude. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Besides I've got this great idea for a new air-box and induction system, get your self next to that fabricating thing, never can tell maybe the next time an idea comes along you will be ready. Best Of luck on your new indeavor. Gunny

 

[Andy Perreault]

EMD Diesel, that was another possibility I was considering, becoming a railroad engineer. But, I haven't researched it, I don't know what kind of opportunities are there. I talked to an engineer once when I was out watching trains on Stevens Pass. He was sitting at a siding waiting for an oncoming train, so I got to talking to him. He told me "You have to work 30 years before you can retire. " I'm not exactly sure what he meant by that. Also, he told me that I make more per hour as a truck driver than he does, but he works a lot of hours. He also told me that he never has a full day off. I don't know, he sounded like he was disgruntled and I'm sure he was exaggerating.

As for changing employers, I'd just hate to give up all of these years of seniority, 4 weeks vacation, etc. , and start out at the bottom of the ladder somewhere else as the low man on the totem pole. I want to retire as soon as I possibly can, not start out on a career that I'd have to work for umpteen years before I can retire.



Don Rogers, given a choice, I'd take L. A. , mainly because I can move back in with mom and dad and live 20 minutes from work! I've been to Memphis... no thanks!



I agree with the comments about needing to live only in major cities. Those are the only ones my company flies to, anyway, so I'm already prepared for that. Too bad, though, I like the small town/rural lifestyle. Oh well, if I can tough it out for 17 more years, I can retire and move out to the boonies.

Thanks for the comments, guys, it's always good to get input from all angles and listen to various voices of experience.

Andy

 

[R.ebel]

Job change

Andy, I made the switch 9 years ago and have never looked back Good luck!

 

[apkole]

career changes

No fear guys. I've learned that what counts for economic survival is your ability to learn and aquire new skills. I



f you make no change, where will you be in 10 years. If you are content with the answer, stick where you are at. If you are dissatisfied with the answer, figger out what you would be most happy doing, ("nothing" is not a valid answer), explore what it would take to qualify for that particular endeavor, do a cost/benefit analysis, and if it looks good, go for it!! Life is too short to hate going into work every day. I



try to go for the "least hassle, best personal fulfillment, best pay" evaluation. If I can make the mortgage, feed the family and take some RNR and put a little away for retirement, I figger I've hit it pretty close.



Andy



Hint: They say the second million $$ comes easier than the first, so I skipped the first and am working on the second.