A&P License acquisition

[ForesterAME]

I was looking for some guidance in getting my A&P license. I am currently M1 & M2 engineer here in canada. would like to know which form i need to submit to FAA?, which is the better choice for schools that are near Alberta for a quick FAA regs course and testing? or link to step by step process would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx for the help

[bombardierfixer]

http://www.avtech-exams.com/

This is where I did mine. Good place, you will be done quick. Its not that cheap and its in riverside CA. BUT you will get it if you put a little work into it. You can go the cheaper closer route through Great falls or Helena but you have to get the material together, book the tests, re-book if you screw up, find a guy who will do the oral practical, blah blah blah...if you are serious give the guys at Avtech a call and get'er done.

[GyvAir]

Most people I know have gone the self study route. It does require at least one extra trip across the border, but if you're efficient, you can save hotel and time off work money for sure.

Whichever route you go, you'll need to seek approval in person at a FSDO first if you don't already have it. That's trip number one.
The A&P fast track school may have things set up to allow you to get your approval when you arrive there. Bombardierfixer may have the answer to that?

FSDO locations:
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/

Read the following pdfs; they will cover a lot of your questions on approval:
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/fie ... 0Sheet.pdf
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/fie ... esting.pdf

If you're going to self study, buy the three A&P test study guides from Jepp or ASA. You can download the question banks from the FAA website, but the books give some text that helps explain the question material. Well worth the $60 investment. Dig out your old AME texts from school. Sit down and read for a few hours a day for a few weeks. Find a testing centre near you and go write the tests. Trip number 2.

Find yourself a DME (Designated Mechanic Examiner) close to you. Be prepared to pay him $400 to $800 for his time to give you an oral and practical exam. Trip number 3.

Note: The money you pay the DME is for his time and expertise to evaluate your knowledge and abilities, not for him to give you a pass regardless of performance. In other words, show up prepared!

Testing and DME locations:
http://www.faa.gov/mechanics/testing/

[ForesterAME]

A1 for info on obtaining the A&P license

Cheers

[ForesterAME]

where in YYC can on pick up the test guide books?

[bombardierfixer]

Yeah there is a FSDO office next door to the school. I'm lazy and the thing I liked about the school is that's all right there. I got my approval though before hand in San Jose while I was visiting my sister. They will explain what you need but you just cant show up with your license as proof of time (dumb I know) you will need to get a letter from transport and dig out your log book too, you are dealing with bureaucrats. You may need a letter from your boss saying why you need a A&P too, little protectionism going on.

[ForesterAME]

I am contractor so a letter from boss not going to happen. Main reason for getting A&P is to open more doors for overseas work or contracts south of border. I believe AV tech is going to be the way I go. Plus I'm sure the wife who works online wouldnt mind 2 weeks in CA. lol

Bombardierfixer AJ say hi.

Cheers

[GyvAir]

You will definitely need the letter stating your need for having an A&P certificate. If you get on a contract with a company that's doing work on N registered aircraft you may be able to sweet talk someone drafting something suitable.

Books can be had from aviationworld.net. They're a canadian company based in Toronto. Their shipping charges aren't bad at all.

There is definitely a case to be made for the fast track schools. You will get it done and get on with life, as bombardierfixer says... that doesn't always happen when we try to make time in the regular day for such things as studying! I personally wouldn't show up without approval in hand first, as a foreign applicant.

The first pdf I posted is referring to the Frankfurt IFO, but the information is generic as far as I can see, with the exception of the interview appointments being scheduled only on one day a month. That definitely wasn't the case with the FSDOs I've dealt with in the US.

[bombardierfixer]

FYI, you are the president are you not? Can you not write a letter for yourself? I think that is a option, bit of a cheeky one but it still may work. Are you a American? If you are no letter required.

[ForesterAME]

I thought about that. Worth a shot.

Cheers

[freud]

I would also recommend Avtech, down in CA. I received my A&P last Oct through them, and found that their "methods" to be excellent. The only person that was interested in my letter, from my employer, was the boarder guard (making sure I wasn't taking an American job away). Best of luck (the weather is nice this time of year)

[bombardierfixer]

Re boarder guard:

You are going down on vacation. All you need to take with you is your info and your wallet.

[GyvAir]

Re boarder guard:

You are going down on vacation. All you need to take with you is your info and your wallet.

I wouldn't recommend that approach, personally. If you have nothing to hide, why risk getting caught trying to hide it?

[ameguy721]

Write your writen tests when you go to the FSDO meeting. The A&P prepware has the whole bank of 3000 questions. Don't study, just memorize them. I wrote one of my tests in 9 minutes and got 96%. I did mine is Seattle, the FSDO and the Aviation Training Center (thats the proper name) are 10 minutes apart. Did it all in a day. No hotel just flew in on the first flight of the day, out in the afternoon.

If you go anywhere but the Dallas school of Aeronautics in Addison Texas for your oral/practical you are wasting your time and money. You will be in and out in 2 hours. Guarenteed pass.

[dashx]

Guarenteed pass

Is that so? I was(personally) there when Jerry failed one applicant on an oral exam (spoke to him after at the hotel). But then by speaking with the individual I could see he was not prepared......Back in one moth to retry (hope he was successful). They sure do help once you are on site you but ..........

Having said that I heard they have closed shop but I see their website is still up.
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Sometimes being a employee has its privileges.

[ameguy721]

They were still in operation as of November (had a coworker go).

When I say guaranteed pass,I am assuming a base level of competence.

[dashx]

Oh this guy was qualified. Unfortunately English was not his first language...........

BTW its now Feb (almost March) not November. Not being sarcastic (just lazy/not calling Texas to find out for myself).