I'm not set on going into aviation. I'm kinda at a fork in the road in my career. My problem is automotives doesn't offer a good career path. I absolutely do not want to run my own shop. I am a technical person, not a salesman and dislike the service advisor role. I do really enjoy teaching, if I stick in automotives I will turn wrenches for a few more years then teach at SAIT. But I basically have nowhere else to grow.Bug_Stomper_01 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 7:07 pmRLK wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 6:27 pmEvery single career has goods and bads, there is no such thing as perfect. My wife is a registered nurse, she worked shift work for many years. We would come home and tell each other about our day. I would tell her how this car had an f-ed transmission and this other car had an offline body can network. Then she would tell me that two patients died on her shift and the families were devastated. It would make my problems feel so small. But then another day she would tell me that she gave a person CRP and they survived and she felt like a hero.Bug_Stomper_01 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:18 pm
Yes but you can rely on that schedule and elect to work more if you want. It’s mandatory to work whatever is required in aviation to get the aircraft serviceable. Lots of travel and you’ll be up north for a few years to get started feeding the flys. Usually these ass hats pay a day rate while you work 16 hours.
It’s criminal man do your research before you dive into this “industry” if you can call it that. It’s just a small group of evil crooked jerks laundering money with aircraft while beating up on the aircrew, competing amongst eachother how much they can get away with by breaking basic laws of humanity and common decency.
Anyone I explain this industry to disbelieves it until they actually do it. I have had former trainees come to me years later apologizing for not listening (even tho it’s them I should apologize to for not trying harder to keep them away).
This is about the worst time to get in but I’m sure next year will be even worse. I hope you’re just doing this for the experience and not a manageable means of making a living. There is that old term “AIDS” in this industry - “Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome”. And almost everyone I know has it. The ONLY redeeming quality is the craft you will learn that takes years and years to be well rounded in. MRO’s are best for that but they know what they can get away with and pay dogsh1t too.
I digress, it’s a screwed up insane industry with almost no government and general population supporting us which further fuels the low pay and horrible working conditions. You’ve been warned, it’s a gong show and you better be ready to sacrifice a ton of time, your families well being and your finances for years.
Every job has goods and bads, you decide on what you focus on and you alone are responsible for your own attitude. I have had a very fulfilling career fixing cars, but I have done it for 20 years and kinda just want to try something new. I want to start at the bottom sweeping floors, that is how you learn. If you feel that the pay for a certain job is too low for you, don't apply. I see automotive jobs every day that I feel have too low of a wage, if some sucker takes it, so what. You get what you pay for.
I'm sorry that you have not been satisfied with your career choice, but you really only have yourself to blame for that. If you are not happy, change it.
You’re not understanding what I’m saying. I’ve had an awesome career in aviation, I’m very lucky to have the training and experienced I got while that was offered (which isn’t so easily anymore). Canada however is in the toilet, I work in the states primarily now and some for some select customers in Canada ON MY TERMS. Do what you will, you’ve been warned, just don’t expect to have a comfortable life doing this here (fixed wing or rotary). Experienced guys fixing and flying are leaving the country and the industry all together.
Automotive hit the fan about 20 years ago for menu pricing and making the flat rate so skinny, sorry you didn’t enjoy your career in automotive but that’s a choice you made. I can weigh both, I’ve been involved in both (more heavy duty that pays more but also have the 310s from many moons ago). Just don’t let aerosexuality cloud your judgement.
From following aircraft jobs for the last bunch of years. It appears that there are other roles that AME'S can go into. Like working for TC, maintenance planning or management. Unless I'm wrong? I would like to know, I don't want to be 60 years old turning bolts. I'm looking at going to WJ/AC or similar, I like how they have pension/retirement plans. Tool allowances, structured wages and a bunch of other stuff the automotive industry does not offer. Yes, pounding nights for a decade is going to suck, but I'm trying to look into the future and not drive looking down the hood.
I have completed the ICS course, it will take me about $1000-$2000 to re-tool. I'm a tenacious learner and will crush the tech exams. What do I have to loose? If it sucks, I will just go back to fixing cars.
Am I off base on anything here? I actually really do want to know, I have about 5 years into research and preparing and hearing the ugly is part of it.