I just graduated college and landed my first job and I am really enjoying my time at this place.....it is actually a great place to work...the people and the perks however i will not have the opportunity to work on the small general side of it.....cessnas, piper's.....homebuilts.....intresting, fun machines.....so I guess my question, to anyone who will entertain the question, is it good practice for an apprentice technician to go looking for a small part time gig...if they could swing it...to acquire both M1 and M2 licence? and I know that I would never "Pro Bono" my work so would it be fair to trade my time for flight time?
Look at the forum topic, "Becoming an AME." I posted a response there that may help.
In general, it' s not possible to do M1 and M2 at the same time. Regardless of experience and sign-offs in your logbook TC will make you choose (or choose for you) when you go to get your license.
To get the second rating would then require at least, and I stress this, another 12 months. In reality, much longer. In effect, TC has done away with M1, M2 mechanics. This, I think, has the potential to bite the industry, especially small operators, in the backside a decade or so from now but that's another subject.
Whether you can trade for flight time is up to individual employers. You may find someone willing to go for it.
There's nothing stopping you from doing M1 and M2 work at the same time (unless your existing employer considers it a conflict of interest). But you won't be allowed to obtain M1, M2 by TC. So, basically, why bother?
???? I have use both licences in the same hour....maybe I'm not getting what your trying to say, are you talking about just time requirements? If thats the case I think I know what your getting at...
tellyourkidstogetarealjob wrote:Perhaps I should clarify.
There's nothing stopping you from doing M1 and M2 work at the same time (unless your existing employer considers it a conflict of interest). But you won't be allowed to obtain M1, M2 by TC. So, basically, why bother?
I got my M1 and M2 licences on the same day. Apprenticing for a company that operated both and having enough logbook tasks entered on each was all it took at the end of my apprenticeship to be granted both ratings. Flyboy_172, if you can find the work on M1 aircraft, enter all of it in your logbook including duplicates of what you have entered for M2 aircraft (if you have "replace flight control" for an M2 cat., also enter the same task for an M1 cat. when the task is completed). If you have as many M1 tasks as M2 tasks entered, how could TC possibly grant you one rating and not the other one?!?! Good luck.
You didn't read my post on the other forum, did you?
TCAS, you might've got M1,M2 on the same day but I doubt it was in the last five years.
In summary, TC decided approximately, five or six years ago, that four years of apprenticeship would only get you an M1 or M2. To get both would require another 12 months(in theory, more on this below). This was done without consultation of the industry or the training schools. In fact, even many TC inspectors were unaware of it and in some areas continued to issue a few licenses with both ratings - if you're one of these, TCAS, consider yourself lucky.
However, in practice, to get both is highly unlikely. This is because to be obtainable would require the ability to work on both M1 and M2 aircraft. The problem is, if you worked at a shop with both aircraft, it would almost certainly take more than 12 months to get the second rating.
Why? Because TC would almost certainly piss you around arguing you don't work all the time on the other rating and would split hairs with you about how much time you spend doing so. So your 12 months could easily turn into 2 or 3 years.
Of course, you could always quit your job and go to a shop that has the rating you require exclusively. But who would work at least 4 years to get licensed then quit and get another job at an apprentice wage (because you don't have their rating they would not likely pay licensed wages for 12 months)? And, at that, you are gambling TC doesn't jack you around at the last minute or arbitrarily change the rules without warning to make your efforts worthless.
In effect, the joint M1, M2 license has been eliminated.
The ones who will pay the price in the future I suspect will be small M1 operators and private owners who get AME's to do their maintenance. Older mechanics who might be willing to do a semi-retirement job working on small stuff won't have this avenue open anymore.
That'll take 10 or 15 years to be felt which will give TC plenty of time to blame some other factor in the industry except for their own decisions.
tellyourkidstogetarealjob wrote:TCAS, you might've got M1,M2 on the same day but I doubt it was in the last five years.
November 2002. We have also had guys within the last 2 years earn both ratings as well. Perhaps our TC office didn't get the memo, but everyone knows different TC offices and inspectors do things differently. I think it is just another scar on the industry if they aren't willing to grant both ratings if the time and experience is logged.
I too know of guys reciently who have gotten both ratings at the same time. I, myself had only gotten my M1 as I barely had any time on M2 AC. Now I am just finishing my 12 months for M2... but I am working on the Metro and have been told by TC that it is both a M1 and M2 AC how would that work if you were just an apprentice.
Flyboy if you are looking for a place that might help you with your fly time, try a local flying club as some hold AMO certificates or could steer you to the AME that does their maintenance. You could probally wing it so you could go on your days off from your regular job, and seeing that this probally does not affect your employers business they wouldn't care as long as you don't miss work.
I just handed my books into transport recently; and although half my apprenticship is M1 and the other half M2 and i am now working in a shop with both, i must choose ONE. I personaly believe its BS seeing as 566 Appendix A says 12 months for each for specialty; but hey the best you can do is throw TC a tube of KY and hope for the best.
however i will not have the opportunity to work on the small general side of it.....cessnas, piper's.....homebuilts.....intresting, fun machines.....so I guess my question, to anyone who will entertain the question, is it good practice for an apprentice technician to go looking for a small part time gig...if they could swing it...to acquire both M1 and M2 licence? and I know that I would never "Pro Bono" my work so would it be fair to trade my time for flight time? 
