AME 's' question

[msand_20]

I am interested in starting a career as an AME. I am leaning towards a structures program with either BCIT or UFV, but I am also interested in the avionics side. I have a few questions that I was hoping someone could answer. What is the availability for overseas work for a licensed AME S? Would it be best to try a find a company that does sheet metal and composite work for an apprenticeship seeing that modern planes are making more and more use of composites. I have a mechanical engineering technology diploma would this be or any use in the field or help with getting a position? Would getting a welding ticket or ndt certification down the line increase a AME employability or wages? Could I hope of getting a position in victoria or vancouver? Are there jobs for structure guys in helicopters?

thanks
msand_20

[PJ1]

run forest run, crazy fool gettin into planes.

[bern]

that peter what a simple man

[bern]

just because you couldn't hack it doesn't mean others can't

[PJ1]

Keek on trolling there little buddy..........I never had a problem working on aircraft, it was the other stuff stagnant pay, the midnight shifts, lay off's, watching slugs get lead positions due to seniority lists, tired of being a number and treated like one, and the general lack of respect for the AME that pushed me out the door.

[SeptRepair]

I am interested in starting a career as an AME. I am leaning towards a structures program with either BCIT or UFV, but I am also interested in the avionics side. I have a few questions that I was hoping someone could answer. What is the availability for overseas work for a licensed AME S? Would it be best to try a find a company that does sheet metal and composite work for an apprenticeship seeing that modern planes are making more and more use of composites. I have a mechanical engineering technology diploma would this be or any use in the field or help with getting a position? Would getting a welding ticket or ndt certification down the line increase a AME employability or wages? Could I hope of getting a position in victoria or vancouver? Are there jobs for structure guys in helicopters?

thanks
msand_20

Wow my friend, you’re all over the map on what you want to do. S, E, and M licenses are all disciplines on their own. NDT is as well a ticket that can vary on levels of certification. Most shops will have training for their engineers to do basic NDT (level 1 LPI) on the aircraft when needed. Big shops have their own departments if warranted. Welding is a separate ticket from aviation. I know of only two guys currently who are certified welders working in AMO's, they tend to be few and far between. So to answer your question, holding a welding ticket, and being an S licensed engineer makes you very employable and the wage should reflect it. There are companies that hire out there S guys for jobs around the world. If you want to learn composite and sheet metal there are shops, I don’t know of too many on the west coast that excel in both. Composites are a way of the future, but learn basic sheet metal first and later on in your career switch to composite if you want. There are jobs in both cities but be prepared to eat K.D. a lot for the first few years. Yes there are S guys in helicopters (I am one.) Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

[bern]

Keek on trolling there little buddy..........I never had a problem working on aircraft, it was the other stuff stagnant pay, the midnight shifts, lay off's, watching slugs get lead positions due to seniority lists, tired of being a number and treated like one, and the general lack of respect for the AME that pushed me out the door.

i guess thats part of not hacking it you could say!!!!think wall of fame

[johnkruk]

My advise would be go for the E side of things first! Its better to have as much trianing with this elec/nav then you could do the ics course latter to get your M licence. I have worked with a few guys who have done it this way and they seem father ahead then the guys who just have M.
But i knda agree you are all over the place M, E, S and NDT? What do you really want?
And the only place I can think of in BC that has all the work you want would be cascade aerospace if you are willing to work in a sweatshop.

[msand_20]

Thanks for the replies, they answer a lot of my questions. I know that I am all over the place. I have been in and out of post secondary for 5 years trying to figure out what I want to do, I have dabbled in chemistry, physics, astronomy and I picked up a engineering technologist diploma along the way, but nothing has clicked. The aviation industry caught my interest as it seems like a good way to do something technical that allow me to work with my hands, the idea of being a cad monkey or writing technical reports for the rest of my life is not very appealing. Now I suppose I'll just have to decide m,e or s.

[b1ngnx33]

Knowing what I know, I would rather be

a) CAD monkey

b) Writing technical reports

You really want to work with your hands?

Find something else.

This is very politically incorrect, and very offensive.

Here goes :

Fixing a plane is like fixing a woman.

She is never wrong, she is unfixable, and she is always going to fight you over every inch, nut, and bolt.

Computers....turn it off, turn it back on. If that doesn't do it, repeat and rinse.

I still like planes, I hate fixing them.

Planes are as user-friendly as a time bomb. One mistake and its over. ONE mistake.

Goddam it.