pipe trades or AME

[iflyforpie]

Being a plumber? I wonder whose crapper your going to be sticking you hand down today. Sorry, I'll take AME any day.

+1

Although some aircraft you get to do both. I don't work on anything with a lav anymore...

[Pat Richard]

how many plumbers fist toilets on graveyards, weekends, holidays for the same money AME's get?

Besides, thats the worst case scenario of a plumbers duties. I know 2 individuals who are ticketed plumbers, and they do new installs almost exclusively, in business for themselves, at 90 bucks an hour +parts markup. Been busy as hell with kitchen/bathroom renos and new build stuff.

Yeah, I'd rather be an AME too....

[iflyforpie]

My uncle has been a plumber for ten years and sure he makes more than I do, but not exorbitantly so. Certainly not enough for me to even remotely consider changing careers.

If you want lots of money, great hours, and you aren't too concerned about what the job entails; I hear being a gigolo is a pretty good profession...

[conehead]

Never stuck your hand down a crapper as an AME?

[PJ1]

Plumber 100%

Wish I could trade in my M1M2. Even with the union bullshit, way better lifestyle and money. Go hang out at the flying club on the weekend's if you are horned up for aviation. (You can watch the poor guy's working weekends for shit money)

plumber yes, AME no.

[212wrench]

I spent the last 20 years as an AME, obviously in rotary. Have had a great career. Traveled all over Canada, worked in every western US state, heliskied for free and have made around 100K each of the last ten years. Good company benefits, matched RSP's, never laid off. Have I had to work hard? Of course. Do plumbers work hard? Of course. Would I rather be an AME than a plumber? Of course. Now the why. I love aviation. Always have. I don't know a lot about a lot of stuff, but I do know something and one of the realities is, never do a job just for the money. Do something you love. If you make a fortune, bonus, if you don't, you will still be happy.
If you don't like being an AME, and obviously some of you don't, get out. Because of your profession you have a lot of skills that can take you into other fields.
Just my two bits, feel free to try and slaughter this, I don't care. I am happy.

[electraguy]

Good call 212. Ever since I got into the aviation industry, I have bumped into the whiners and complainers everywhere. Now thats not to say that the same does not go for other industries, but if your dislike aviation so much, get out and go do something else. Plenty of others have, and it will allow some jobs for the guys who want to be there.

[The Weasel]

Besides, thats the worst case scenario of a plumbers duties. I know 2 individuals who are ticketed plumbers, and they do new installs almost exclusively, in business for themselves, at 90 bucks an hour +parts markup. Been busy as hell with kitchen/bathroom renos and new build stuff.

So, why don't you become a plumber then? Just take the plunge (no pun intended) and do it. Isn't there some internet forum for all you people dreaming of becoming plumbers to talk amongst yourselves?

[The Weasel]

I'm with 212wrench on this one. The money, respectable employers, and reasonable work schedules are out there. Like with any other career, if you stick it out and put in your time, the rewards will come.

[chowda]

What are you smoking??

I want some too.

[iflyforpie]

I know 2 individuals who are ticketed plumbers, and they do new installs almost exclusively, in business for themselves, at 90 bucks an hour +parts markup.

$90/hr. Except it isn't every hour you work. Driving to and from the job site, driving to and from the supplier to get parts, none of this is billed. I doubt that you could get 2080 billable hours per year unless you put in half again or more time. Parts markup covers inventory you have to carry, not too much more. And then there is the GST and possibly PST that you have to pass on to the government. Then there is the capital costs (nice spread PJ1, but are you ever going to get that capital back or are you going to sink more into it?), accountants, lawyers, advertising. Then there is write offs for people who decide they aren't going to pay you, the free hours worked to fix screw ups. Then there is the lack of EI if the economy goes south...

The trades around here got killed this last year. All the toys are for sale. Then you find out that the grass isn't really greener, it's just how people exercise their credit based on what they think they are going to make.

If you plumber wannabes didn't care about aviation or like it some way, you wouldn't be wasting your time here. I enjoy my weekends off, my two weeks of Christmas vacation, lots of other time off spread through the rest of the year, use of a company plane at cost, use of the hangar for my own projects, working for great people in a beautiful part of the world, and my consistent paycheques. My wife likes it too. Plus I get to work on planes!

[conehead]

Isn't there some internet forum for all you people dreaming of becoming plumbers to talk amongst yourselves?

Found it!

http://www.plumbingzone.com/

[Pat Richard]

The question was posted here, not a plumbing site. There's a comparison being made, between two options, listing pros's and cons between the 2, or did you miss the thread topic?? why dont you go find warm and fuzzy aviation maintenance site? Im willing to bet you will not find one that has any frequency of traffic. Wonder why....
Also, how many other trades leave most graduates on average near 20G in debt, and give them a wage expectancy of $15 a/hr range? Answer that cheerleaders, and don't even touch on lifestyles.

I'll leave you this, I've been vocal in the past talking about shite companies by name. Why don't you sound off on all the GREAT aviation employers, with facts to back it up?? Put up or stfu.
It must make you guys so sad that so many in this business see it for what it is, and dont want to discuss the latest TC maintainer or ice pilots program on the most frequented canadian aviation site. Reality is a bitch.

It is sweet that a few of you have managed to find each other here though, maybe you guys can start your own club.....

[212wrench]

Its always easier to bitch and complain than to be positive. The internet is full of folks who can do no better than bitch and complain. Go to any forum site and you will find that the majority of posters are negative. I will repeat what I said, IF YOU DON"T LIKE IT, QUIT. Whose holding the gun to your head? Go do something else.

[conehead]

Well, I wouldn't want to be a plumber. Seriously; I've worked in aircraft maintenance for 30 years, and my life is pretty good. Sure, the job has its negatives, but what job doesn't? I'm still together with my wife of 20 years, we've raised a couple of kids, bought and paid for a house... I still work shift work, worked many a holiday over the years, but the family understands it's all part of the gig... All in all, this is a pretty good job. I could find something else to do, but the truth is I still find this interesting, and have no plans to leave for a few years yet.

The thing is, you've got to work at something, and it may as well be something you find interesting. Truly, life is too short to spend it working at a job you hate. That's not life, that's just existance.

[Schimunga]

Reading all the posts on here , not one person has described what an AME does. Of course we all want to know what the profession pays but what comes with that pay. We all know what a plumber does for work but not many people out there know what an AME does. This person wants to know if the pipe trades is a better career choice then let him know what an AME does for a paycheck. Judging by all the negativity and mudslinging towards each other this person probably will stay clear away from aviation. 212wrench is right, you need to like what you do. I did it for 10 years and liked working on choppers but got tired of always being away from home. I like to sleep in my own bed at night. Maybe if my new venture doesn't work out I just might go back to helicopters.

[PJ1]

(nice spread PJ1, but are you ever going to get that capital back or are you going to sink more into it?), !

I see valid points from both sides, there comes a time when you either do something about it or STFUP. I really enjoyed aviation, but hated all the other bullshit that went with it. I bitched about it for years and decided to do something about it. At the same time, I can't fault guys for bitching either, I understand exactly what they are saying.

To answer your question iflyforpie no worries here, I tapped into a goldmine. I spent years thinking the way you described in your last post, about all the reasons why I should't try to do something different until I did.