So what else is new?

[Truckin']

Hey all, Im a M1/M2 AME with about 10 years under my belt now. A couple of years ago i too got fed up with aviation but instead of starting a new trade i decided to see what was going on in the rest of the world and i gotta say they put Canadian aviation to shame!. I too was stuck working nothing but night shift work making about 40-45k a year. Barely keeping a girlfriend for more than a month (you can olny say 'i cant go out with you i gotta work' so much before they give up). But guys, since ive said @#$! it to all that bullshit going on in Canada ive been living a MUCH better life. 8-4 monday to friday, excellent pay and tons of vacation time. Dont get me wrong i love Canada and i do miss it but i dont miss being jerked around by dumbass managers and God help me QA's. For all you new guys thinking of starting out you should look into overseas work cause guess what, a Canadian licence is ICAO!!! you can go where ever you want with it and it is not that hard to gain new licences off that platform...if you only have a FAA then God be with you cause no one else on this planet is. My plan many years ago was to come back to Canada when either they were really desperate for good AME's, or if companies cleaned up their acts (not holding my breath for the second option) but after reading these topics people have posted for the first time in over 3 years it doesnt look like anything has really changed over there. you can say 'well why didnt you stay in country and try to change the way it is' but ive fought that fight and anyone else reading this whos tried knows how draining it is and youll just burn yourself out twice as quick, so ya i bailed. you can come down to where i work now and rag me out but i think youd end up staying too, just something to think about guys and girls.

[conehead]

Interesting. So tell us, where are you working, how much is the pay, living conditions, etc. ? What sort of equipment are you maintaining? How is the support, parts supply, logistics? Details, details, details....

[Truckin']

well for starters im not going to tell you where i live, that would defeat the purpose of people going out there and trying new countries. if i just tell you then everyone will apply here and there are so many places that are just as good, it pays to shop around. i make about 80K a year with 4 weeks paid vacation (about to get 5), and like i said its monday to friday 8-4. i do have to cover some weekends but its a small price to pay. im primarly a twin engine turbo prop guy but i do work on quite a few jets with this company and im building up my ratings. my only real complaint is that it does take some time to get parts but mostly this is offset but good planning and a little forsight. as for living conditions? lets just say i never have to shovel my driveway to get to work.

[mike53]

well for starters im not going to tell you where i live, that would defeat the purpose of people going out there and trying new countries. if i just tell you then everyone will apply here and there are so many places that are just as good, it pays to shop around. i make about 80K a year with 4 weeks paid vacation (about to get 5), and like i said its monday to friday 8-4. i do have to cover some weekends but its a small price to pay. im primarly a twin engine turbo prop guy but i do work on quite a few jets with this company and im building up my ratings. my only real complaint is that it does take some time to get parts but mostly this is offset but good planning and a little forsight. as for living conditions? lets just say i never have to shovel my driveway to get to work.

So you supposedly have a good thing going but your not going to let anyone else in on it?So what if everyone applies there ,what is it that you fear?Is your position not secure?Sounds damned selfish to me,or you just enjoy gloating ,or you just enjoy making stuff up . Someone asks for a leg up and you tell them" See the world,just not my little corner of it".I just don't get it.In Aug. 2007 you posted that you were almost done your apprenticeship and in your recent post you said you had 10 years under your belt,so your 10 years was not as an M1/M2 AME
Something is not right in Peoria.

[dashx]

I din't like the Koran and i like to drink.......

[iflyforpie]

well for starters im not going to tell you where i live, that would defeat the purpose of people going out there and trying new countries. if i just tell you then everyone will apply here and there are so many places that are just as good, it pays to shop around. i make about 80K a year with 4 weeks paid vacation (about to get 5), and like i said its monday to friday 8-4. i do have to cover some weekends but its a small price to pay. im primarly a twin engine turbo prop guy but i do work on quite a few jets with this company and im building up my ratings. my only real complaint is that it does take some time to get parts but mostly this is offset but good planning and a little forsight. as for living conditions? lets just say i never have to shovel my driveway to get to work.

I find a lot of convenient holes in your story.

Your shift seems reasonable (but not unheard of in Canada, my shift is 9-5 weekdays primarily), your pay seems reasonable (though not entirely unheard of in Canada, a bit more than I make), and you seem to be happy with your decision.

But why don't you want to say the country? Sounds like you've told all the good parts but you're leaving out some inconvenient truths. Don't have to shovel snow eh? Do you have to deal with malaria? That's worse than shoveling snow. Do you have to live in a compound? That's worse than shoveling snow. How many expats have been abused or kidnaped in country? If the answer is even one, that's worse than shoveling snow. What is the HDI of the country you live in? Would it be a place where I could raise my son and daughter and give them a good education and an active outdoor lifestyle like they enjoy here (and I enjoy with them)? Does the company spring for trips or have a seat arrangement with a carrier to get you back on a regular basis?

Sorry, a nice paycheque and schedule will not replace lots of the things we take for granted here in Canada.

[Truckin']

didnt take long for this to go negative eh guys? well you got me ive got 10 years in the industry and about 3.5 licenced, should of made that clear but my time as an M1/M2 wasnt really the point of the tread was it? listen take the message for whats its worth, all i wanted to say is that there are options. there are other places you can go if your not getting what you want in Canadian Aviation, to all those who got a good paying 9-5 job, congrates, i couldnt find one. for the record though i dont live in a compound, i drink all i want, i enjoy a lifestyle that is easily on par with Canada and id gladly raise a family here. Still not going to tell you where it is, i could care less if you think im trying to hide something cause im not, my job is very secure and im not the first Canadian engineer to come here. There are alot of very good jobs out there for someone with the guts to try. good luck to the people who start looking overseas and for the guys who want to pick this tread apart, dive in

[mike53]

No your time as an M1/M2 was not the point but it does lend an indication to your propensity for exaggeration(It doesn't mean your lying) .Sorry to be so hard on you but your unwillingness to help your fellow M1/M2's other than to tell them the obvious(Go out and see the world)just pisses me off. It's like dangling a carrot where no one can see it and yelling 'Get the carrot"
If you really know of a country where there is work ,the pay is great,the living conditions are great,you can walk the streets without fear,then damn-it tell them,but don't expect a pat on the back for withholding the information and giving platitudes instead.

[KISS_MY_TCAS]

My Canadian T4 shows 94K, I don't work nights, have half the year off, live in a major western Canadian city, and sleep at home in my own bed every night in the house I own. 13 years in the biz, and yes, i am employed as an AME. BUT, I am also not going to tell Truckin' where I am. The point is, there are great opportunities in Canada as well and very much like Truckin', I had to spend a few years at it to get to this point.

[robertw]

didnt take long for this to go negative eh guys? well you got me ive got 10 years in the industry and about 3.5 licenced, should of made that clear but my time as an M1/M2 wasnt really the point of the tread was it? listen take the message for whats its worth, all i wanted to say is that there are options. there are other places you can go if your not getting what you want in Canadian Aviation, to all those who got a good paying 9-5 job, congrates, i couldnt find one. for the record though i dont live in a compound, i drink all i want, i enjoy a lifestyle that is easily on par with Canada and id gladly raise a family here. Still not going to tell you where it is, i could care less if you think im trying to hide something cause im not, my job is very secure and im not the first Canadian engineer to come here. There are alot of very good jobs out there for someone with the guts to try. good luck to the people who start looking overseas and for the guys who want to pick this tread apart, dive in

What gives?!? We are all in the same boat (er... airship???) together and if you have information that could bring benefit to other AME's and their families, why would you keep it to yourself? You've got a "secure job" so why all the protectionism? Seems immature to me.