AME career

[ramp_rat]

Being an apprentice is like an investment that grows, pay is shit as an apprentice, ones licensed pay grows, and endoresed= more money. From my experience as an apprentice, the first one and half year was great in a way that a lot of the people around me were great to teach and show me a lot of things and I was also working with whole bunch of apprentices. The only thing that I really didnt like was my production manager. He was an a**hole. Everytime he came to work monday morning, it felt like there was a trail of dark cloud behind him, had to pick a broom and pretend like I was busy!! Once I got my license and endorsement, a lot of guys "treat me more like a man rather than just a young kid". Don't expect that you'll be fixing airplanes in the hangar all the time, oh no, be prepared to also work under extreme cold or hot conditions. So, good luck!!

[Gyroscopic]

Ramp rat: just tryin to give him another perspective from someone who is doing what withers is considering.. and, correct me if im wrong.. but most of what i said is pretty bang on no?

[iflyforpie]

Talk about listening to a guy who hasn't got a job in aviation!!!

From someone who's been in this industry for ten years, his description sounds pretty accurate...

[ramp_rat]

Ramp rat: just tryin to give him another perspective from someone who is doing what withers is considering.. and, correct me if im wrong.. but most of what i said is pretty bang on no?

You are right, I was meant to change my posting! Not here to bash anyone except my old boss!!

[Pat Richard]

like most industries the pay is shit to start, but again like most industries you have to put in the time and get the experience before the good pay comes along.

and you have experienced this working in aviation??? Aren't you a student giving advice as to how the industry is?? That's what I thought..

I dunno if you missed the thread at the top of this forum, or the MANY previous threads over the years on this topic, but the money not coming IS the problem. This is from EXPERIENCED AME's, not greenhorns. Does .50 cents an hour sound like a great deal for signing out an airplane? How about a buck more?? Awsomeness. What the hell, I'll rent TWO basement suites when I start making that kind of money....

As for "Going North" being the end all be all, I'll just say this. Some of the biggest hack mechanics I've worked with have been from the north, with some notable exceptions.
"Honey out of dogshit" is the motto that is favorite amongst many I have met, and most have been extremely proud of themselves for practicing it regularly. "Git r done" is the more current vernacular. Everything from maybe using components "saved" in thier tool boxes, to possibly making there own rudder deflection gauge(with no manufacturers instructions 'cause it was TOO expensive) are just some of the many things I might have seen. The most sickening aspect to this was the ever present bravado and arrogance about maybe carrying out such stupidity, as many would might offer(bragging)up the experience to you, if you missed it. Real heroes.

If one does decide to take the plunge, try not to be intimidated by the myth of the "northern superman ame", that so many from there like to go on about. Most are really just full of themselves, and just want to let everyone know how great they think they is. Kinda cute, in a pathetic sort of way, but nothing worthy of emulation.
DO try to remember that you are maintaining airplanes. Not snowmobiles, not chainsaws, not dirt bikes, not your outboard motor, not plumbing in your mobile home, but AIRPLANES. Rules and procedures apply, and are mandatory, not optional.
If you can keep that perspective, and hack the cold/bugs for a couple years, it might be worth it, but do not forget to factor in what it will cost you to live there. How does $1500++ a/mo sound for a whatever basement suite in a not so great part of town? Don't believe me, check it out.

The scenery for most places in the north was pretty killer though, and it could almost justify going there in itself.
Better yet, take the $10G tuition money, and just take a trip. I could almost promise you that you would find that path more rewarding.



Patricia Richard

la fin

[Gyroscopic]

Actually, Patricia Richard no i WASNT giving advice on the industry based on my own experiences, i was in fact however trying to give withers a little advice from a FELLOW STUDENT.. you know, us.. the young guys, who dont know anything at all..

Withers, If you like airplanes/birds.. go for it, the course is awesome, and you will learn alot about the industry and aviation as a whole in your schooling,

goo luck

[jetsetfly]

Cascade Aerospace in Abbotsford has just layed off 200 people thats including about 30 licensed mechs and around 50 apprentices the others are like structures ,engineering etc so yeh u shuld really think about gettin into these career gdluck

[Pat Richard]

like most industries the pay is shit to start, but again like most industries you have to put in the time and get the experience before the good pay comes along.

and you have experienced this working in aviation??? Aren't you a student giving advice as to how the industry is?? That's what I thought.. dunno if you missed the thread at the top of this forum, or the MANY previous threads over the years on this topic, but the money not coming IS the problem.

I understood exactly what you were on about, in fact I quoted it, and stick to what I said. I don't think you understood the response.

Good Luck.

PR

[pilotdreams]

I went north and I absolutely love it. I bought a house up here and Ill be licensed in a few more months with a decent raise. I work on airplanes because I love airplanes, I don't do this for the bigbucks. I would have stayed in the oil patch if that was the case and made three times as much.

If you like mechanical work but dont care much for airplanes, you should work on something that stays grounded.

[Pat Richard]

I bought a house up here

Single, or double wide??

[c170b53]

Wheels removed?

[Fox 3]

During my ten years in this industry I've generally found my wages to be fair and my quality of life to be above average. There have been many times where the stress level was high and the responsibility was more then I cared for, but luckily I was quick enough to realize it and do something about it before it had any serious effect on me. I too, like so many people on here, have spent a lot of time thinking about leaving the industry and doing something different. But for me there is only one reason, I dread the boring repetitive inspections and routine maintenance. If my job was only to troubleshoot and repair I would have the perfect job...but that's just me. Of course having said all this I should point out that I got into this knowing full well that I would have to move, more then once, and there would be times where I worked long long hours and there was a good chance I would be working on the ramp at night in very cold weather. At my last job I worked a 23 hour shift...twice...but it didn't discourage me, I troubleshot and repaired the snag and the plane made sched that morning...I was ecstatic. At my current job I spent the night sleeping on the Canadian shield under a lean-too made from a tarp because I had to go rescue a broken plane...I thought it was great fun. I've worked the nine to five Monday to Friday gig and now I work three week rotations.
There is a lot of great things and great opportunities that you can get as an AME that not a lot of other people get. You can work in the tropics or in Antarctica, you can work in an office or on the floor and you can even get to go for the occasional test flight in a really cool airplane. All this stuff is great if that's what you want. But if you want to live in a beautiful place like Kelowna and have a house on the hill with a swimming pool and drive two Mercedes and never have to move, well then I would go be a plumber instead.
The bottom line is you have to take the good with the bad just like you do with anything else and you're doing the right thing by asking a lot of questions now before you sign on and find out it wasn't what your teacher said it was.

Cheers,

~FOX~

[HS-748 2A]

As for "Going North" being the end all be all, I'll just say this. Some of the biggest hack mechanics I've worked with have been from the north, with some notable exceptions.
"Honey out of dogshit" is the motto that is favorite amongst many I have met, and most have been extremely proud of themselves for practicing it regularly. "Git r done" is the more current vernacular. Everything from maybe using components "saved" in thier tool boxes, to possibly making there own rudder deflection gauge(with no manufacturers instructions 'cause it was TOO expensive) are just some of the many things I might have seen. The most sickening aspect to this was the ever present bravado and arrogance about maybe carrying out such stupidity, as many would might offer(bragging)up the experience to you, if you missed it. Real heroes.

I smell jealousy.

There's a pretty good chance somebody who would opine such imbecilic drivel likely couldn't overhaul a dumb-waiter, nevermind an outboard motor.

I'm with Fox 3. It aint all peaches but it sure can be fun and rewarding. The money is, evidently enough.

To those of you who are unhappy, you are in every way, your own maker.

'48

[Cougar]

I don't know much, but the two, no make that three, most talented mechanics I know came out of the frozen north. They struggled and froze for years, but each one now can work anywhere they want, for whatever price thay feel like asking.

They never fail to impress the hell out of everyone that meets them and sees their work, and I am fortunate because they've kept my ass alive for the last 9 years now.

[Pat Richard]

If anyone noticed, I said "with some notable exceptions.", with one individual being the best twotter guy I've seen, along with some other decent guys.

Many however, that I worked with, have been along the lines of what I described(I did witness that, and more) and the worst definitely was/is still in the arctic. I have also seen some beauts, as would be expected, everywhere else, but most did not have the stupid attitude I mentioned. That makes them a little bit less dangerous in my mind. Im probably splitting hairs...

'48 - I really don't understand how you ended being at "jealousy" as to where you think I'm at, quoting what you have there.
If you honestly believe anyone should be jealous after witnessing what is described in the quote, I would recommend you revisit what aircraft maintenance is about. You come off supporting what I wrote by implying I should be jealous of some of the idiocy I witnessed. A little scary, friend.
As for the rest of your jibe ....you honestly come across sounding defensive with stuff like that. Maybe I hit a little close to home....

[pilotdreams]

Single on steel piles, not in the ghetto.

[billy ray valintine]

As for "Going North" being the end all be all, I'll just say this. Some of the biggest hack mechanics I've worked with have been from the north, with some notable exceptions.
"Honey out of dogshit" is the motto that is favorite amongst many I have met, and most have been extremely proud of themselves for practicing it regularly. "Git r done" is the more current vernacular. Everything from maybe using components "saved" in thier tool boxes, to possibly making there own rudder deflection gauge(with no manufacturers instructions 'cause it was TOO expensive) are just some of the many things I might have seen. The most sickening aspect to this was the ever present bravado and arrogance about maybe carrying out such stupidity, as many would might offer(bragging)up the experience to you, if you missed it. Real heroes.

I smell jealousy.

There's a pretty good chance somebody who would opine such imbecilic drivel likely couldn't overhaul a dumb-waiter, nevermind an outboard motor.

I'm with Fox 3. It aint all peaches but it sure can be fun and rewarding. The money is, evidently enough.

To those of you who are unhappy, you are in every way, your own maker.

'48

pat, i agree 100%

hs-748........children should be seen and not heard.

brv

[canadian ame]

go fix cars or trucks, pay is the same.
soon as somone walks thru the door you can rape their wallet,
oh ur brakes are gone your engine needs a rebuild ect ect.
then fix what is needed then charge them for the rest.
when ur day is done and ur guts are full of donuts laugh all the way to the bank.

or go into healthcare, and play with the nurses in the broom closet while getting double time pay.

or go into aviation and have smoke blown up ur ass all day and pay ur employer for the glory of working on there air[plane while they are reaming ur ass out over the phone because the plane is down again cos they dont want to pay for parts, remember ur the wonder worker.

[rgomes11]

See you guys are scary me now... I am just finishing up my last year at Centennial and with the way the industry is looking right now, things look like they aren't going to get any better.

They give you a false hope when you get into college, they state that aircraft maintenance is a gold mine and it is a great job, but now the more and more you go deeper into the catacombs of the aviation industry it gets really messy.

We need more AMEs and it seems like talk like this scares people away, I am going to try and stay positive, I know I am going to have to sweep floors and get paid crap. Work in freezing cold and hot weather. I love airplanes, and this was my choice of a career, and I will just need to make the best of what ever circumstances approach.

I guess what I am trying to get at (for the guy who asked if aviation was good to get into) is that if you go into this with a bad attitude, when something bad happens it is going to seem so much worse. If you at least and try to keep a positive outlook on things, when the shit does come your way, it won't seem as bad.

[c170b53]

Took the Canada Line into town to see the Russian's beat up Latvia last night and ran into two guys that used to work for us, but quit and went to transit (CL). They were directing passengers because all the trains were on the track and the shop was empty and the company asked them to help out. They were getting 1 1/2 OT ($60) and absolutely no glory. One remarked that the other was an idiot because he missed working on planes but I remarked that the only idiot was the one they were looking at for staying in the business too long.

[Pat Richard]

Are they still hiring?

But wait..no glory?...that's a tough one...... gots to have glory.

if you go into this with a bad attitude, when something bad happens it is going to seem so much worse. If you at least and try to keep a positive outlook on things, when the shit does come your way, it won't seem as bad.

Sounds more like trying to put lipstick on a pig. It will always be a pig.


Let us know how that ideology pans out for you.

[wrench71]

approaching the 20 year mark.Most of, at Pearson, on large commercial equipment, money is about 10% higher than 15 years ago, I still grace the ramp with my "skill" on most holidays at straight time, and am commonly refered to as the"maintenance guy".

[avionics40]

I just got enrolled in the centennial college for avionics study.
I would like try my best in the following 2 years in the learning , hehe

[The Weasel]

I guess what I am trying to get at (for the guy who asked if aviation was good to get into) is that if you go into this with a bad attitude, when something bad happens it is going to seem so much worse. If you at least and try to keep a positive outlook on things, when the shit does come your way, it won't seem as bad.

Don't let some of the bitter people in this industry ruin it for you. You get out this industry what you make of it. A positive attitude, good work ethic, and a bit of a backbone will get you the good paying quality jobs (yes, such a thing does indeed exist). Some people are simply never happy in their work/life. Either they're working too much, not making enough money, mean boss, stupid government, demanding women, blah blah blah. Don't listen to them, as they have little constructive to say, and just want to bring you down so that they can feel better when you feel just as crappy as they do.

The opportunity is out there to make 80K or 90K (+100K if you really want to make extra sacrifices) get treated with dignity by your employer, not have to spend 8 months of the year in the arctic, all the while doing what you love. Like with any profession you will have to prove yourself, put your time in, earn your money, and there are always sacrifices to make. However, an easy job without sacrifices and difficulties won't pay much and won't be very rewarding since any schmo off the street with a grade 10 can do it. I got into aviation because of just that: I didn't want a boring, same old, 9-5, rat-race job in the big city like 90% of people out there. I wanted something different. Yeah, sometimes the job sucks big time, but i get paid well, treated with respect, met some great people, seen some really cool places, and had some amazing experiences. Maybe I just got lucky, but I paid my dues and strangely enough (or not), that's when the opportunities started to present themselves to me.

[HS-748 2A]

I guess what I am trying to get at (for the guy who asked if aviation was good to get into) is that if you go into this with a bad attitude, when something bad happens it is going to seem so much worse. If you at least and try to keep a positive outlook on things, when the shit does come your way, it won't seem as bad.

Don't let some of the bitter people in this industry ruin it for you. You get out this industry what you make of it. A positive attitude, good work ethic, and a bit of a backbone will get you the good paying quality jobs (yes, such a thing does indeed exist). Some people are simply never happy in their work/life. Either they're working too much, not making enough money, mean boss, stupid government, demanding women, blah blah blah. Don't listen to them, as they have little constructive to say, and just want to bring you down so that they can feel better when you feel just as crappy as they do.

The opportunity is out there to make 80K or 90K (+100K if you really want to make extra sacrifices) get treated with dignity by your employer, not have to spend 8 months of the year in the arctic, all the while doing what you love. Like with any profession you will have to prove yourself, put your time in, earn your money, and there are always sacrifices to make. However, an easy job without sacrifices and difficulties won't pay much and won't be very rewarding since any schmo off the street with a grade 10 can do it. I got into aviation because of just that: I didn't want a boring, same old, 9-5, rat-race job in the big city like 90% of people out there. I wanted something different. Yeah, sometimes the job sucks big time, but i get paid well, treated with respect, met some great people, seen some really cool places, and had some amazing experiences. Maybe I just got lucky, but I paid my dues and strangely enough (or not), that's when the opportunities started to present themselves to me.

+1

'48