Tips of the trade for new apprentices??

wrenchingirl · Post by **wrenchingirl** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 1:14 pm

Have any tips for new apprentices? Any do's or dont's in the shop? Just to start off, at school they always tell us to never use a broom to clean up fuel spills, but they never said how to clean it up. Not only does my husband who is a pilot tells me it's OK to sweep up gas, that's how he cleans the hanger floor at work. So who's right??

PITA · Post by **PITA** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:23 pm

1st and foremost.
Never Never Never hide anything - make a mistake - strap on a set of nuts and tell your supervisor. This goes for guys as well as gals
We have all done it and will do it again - and no, SMS will not eradicate it.

2nd If you don't know ASK (and just because your husband is a pilot how in the hell should he know how to clean up a fuel spill). Ya gotta ask somebody in the know.

That is a few to start I'm sure there will be more from other wrenchers however if your working for an outfit that reacts negativally to the above 2 advisories - go away from them very very fast.

Good luck PITA

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:18 pm

PITA wrote:Ya gotta ask somebody in the know.

ROFL, unless you work for Sonic, "chief you sure duct tape is CARs approved?" "yeah, yeah, so is all the other stuff keeping the plane together..."

PITA · Post by **PITA** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:51 pm

Duct Tape!

As you know "If the DOM don't find you good looking you had better be handy."
RED/GREEN (PORT/STARBOARD)

PITA

fixin · Post by **fixin** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:33 am

If you want to seem like an asset to your company learn how to keep busy at your place of work with out having to be asked to do every little thing all day long by your crew cheif. There are a million things to do around a hanger that need very little supervision for a green apprenti after they have been instructed properly once before, clean and pack old wheel bearings, build up tires, clean spark plugs all these kind of things need to get done but most of the experienced guys on the fllor hate doing this kind of stuff. If all else fails and you find your-self twidling your thumbs get familure with your Maintenance Manuals and IPC. Just my two cents but it's worked for me.

Chemtech · Post by **Chemtech** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:46 am

A broom is your best friend.

chubbee · Post by **chubbee** » Mon May 01, 2006 8:39 am

If an apprentice works with three different supervisory AME's they are likely to get three slightly different versions of how to do most tasks. Don't obsess about it, just keep a mental notebook on the strength of each approach and develop your own informed opinion. When asking a question early on in a new position indicate in the phrasing of a question what your understanding of the task and its resolution is, ask the question in a way that shows what you think you know about what needs to be done and the process to achieve it. Try to get along but don't kiss ass or brown nose part of this job is to be respected and trusted act like you possess the qualities which will earn these items.

tiny · Post by **tiny** » Mon May 15, 2006 3:21 pm

Always be willing to go look it up, questions are important but so is all the reading. ...... RTFM its your best friend (Read the f Manual)

nighthawk · Post by **nighthawk** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:17 am

Hey Fixin that was the perfect post i just wish more of the new guys would adhere to that.

ramp_rat · Post by **ramp_rat** » Sat May 27, 2006 7:26 am

chubbee wrote:If an apprentice works with three different supervisory AME's they are likely to get three slightly different versions of how to do most tasks. Don't obsess about it, just keep a mental notebook on the strength of each approach and develop your own informed opinion. When asking a question early on in a new position indicate in the phrasing of a question what your understanding of the task and its resolution is, ask the question in a way that shows what you think you know about what needs to be done and the process to achieve it. Try to get along but don't kiss ass or brown nose part of this job is to be respected and trusted act like you possess the qualities which will earn these items.

I just want to add to this particular post that, like what chubbee said, different supervisors, they have their own routine, they would like to get it done their way. So I just merge along with the other guys to see what the routine is with that particular crew. I find that, if you do it your own way, you get left out by the crew. In short, if its break time, then go with the crew and have coffee. If it's smoke time, and you smoke, then have a smoke. If it's crunch time, then try to help as much as you can, but not interfere with the progress of the job!!!!! The only thing is, you'll meet some odd supervisor who thinks that you should be running around all the time. I'm glad i work for a better company now, where guys are really cool!!!

Troubleshot · Post by **Troubleshot** » Sat May 27, 2006 12:13 pm

Hey new guy!!! yeah you !! If you want the respect of your new co-workers volunteer for the crappy jobs that no one wants to do (ie. changing lav motors), shows alot of character and you'll soon be the "go to guy" for bigger, better jobs soon enough.

tt · Post by tt » Fri Jun 02, 2006 4:08 pm

or you get pegged and get all the crappy jobs its kinda a catch 22. but it shows you willin to work at anything

J.P.WISER · Post by **J.P.WISER** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:11 pm

And when the boys say it's pizza night that means you buy pizza for the crew!!!!!

tt · Post by tt » Sat Jun 03, 2006 2:54 pm

when i used to work on cars my boss was always sayin there's the right way ... the wrong way and his way.. lol

Fox 3 · Post by **Fox 3** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:36 pm

tt wrote:when i used to work on cars my boss was always sayin there's the right way ... the wrong way and his way.. lol

that's funny...mine use to say "there's a right tool for every job, and that tool is a flat head screw driver"

Anyways, my advice would be to not get to comfortable where you are. What I mean by that is, there is so much to learn and having the right guy (or girl) above you makes all the difference. If you feel like you've gone as far as you can in the company (and not because your lazy) it's time to move on. Having said that, if it's only been 6 months perhaps your not asking enough questions.

just my 2 cents.

~FOX~

Troubleshot · Post by **Troubleshot** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:38 pm

tt wrote:or you get pegged and get all the crappy jobs its kinda a catch 22. but it shows you willin to work at anything

I knew someone would post that...anyway to give an example I was sent outta base to rescue a jet and was told by my supervisor to take an apprentice with me, I took the "I'll do anything" guy because I knew I could count on him to help me get the A/C home ASAP and he was really stoked about going down south and stayin in a hotel and the whole bit...the rest of the apprentii were very jealous and missed out on some sweet Oscar Tango

tt · Post by tt » Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:42 pm

cool it is really up to you old dogs to give us young guys a pat in the head when we do something right and a kick in the arse when we mess up.. but i always felt someone will only make a mistake once if they are corrected.

gonfly'n · Post by **gonfly'n** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:23 pm

i'm not above doing any of the jobs no one wants to do but I ain't kissing ass to earn anyones respect.