apprenticeship

[Sabesnada]

I’ve been looking for work all around Canada and was thinking if heavy maintenance is the way to go? This would be my first job in aviation and I know it’s difficult to get into an airline right away , but I’m not sure what I’m looking for exactly.

[Pacqing]

I've never worked full time for KF but have contracted there several times. Yes its expensive and people live in Vernon etc and commute. Very gloomy in winter, no sun for months. Maybe not so much the last few years but at one time the AME were always looking over their back, company had a bad rep for letting people go for no reason. Also I've never worked for Heavy aero but from YEG you could live in the country 3 directions from work. Leduc etc are cheaper than Edmonton and have everything. Both do heavy maint so don't expect to have any responsibilities for quite a while. I did heavy for a bit but quit as most of what I was tasked to do people off the street could do. Just my personal thought but I think you could learn more by working at the local flying club. Lots of work in AB, not sure about BC (bring cash)

[Pacqing]

North Wright in Norman Wells is looking, I can guarantee you'll learn 500% more there in a year than you'll ever learn doing heavy anywhere. Is your goal the Airlines with the M2? Don't!!!!!. Leave brain at door and night shift forever.

[Sabesnada]

North Wright in Norman Wells is looking, I can guarantee you'll learn 500% more there in a year than you'll ever learn doing heavy anywhere. Is your goal the Airlines with the M2? Don't!!!!!. Leave brain at door and night shift forever.

Thanks for your responses. I ultimately would like my M2 license but I am not opposed to working towards my M1. I always thought that working in M1 might make me a more well rounded mechanic, by developing stronger critical thinking skills and thinking outside the box. I am currently working for a business jet company (m2 cat) and I’m honestly not a big fan of the corporate world.

I took a look at Normal Wells and that is quite far out there but I’m young and I believe that might be a good opportunity to learn as you said. Knowing that I’ll save money on rent due to the free crew housing is an attractive perk, also would you happen to know if the work there is Monday to Friday or would it be rotational? Curious because I see they have Canadian North Interline flight discounts and I would like to fly back to Ontario every so often to see my GF. And the cost of a flight without a discount is in the 2-3 thousand dollar range which is a lot.

And to add to your question, I’m not sure if I’d like to end up at an Airline, I’m still testing the waters to see where I fit in, maybe later on in life once I’m fulfilled with what I’ve achieved I’ll go that route, hard to say atm.

[-42]

20 something an hour? 2025? Canada? Ouch. Wish you all the best and good for you as far as perseverance. This industry clearly will never change.

[BMLtech]

I did my apprenticeship at KF many moons ago ( late 1980's.) At that time, it was a great place to learn, as I was able to work on all kinds of aircraft, from single engine cessna's to Convair's and Boeing 727. I'm sure that is no longer the case, you would likely be a hangar drone on a heavy check line. KF had then and likely still does have an incentive plan: work hard or get fired. Seems to me I made around $18/hr to start back then, which goes to show just how bad wages have eroded over the years.

[fling_wrench]

It was $17.50 in 2015... Not exactly a living wage in the Okanagan, even back then

[BMLtech]

It was $17.50 in 2015... Not exactly a living wage in the Okanagan, even back then

Hmm I could be wrong on my number it was a long time ago. Perhaps it was $13 something an hour back then but either way, it hasn't kept up with other trades for sure.

[Pat Richard]

$17.85 is minimum wage in BC now. Shows how expensive it is and Kelowna is near the top.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/empl ... nimum-wage


How low in the twenties is Flightcrap paying?

[planenuts]

Kudos to you for wanting to be more rounded as an AME. I don't know anything about Heavyaero - except that its a lot of Airlines. Flightcraft I have worked with and they do heavy airline but also have the Convairs (and soon ATR's) doing line stuff. I would think you would learn more there. One of their big heavy contracts is with Westjet.....so why not apply to Westjet? They are always looking. Apprentices start right now just under $28/hour and that goes up a buck in July.

I would still work on the side at maybe a small operator on some days off - working toward your M1. The other thing to that is I've seen mechanics that start at a big airline and that's all they know - and sometimes that works against them. They are 2 VERY different worlds.

[YYCAME]

Unfortunately it seems like the M1 license just isn't compensated the same way the M2 is. The benefit is that you have more opportunity to work for small companies in rural locations or start or own business if you enjoy that aspect of aviation. I'm sure there are individuals that make good money and are very good at their job but just in general the wages can't keep up though to be fair the cost of living is often less in the smaller communities. I've done a bit of both and I chose airlines because I didn't like being expected to work overtime when needed, being on call, and just the expectation that work was more important than my family. But that could have been the particular shops I was at. Unfortunately though the airlines are very seniority driven so getting in when young can be a big advantage with job security and opportunities come up. Plus starting to climb the pay scales sooner than later is nice. I have co-workers that contract at places like HeavyAero on days off for extra money but they don't make a career out of it because contract driven maintenance just tends to be less stable employment. There are lots of opportunities now at least so don't feel trapped if you choose wrong. If you don't feel like you are challenged or learning anything then just apply for another job and move on. It's more about finding the right people to work with who give you direction and opportunities and you can find that anywhere, but not always on the first try. If you move to a town with multiple employers it will be easier to switch though.

[Sabesnada]

so why not apply to Westjet? They are always looking. Apprentices start right now just under $28/hour and that goes up a buck in July.

I’ve applied to WestJet many times and always get automatically disqualified because I do not have a M2 license . Very difficult to land an apprenticeship position with any of the 3 major airlines as an apprentice.

[nine sixteenths]

so why not apply to Westjet? They are always looking. Apprentices start right now just under $28/hour and that goes up a buck in July.

I’ve applied to WestJet many times and always get automatically disqualified because I do not have a M2 license . Very difficult to land an apprenticeship position with any of the 3 major airlines as an apprentice.

If you’re applying for AME jobs that require a valid license then it makes sense the software automatically kicks your resume out as disqualified, you don’t have the required license. That would be like applying for a driving job without a license, the system wouldn’t let it through. Some jobs get hundreds of applicants in a posting, auto filtering for the minimum qualifications is one way to keep the pile under control.

You’ll need to apply for positions indicated as apprentice, technician, unlicensed technician, etc.

There are more places than just WestJet, Air Canada and whatever you call the 3rd major airline (it probably depends where you live as to what you think is the other major airline in Canada)

In the job ads page here, Canadian North, North wright, and Northstar have all posted advertisements for M2 apprentices this month, and a whole bunch more M1 apprentice positions were posted too.