Is this for real???

Stumper · Post by **Stumper** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:49 am

I was just looking at the job postings and was shocked to see an ad from Eagle Aviation offering $40,000 a year for an AME to work in Sioux Lookout.....ouch!!

I've been working down south for the big boys for quite a while, so maybe I'm out of touch with just how shitty the wages are up north. Maybe, some of you can shed some light on this for me. Would you boy's up north consider this a fair offer (industry standard) or is this some delusional DOM's narcasistic pipe dream?

I sincery hope that there are no licensed AME's in this province or even this country that would consider signing out aircraft for such a joke wage.

Troubleshot · Post by **Troubleshot** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:56 am

I know lots of suckers that are signing out 30 year old planes for LESS than 40K/year...

blacksmokeoutofthebox · Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:41 pm

Where im at it not that far off but with all the overtime its over 50 g's what are ya gettin paid for down south a year

t34ag · Post by **t34ag** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:28 pm

I wouldn't even open up my tool box for 50,000/yr

Troubleshot · Post by **Troubleshot** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:03 pm

$64 000/yr ACA (no overtime, stats, etc..)

3 Endorsements

7 years licenced (M2)

gonzo · Post by **gonzo** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:23 pm

That is what I thought when I saw it.

2 endorsements

5 years exp, M1 & M2

$57000 pa and I bitch about that.

twnotter · Post by **twnotter** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:15 pm

Troubleshot, Gonzo, where is it that you guys are located? Southern ON or other major city? Where is it that you work? PM me with details if you don't want to say in forum.

skydrolboy · Post by **skydrolboy** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:33 pm

2 endorsements, will be 3 in about 2 weeks

M2 3.5 years licensed

$68,000/year not including my overtime/away from base pay etc...

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:05 am

As I just said in another thread, with a licence and an ACA the minimum should be $25/hr... That with a regular work schedule will put you at $52000/yr. And that is just the starting point.. Engineers are just as bad as pilots at prostituting themselves, and this has to stop or wages will never come up..

Stumper · Post by **Stumper** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:55 am

I've been licensed for about 8 years in southern Ontario and my base pay is 68,000/year. My T4 usually comes in around the 80-85 thou range with O/T and other extras. I haven't grossed less then 70,000 since my first full year licensed, although, I used to work a lot more O/T then I do now. Like gonzo I still bitch. I feel that considering our responsibility, level of training, shitty shifts, and the extreme pressures we often work under, we are the bargain of the trades at this level of compensation.

As for the 40,000 I won't judge any individual AME's as I'm sure they have their reasons for settling for that kind of compensation, but, with regards to our profession I must say that this is not good.

Stumper · Post by **Stumper** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:17 am

t34ag wrote:I wouldn't even open up my tool box for 50,000/yr

I might under duress open my toolbox, but, you can be sure at that wage my pen would never leave my pocket.

blacksmokeoutofthebox · Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:01 am

Sure ya can make over 50 a year but it depends on where ya living the average house costs food and so on. I guess then we can compare wages .

Stumper · Post by **Stumper** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:56 am

purtybird wrote:Sure ya can make over 50 a year but it depends on where ya living the average house costs food and so on. I guess then we can compare wages .

purtybird, I sure didn't mean this as a I'm better then you thread, and I hope it hasn't come across that way. I was just shocked at the low level of the wage being offered. In my opinion an AME working under the conditions present in places like Sioux Lookout are worth at least what I'm making plus a bit extra for living in isolation. Thats how things work in other(normal) industries anyways.

To even offer 40,000 for an licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer to work in the middle of nowhere is an insult and shows a troubling lack of respect for our profession as a whole. I doubt highly that the local welders,cran operators, miners, police etc, make just above half the wages of their southern peers, cost of living notwithstanding. Nor do I think that any company would even dare to offer such a wage to those professions.

Again, if any Licensed AME anywhere in this country is valued at a mear 40,000 this is not good. In fact, it is far worse then I had previously imagined.

blacksmokeoutofthebox · Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:59 am

Stumper i didnt take it seriously how could i, i work in the aviation industry. i do agree with you on the salary to low, im pretty sure that everyone i know and work with believes that they should be making more then what they are. Are you happy with your wage? cause youd be the first that i know, haha. SAD VERY SAD isnt it

scouty-dog · Post by **scouty-dog** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:00 pm

There will always be some sucker that signs on the dotted line for 40K-annum. I think wages will be low until the end of time. Afterall, we're ONLY mechanics.

Edo · Post by **Edo** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:57 pm

Stumper wrote:I might under duress open my toolbox, but, you can be sure at that wage my pen would never leave my pocket.

I know what you are getting at more responsibility = more money

I'm a pilot so don't rag on me too hard but try explaining that to the people riding in the aircraft.

I might as well bill extra for every occupied seat, the responsibility went up didn't it?

If your willing to work on it you should sign it. Period.

chubbee · Post by **chubbee** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:03 am

Signing for the accomplishment of work is mandatory, signing a maintenance release for that same work is at the discretion/whim/judgement of the AME.
Nothin wrong with using that discretion.

Edo · Post by **Edo** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:32 am

I agree nothing wrong with using your judgement to sign a maintenance release, on an airworthy issue

Using a whim to hold out for more money is wrong. If you work on it you should be willing to put your name on the release as well.

fmrc3ame · Post by **fmrc3ame** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 3:09 am

Edo, I think chubbee used the wrong word there (whim). When an AME signs a maintenance release his/her signature is a legally binding contract between himself/herself, the employer, Transport Canada and everyone who flies in that aircraft. That maintenance release signature will remain with the aircraft for as long as the aircraft is flying. The sad part of all of this is that they are paid a pitance for this signature. The legal ramifications of this signature are quite extensive as our neighbors to the south have shown us (Valujet). Most engineers know the value of their signature yet employers continue to rape them every chance they get. I can remember the day when I started signing the release and was paid $0.75 per hour above my basic pay. If you signed on with a company as a licensed engineer and refuse to sign the release then yes I agree with you.

PITA · Post by **PITA** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:39 am

If you check CAR's you will notice that the person PERFORMING as well as the person certifying the work are both responsible.

PITA

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:58 am

Stumper wrote:
t34ag wrote:I wouldn't even open up my tool box for 50,000/yr
I might under duress open my toolbox, but, you can be sure at that wage my pen would never leave my pocket.

I'm sure the pen that signs the paycheque might just stay in someones pocket as well. Holding an aircraft hostage for more money after a job has been accepted is bad form. If you accept the money then do your end of the job and sign the book. Then quit and look for greener grass.

huff · Post by **huff** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:17 pm

dust-devil, you sound like a pilot...

...or management.

Pat Richard · Post by **Pat Richard** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:47 pm

huff wrote:dust-devil, you sound like a pilot...

...or management.

Completely..

Is this for real???

Is this for real???

Crazy money