AME Licence or Not?

[roncoldlake]

Hi All
I started this post to get your views on my situation and what is going on in the industry. I was a Military Aviation tech for 20 years. I joined a startup company 5 years ago and have since been laid off(couple of weeks now). I was in the process of finishing my exams (2 to go, AF, Cars). Live in northeastern Alberta, am married and have 3 small children. I have always enjoyed working on aircraft and never let the BS bother me. I believe in honesty in everything. My situation is that there is no aircraft industry here other than the military. Under the Canada Action plan I can possibly qualify for retraining and am thinking about getting into Power Engineering in college in the fall. I would like to finish my AME exams for the fact I do not like to leave things unfinished(habit passed on from my Dad). I am not one to jump from employer to employer as many of the AME's I have met. Asking them, they have stated that this was done out of necessity rather than desire. Is this the life of a AME or have some of you stayed long term? Is the pay for a >5 year AME really that bad and is this trend continuing or can it get better? I would like to hear from former AME's who have since moved on and what your views on this. Also I would like to hear from Current AME's and apprentices on how you feel about this. If this is possible I would like to keep the discussion relevant to the industry and my about each other. Thanks for the input.

[fel]

Ron,
Do you have enough civy time and log book entries complete to have your license after passing last two exams? Do you want to stay in OD? Are the reserves an option? Will SCAN pay for any retraining? I would guess the demand for Power Eng would be high in that area.
Regardless of going to a different trade I would make sure that I had that License in my pocket...you never know when opportunity will kick your door open! If you can, take two weeks and go to Stevenson @ Portage and do the AF, Cars refresher and do the AF exam right there then do Cars back in ED.
My experience in the aviation has always been a trade off between good employers and high(er) wages. Although...I just turned down a job that involved great pay, benefits and great company due to time away from home, as I had many years living out of a duffle bag.
This next statement probably will not help, but... The ultimate job for me would be away from aviation and it would be "Driving the Shit Truck"(Septic removal not aviation honey truck) no one to bother you, no one looking over your shoulder, no one telling you how they would do it!! Gotta be "shit truck" work in OD.
Good luck Ron!
Ciao.

[bigbert]

How about going back?? I almost have my licnence, just need to write cars. and am laid off. I have considered getting into dnd as an avntech but is it worth writing the exam? money is tight and I can not afford to fail at $100 a pop. Bui my situation is diffrent, I am young, single, arrogant, and screwed as it is so dnd seems kind of nice...that being said Im not a baby daddy. If money is tight give up while your not to far behind, but if you have some breathing room, you absolutly correct finish what you have started. Now to kinda hijack your thread, is it worth me getting my licence if I do enlist? I have a couple years on CC130, mostly power plant, and the licnece expires every 5 years.

[roncoldlake]

Big Bert
To give you a idea about the military. You will be required to complete 25 years for a pension. Also they are short in the F18 world. Meaning Cold Lake Alberta. I got posted here in 90 and could not get out if I wanted to. Being single in the military means that you go where you are told. Usually to the place where no one wants to be. There will always be people who have a reason why they cannot work in the harder places. In the past I watched some women use the excuse of failed marriage mom sick, hate my boyfriend and guys with my wife doesn't speak English or I want to go back to school. These excuses meant that I had to stay in one place for 15 years. If you are laid off go to EI and see if you qualify for the Action Canada plan for retraining. They will pay for you school and practical in power engineering. This offers you 3 times the pay and 1/2 the work. You can enjoy buying your own plane rather than working for someone who wont appreciate you. As for your arrogance you really need to learn about this. This closes doors that may never be open again. I have learned from this sentence. Be careful who you offend because in a couple of years you could be asking them for a job. That being said I did enjoy my experience with the military and got to see a lot of nice places and have made some of the best friends in the world. If you can complete cars do it prior to getting in. Cars for the AME is your best bet for success. The military might give you a signing bonus as a AME and no trades training. But get the signing bonus on paper if they have if have it before you sign you life away. And yes you will sign your life away. Do not trust recruiters. THEY LIE. And they don't know for the most part what they are talking about.
Good Luck and PM if you have any questions.
Ron

[SeptRepair]

Interesting tidbit I heard from a retired colonel from the Canadian airforce. He collects a pension that is indexed and is currently collecting 75k a year. Not too bad!!

[roncoldlake]

There is a huge difference between officers and non commisioned. Call the recruiter for the exact time and amount for pension. The number for indexing is 85. Which equal time served plus age. For example I did 22 years pensionable and i am now 45. I am 18 years from being index. Which would make me 63 when I am eligable. You as a non officer have no say in your pension or postings or career for that matter. If you piss someone off especially officers you will wear it later on you just might not know it. Your friend as a officer once he hit major had more of am say in his career. If you remember anything remember this officers look after officers and will always be. Get more info than a retired Colonel can give he can't tell you what is like as a non com unless he has done it. When I got out they were looking at where you were not able to collect a pension until you were 65. Pm me and I will give you my number if you want more info. I was first AERO ENG then AVN for 22 years.

[partsboy]

In addition to what was said above by Ron, the F-18 is not the only fleet in the hurt locker. If you don't mind camping in hot and dusty places or even at -40 in the winter then TacHel is the place. One thing to consider is that when you do go in the fleet your are assigned to is the one you stay with. If the fleet you get is your thing then good but if it's not; it can be a very long posting. As for the pension, it's nice to have but it takes a while to get. Another thing to consider is where you can get posted to. If you don't like the area; your hooped again. Ask the pointy questions to the recruiters and don't be affraid to. They bend the truth a lot to get what they want.

JMHO

[Badfarmer]

You have to be honest about your career - if youre not going to pursue aviation trade, theres no point in finishing your exams - remember to keep current you need 6 months experience in 2yrs to maintain your liscence - thats over 900hrs(450hrs per year) you need to prove (log, invoice, or other means) to keep the privelage of an AME liscence.
Thats a heck of alot of annuals or part time emplyment over and above a power engineer job.
Good luck.

[roncoldlake]

Thanks Badfarmer
That is something I did not know. I will definitely help with my decision. I am in the process of waiting for word on my registration for next fall.

[King Canada]

Write your Cars exam.Its not hard.If you study the 5 practice exams in Cars for the the AME text book by Bill Frasier, you will ace it for sure.I didnt even read the book and got 87 percent.