Good non-aviation job for experienced AME?

[Human Factor]

Just wondering what other industries other than aviation that might value what an experienced (10+ years) AME has to offer... thoughts?

[Cat19]

Apparently none.

I am a licensed AME Structures Technician with 16 years experience. I lost my job when Aveos went belly up in March of 2012. I've been sending out resumes for 11 months to all kinds of companies outside of the aviation industry. To date, I haven't had one single interview. It might be easier for an AME M or avionics guy to transfer to a non-aviation related occupation but for us structures guys...doesn't seem like anybody is too impressed with a tin bashing background.

[fixnfly]

Ive heard of a couple of guys getting into the railway industry or the oil industry.

[iflyforpie]

Wind turbines. That's my official backup plan.

[helicopterray]

doesn't seem like anybody is too impressed with a tin bashing background.

Seaspan is looking for people to build ships. Must join their union.

http://www.seaspan.com/careers/trade-unions.php

[Cat19]

I sent Seaspan my resume last Summer...never heard a word back from them. I also applied at CN Rail for "Car Mechanic Apprentice" about 7 months ago. It is basically doing structural repair and maintenance on the rail cars. I figured with my background doing structural repairs on aircraft, they would at least give me an interview. Never heard from them.

[conehead]

You have to be tenacious. Hunt them down, phone them, harrass them. They'll get sick of this, and call you in for an interview. Then it's up to you.

[helicopterray]

If you scroll down on the link I provided, you will find this contact:

Sheet Metal 276 - Mark Curtis - email: mark-curtis@shaw.ca

Union rep. Contact him, send resumes, follow up on it. Be persistant. You WANT that job.

'Dropped off a resume' isn't good enough.

[azimuthaviation]

Wind turbines. That's my official backup plan.

I wouldn't bank my future on that. The value is inflated now due to a lot of government funding, if that dries up the industry will no longer make a profit. My prediction is that wind power generation will peak soon and be in rapid decline within 20 years.

[seamus]

Wind turbines. That's my official backup plan.

I wouldn't bank my future on that. The value is inflated now due to a lot of government funding, if that dries up the industry will no longer make a profit. My prediction is that wind power generation will peak soon and be in rapid decline within 20 years.

Spot on comment ... very few people actually understand how expensive and problematic large, commercial wind farms are. Wait until hydro companies start jacking up energy rates to pay for all that guilt-driven 'green' technology.

Back to the original topic, it's a shame to hear sheet metals guys are looking to move on and do other things. We have several sheet metal contractors coming in every few months to do bigger projects and backlog of smaller work. Most of them are so busy with their other clients they often can't come when we need them. Good sheet metal are getting hard to find, all the good ones I've seen are working as independent now. They all complain about having too much work despite the steep rates they charge.

Cheers

[iflyforpie]

One thing that people misunderstand about wind turbines is that their cost includes installation and maintenance and all of the power they generate for the next 20+ years. Do you wish you could by crude futures at the rates they were 20 years ago (<$20/bbl). I sure do. Not to mention that they can do things that coal and gas plants can't do... provide a spinning reserve without consuming any resources. Lots of plants out there are going full tilt producing no power just in case everyone might turn their dryers on at once.

Assuming that Azimuth is correct and they decide not to replace the wind turbines when their service lives are up, you still have 20 years of employment. What in aviation can give you guaranteed employment for 20 years? 20 years ago, Canadian Airlines and Canada 3000 seemed like pretty sweet places to work...

[Schimunga]

I know the oil patch uses turbines for power generation. Look up Solar Turbines or Dresser-Rand.