Career Question

Aviator_Bakeek

Aviator_Bakeek

Well-Known Member
I am looking into becoming a A&P instead of pursuing a full time pilot career. Mainly because with having a new family and the lack of jobs for pilots makes it difficult to put my own selfish desires above whats best for my family. So I am looking into becoming an A&P and then eventually getting into maintenance management. Can anyone give me some insight on becoming a maintenance manager? Is this something most A&P work to become but due to limited jobs make it difficult to be hired? I saw in some job postings that most managing jobs require 10+ years experience in whichever program your managing. If anyone has any suggestions or comments please let me know.

I have a tentative date to begin A&P school December 7th with AIM in Dallas.
 
Aviator_Bakeek said:
Can anyone give me some insight on becoming a maintenance manager?
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At what type of facility? 91, 121, 135, repair station?
Is this something most A&P work to become but due to limited jobs make it difficult to be hired?
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I wouldn't say that. I've never wanted to be a manager and know many people who feel the same way. There are so many paths one can take that it's not possible to identify a common goal among maintenance personnel. Ask a bunch of airline pilots what their goals are and most of them will say "To be a captain at a major." Ask a bunch of mechanics the same thing and you might not get the same answer twice.
 
Berkut said:
Ask a bunch of mechanics the same thing and you might not get the same answer twice.
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Eh, I bet you'd get multiples of "To make it to the weekend so I can drink a lot of beer". Or maybe that's just the mechanics I've worked with...
 
I have always considered getting my A&P. I already have some hours logged working under a A&P. If I do it I will do it under home study working under a A&P on the school I fly at. I wouldn't be doing to do it as a career though. I would be like my flight instructor. I would work part time in a shop doing specality work. He rebuilds and paint old fabric airplanes. He has rebuilt a few cubs and what not. I helped build a KR2 with my uncle and I would just use my A&P more for my personal use to cut down maintence cost on my own plane and to probally build a few planes over the years. More a hobby than a job.
 
I worked at a repair station last year. One of the guys worked for 121 and was tired of graveyards and skydrol and wanted a 8-5 so he could spend more time with his young kids. The service manager missed being away from the desk because he really hated having to call the customers and say, "Well so far the estimate for your bonanza annual is at $30k right now, why? do you want me to read you chapter one of the squawk list? Yes it will take us a few months" and make log entry after log entry all day. You may want to look into getting a job as a mechanics assistant log the time (Full time 30 months) and get your A/P that route instead of school, you can get paid to get hands on experience... and properly handle a broom. And yeah mechanics run on beer. The first thing I learned as the new guy is that what beer inventory is available at 5:00 in the parts room is more important than what Part #'s are in stock.
 
As a '85 A&P graduate from Spartan I have worked for 91's, 135's, and 121's. It's not all that. I highly recommend choosing another profession. Most of the ones I have worked for have gone under. TriStar, RenoAir, King Airelines, Flight Management, National Airlines, Champion Air and the list goes on and one.

What am I doing now? I'm a cop in Las Vegas. Talk about job security...

Good luck anyways...
 
I have worked 91 and 135 and for 145 repair stations. To me it is hit and miss which one is the best. The outfit I work for right now is pretty top notch. Very good maintenance and they take pretty good care of us. Never worked for a 121 outfit so I cannot say how it is on that side of the house. Have no want to be in management. Just like being a slave to the man. Reguarding A&P schools cannot say since I got my experience from the Military and doing apprenticeships at shops until I had the requirements to test but I learned alot of tricks from some seasoned mechanics.
 
If you're an A&P with a college degree and a yes man, believe me you can be a maintenance manager for 121 outfit with less than 10 years experience.

I think you would actually be surprised at how many folks out there are running the show with no A&P or practical experience! Its all about #'s and manipulating them to make yourself look good.

Aviation maintenance management 101. An MEL for a Nav. Light out is the same as an MEL for a Engine Driven Generator Inop. Better yet if you can fix 2 Nav light MELs rather than that 1 Generator MEL that's great, because it makes the books look better!
 
Alaska45 said:
I worked at a repair station last year. One of the guys worked for 121 and was tired of graveyards and skydrol and wanted a 8-5 so he could spend more time with his young kids. The service manager missed being away from the desk because he really hated having to call the customers and say, "Well so far the estimate for your bonanza annual is at $30k right now, why? do you want me to read you chapter one of the squawk list? Yes it will take us a few months" and make log entry after log entry all day. You may want to look into getting a job as a mechanics assistant log the time (Full time 30 months) and get your A/P that route instead of school, you can get paid to get hands on experience... and properly handle a broom. And yeah mechanics run on beer. The first thing I learned as the new guy is that what beer inventory is available at 5:00 in the parts room is more important than what Part #'s are in stock.
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Can't speak for the beer, but I will say the average A&P can find food on an airplane better than a bloodhound dog!
 
fadec said:
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I think you would actually be surprised at how many folks out there are running the show with no A&P or practical experience! Its all about #'s and manipulating them to make yourself look good.
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Yes and if I had a dollar for everytime we have to bail them out I be retired now......dumb azzes :D

Mechs rule the floor and they know it.
 
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