What's next after A&P?

F

fullrudder

Well-Known Member
Looking for someone to shed some light on life after obtaining your A&P. What are the different possibilities apart from working for someone else? Can you open up your own shop/business? Also, is there anything similar to currency for pilots?
 
What's next?
Lots of busted knuckles, lots of cussing out clueless engineers from the 1960s, and lots of mumbling about whiny pilots.
 
jonnydwolf said:
Probably get some work at the FSDO depending on experience.
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For God's sake PLEASE get 10+ years working before you go to the FSDO. The worst feds to deal with are the ones without real world experience.
 
Do any of you A&Ps do additional work(pre-buys/100hr/annuals/engine overhauls) on the side? If not, why? If so, what do you typically charge for labor?
 
fullrudder said:
Do any of you A&Ps do additional work(pre-buys/100hr/annuals/engine overhauls) on the side? If not, why? If so, what do you typically charge for labor?
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I did take care of a friend's Seneca II for a while but my boss was less than pleased with the arrangement so I gave it up. We're still friends. In retrospect it wasn't a very smart thing to do with no insurance for such things. If you're working for a place they'll probably feel the same way.

I would also say don't start your own shop right out of the gate either. Work your way up to that. If I could take back every 100hr I signed for in my first year as a mechanic I would. Luckily no one got hurt and I learned a lot.

Find yourself a mentor, work for a shop that you think really has things figured out, trust me, it'll be worth it in the long run.

Edit: Also, tool control is so important take some time to apply it to your own box even if it's not required where you are, and don't think for a minute that all that fatigue and rest stuff you learn in school doesn't apply to mechanics.
 
trafficinsight said:
I did take care of a friend's Seneca II for a while but my boss was less than pleased with the arrangement so I gave it up. We're still friends. In retrospect it wasn't a very smart thing to do with no insurance for such things. If you're working for a place they'll probably feel the same way.

I would also say don't start your own shop right out of the gate either. Work your way up to that. If I could take back every 100hr I signed for in my first year as a mechanic I would. Luckily no one got hurt and I learned a lot.

Find yourself a mentor, work for a shop that you think really has things figured out, trust me, it'll be worth it in the long run.

Edit: Also, tool control is so important take some time to apply it to your own box even if it's not required where you are, and don't think for a minute that all that fatigue and rest stuff you learn in school doesn't apply to mechanics.
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The insurance and possible conflict of interest are both good points. I guess the ideal situation is where you are maintaining an airplane that you have an interest/ownership in. Thanks.
 
fullrudder said:
The insurance and possible conflict of interest are both good points. I guess the ideal situation is where you are maintaining an airplane that you have an interest/ownership in. Thanks.
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Ownership sure, you wont sue yourself. Partnership, ehh... they may be your friends right now...
 
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