Any online classes for working towards becoming an A&P?

Tram

Tram

Well-Known Member
I've been thinking about trying to pick up an A&P license, but I'm not sure how I'd go about it with a full time career.. Thought I'd see if I could do the schooling online and the hands on part over a period of time..

Anyone?
 
I'm not sure how it would be possible to do an A&P program online because once you get through the general section, its generally about 50% lab (if not more). You could probably do part of a mx degree online but not really any of the classes that are necessary for getting the A&P. The FAA mandates hour requirements for the schools to the point that you have to make up the time if you even fall asleep in class so I don't think there would be any way for an online class to happen. I've been wrong before though...
 
Thomas Edison State College is an online college that offers Associate and Bachelor of Aviation Maintenance Technology degrees. I don't know anything about it beyond what's on their website though, and I'm not sure if you have to have the A&P before getting the degree, or if getting it is part of the degree. Also not sure how legitimately online degrees are viewed by potential employers and/or conventional colleges. Caveat emptor.
 
Thanks guys..

I've got a degree, was just thinking about trying to get my AP so I can work on things other than my RV on the side..
 
There are some parts of the AMT program that could be done via distance learning, however with the amount of hours required hands-on in the lab under direct supervision doing the FULL program is not possible.

My dad teaches the AMT program at Blackhawk Tech in Janesville, WI. If you want, I'll send you his email address. I'm sure he'd be happy to answer questions directly relating to the exact requirements.
 
MQAAord said:
There are some parts of the AMT program that could be done via distance learning, however with the amount of hours required hands-on in the lab under direct supervision doing the FULL program is not possible.

My dad teaches the AMT program at Blackhawk Tech in Janesville, WI. If you want, I'll send you his email address. I'm sure he'd be happy to answer questions directly relating to the exact requirements.
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I'd love to talk to him..
 
I would love to get my A&P but I have always kind of figured my only chance would be to do that as kind of a retirement project. If I had a "normal job" with set hours I would do a night-school to do it - I've always wanted an A&P and my dream retirement gig would be running a small FBO somewhere (very small FBO...as in at an airport that is primarily populated by weekend warriors, has a turf runway, etc) and I could restore airplanes (again, not a lot of them, just one at a time working as fast or slow as I want - remember, this is a retirement gig dream).
 
WacoFan said:
I would love to get my A&P but I have always kind of figured my only chance would be to do that as kind of a retirement project. If I had a "normal job" with set hours I would do a night-school to do it - I've always wanted an A&P and my dream retirement gig would be running a small FBO somewhere (very small FBO...as in at an airport that is primarily populated by weekend warriors, has a turf runway, etc) and I could restore airplanes (again, not a lot of them, just one at a time working as fast or slow as I want - remember, this is a retirement gig dream).
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I'm considering a retirement project that consist of building a turf strip and houses/small FBO. Somewhere south of I-70... :)
 
Tram said:
Thanks guys..

I've got a degree, was just thinking about trying to get my AP so I can work on things other than my RV on the side..
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Did you ever figure this out?

I spent some energy trying to convince NAA at KBED that putting the classroom work online and creating weekend-long modules (similar to the EAA workshops) that folks can travel to is a model that they could charge out the nose for. No dice.
 
Tram said:
I've been thinking about trying to pick up an A&P license, but I'm not sure how I'd go about it with a full time career.. Thought I'd see if I could do the schooling online and the hands on part over a period of time..

Anyone?
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Knew a guy who banner towed in the day and fixed them all night. Made so much cash his head exploded.

Stay away from planes homer, they are addictive. I still abuse regularly.
 
knot4u said:
Easy peasy. A/Ps are easy to get, your ratings were so much harder.
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I can't just stop my life for one to two years to go to a tech-school. My ratings were probably harder, but they fit into my life better...

The evening A&P programs are few & far between.
 
It's 1900 hours of either school or work experience per the FAA. Once certified you can work on anything with some restrictions regarding previous experience doing the task at hand. It's too bad they don't have an "A/P Lite" with an easier path to the certificate for people who want to work on small GA stuff as opposed to airliners or helicopters. Not saying it should be taken any less seriously but there is a lot of stuff that isn't relevant to someone working on a 180 in the curriculum. And there is a lot of stuff that isn't relevant to modern aircraft as well (radial engines, dope and fabric, welding) but I guess if they are going to certify you to work on everything from airships to seaplanes they expect you to have a fairly broad knowledge base.
 
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Hmmm...what about building an airplane in your spare time and logging the time to meet the practical experience requirements?
 
Not sure, but I do know if you document the build you can get a Repairmens Certificate to work on the aircraft you built.
 
knot4u said:
It's 1900 hours of either school or work experience per the FAA. Once certified you can work on anything with some restrictions regarding previous experience doing the task at hand. It's too bad they don't have an "A/P Lite" with an easier path to the certificate for people who want to work on small GA stuff as opposed to airliners or helicopters. Not saying it should be taken any less seriously but there is a lot of stuff that isn't relevant to someone working on a 180 in the curriculum. And there is a lot of stuff that isn't relevant to modern aircraft as well (radial engines, dope and fabric, welding) but I guess if they are going to certify you to work on everything from airships to seaplanes they expect you to have a fairly broad knowledge base.
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Do you have a source for that 1,900 hour figure?
 
CFI A&P said:
Do you have a source for that 1,900 hour figure?
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Sorry, no I don't. I remember when I was in school that's what the teachers told us was required as the total amount of time, probably split between General, Airframe and Powerplant. As far as the OJT angle I think was wrong, think it's a calendar requirement not an hourly one.
 
knot4u said:
Sorry, no I don't. I remember when I was in school that's what the teachers told us was required as the total amount of time, probably split between General, Airframe and Powerplant. As far as the OJT angle I think was wrong, think it's a calendar requirement not an hourly one.
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That's what I was wondering. Mine was calendar requirements, not hourly. At least that's what my FSDO inspector wanted before signing the 8610. However a friend of mine, through the same FSDO with a different inspector wanted time sheets and paystubs to account for 40 hours a week, 4 weeks a month, XX months.... Another example of left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
 
CFI A&P said:
That's what I was wondering. Mine was calendar requirements, not hourly. At least that's what my FSDO inspector wanted before signing the 8610. However a friend of mine, through the same FSDO with a different inspector wanted time sheets and paystubs to account for 40 hours a week, 4 weeks a month, XX months.... Another example of left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
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It has always been drilled into my head that you must have your cert with you when performing anything it says your allowed to do, it's written into every GMM at every place I've ever worked. I was working in the Midwest a month or so ago and a local PMI came around to see what we were up to (engine change on a Hawker), asked the other mechanic and myself if we had our certs with us, we promptly produced them and he began to tell us we didn't need to have them with us as the reg says "normal place of business". Not sure if he might of been thinking of a Repair Station cert as opposed to an A/P. In any case interpretation of the FARs can vary significantly between inspectors and FSDOs so best advice is CYA and go above and beyond.
 
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