Pinnacle Mechanic Helper

[FloridaMan44W]

I've been working the ramp for Southwest for just about seven years now, and I'm finally getting to the point where I would like to do something a little more interesting. I can't afford to drop 60k for flight training, to make 25k, so I have been looking into getting into dispatch or into AMT. I'm still young, with little debt, so I can pretty much do whatever it takes to get into a new job.

I was just checking job openings for the many regionals, to get an idea of where the different bases are for AMT's and dispatchers, and I came across an opening for a mechanic helper at Pinnacle up in DTW. I have the qualifications, as they are pretty low. I also took auto repair classes in high school so I would think that is a plus.

Does anyone know what I should expect from this type of opening? Pay? Will I be able to use the experience to eventually take the A&P tests? Or should I not bother and save up for dispatch or A&P school?

 

[Roger Roger]

You should be able to use the work to meet the A&P experience requirements. All things considered, I'd say that getting paid to earn your certificate is better than paying to earn it. Though if you go to a GOOD school there are certainly some benefits to a formal A&P program. Given what pinnacle pays the rest of their employees, I'd suspect pay is very much on the low side. More than that I cannot say, as I have never wrenched for Pinnacle or any other regional for that matter.

 

[FloridaMan44W]

Thanks for the reply. Yea I haven't heard many good things about working for Pinnacle in general, but it is pretty tempting to get paid while learning the trade. I'm hoping the pay isn't any less than 10/hr, but then again, you never know.

 

[FXMXC]

I've been working the ramp for Southwest for just about seven years now, and I'm finally getting to the point where I would like to do something a little more interesting. I can't afford to drop 60k for flight training, to make 25k, so I have been looking into getting into dispatch or into AMT. I'm still young, with little debt, so I can pretty much do whatever it takes to get into a new job.

I was just checking job openings for the many regionals, to get an idea of where the different bases are for AMT's and dispatchers, and I came across an opening for a mechanic helper at Pinnacle up in DTW. I have the qualifications, as they are pretty low. I also took auto repair classes in high school so I would think that is a plus.

Does anyone know what I should expect from this type of opening? Pay? Will I be able to use the experience to eventually take the A&P tests? Or should I not bother and save up for dispatch or A&P school?

Well I don't know I guess some people on here are going to have some heartburn with this statement but if I had gotten my ADX when I was young and knew what I know now I would have never became an A@P. I have been in this industry 25+ yrs most of it as a mechanic. Maintenance is a funny animal and is like no other job function in aviation. You can choose to be as smart or as stupid as you want and it all pays the same. Where as a pilot or dispatcher you are required to work your own flights and get your airplane safely from point A to B. ..Maintenance you have to do that too but there are so many diverse areas like sheetmetal, avionics, systems unlike the pilot or dispatcher there is no way a mechanic is going to be compatent in every area of maintenance it is just too vast to master all of it. Thats why you have guys who are great with sheetmetal but not avionics and vice versa. The problem is the losers and there are a few can slide in and be good at none of it and it is never noticed because the more skilled guy gets called in to clean up for the other guy. Now back to topic...Your dispatch license or ADX courses usually take about 6 weeks or 200 hrs of study then exams...An A@P takes up to 2 yrs and 1900 hrs before you can take the exams. Dispatchers starting out make around the same crummy pay as an A@P with no experience and dispatchers don't have to work out in the elements or get hit in the face with skydrol or work on a lavatory waste system. The top end dispatch pay is usually higher than mechanic top pay. In all the airlines and now freight outfits I have worked for dispatchers are treated far and away better than mechanics. Dispatchers also get reciprocal jumpseat benefits with other airlines something that mechanics also do not get. The only drawback to a dispatch career is it limits you to an airlines SOC location which is usually a large major city unless you commute which some people do. But even as a mechanic to get to a desirable place it would take you years and years to have enough seniority to hold it and an airline can close that MX station at any time and force you to move..Had it happen to me several times. My advice is if you are already working for SWA a great company as a ramp guy I would continue to work there are get your dispatch ticket usually the cost is around 3k or so and try for a dispatch job with SWA as I know they promote from within..I am telling you as a long time MX guy in maintenance you will be treated like the s**t on the bottom of someones shoe until they need you to get an airplane out then you will be a hero for about 30 seconds then back to where you were. Sorry if I sound bitter I actually am in the top 1% of all mechanics in this country in pay and benefits but most are not as fortunate as I am. Just some friendly advice from someone who has been around and beat up a bit. My cousin was a corporate A@P and tried to talk me out of being a mechanic in the early 80's...Wish now I had taken his advice....Just my 2 cents...Good Luck in whatever you decide.

 

[trafficinsight]

I do laugh a little when someone says something like "I can't afford 60k to make 25k" as if that's how much you have to spend and that's all you'll ever earn.

If you're in it for money go work at a car dealership. Me? I can't stand cars

 

[FloridaMan44W]

I do laugh a little when someone says something like "I can't afford 60k to make 25k" as if that's how much you have to spend and that's all you'll ever earn.

If you're in it for money go work at a car dealership. Me? I can't stand cars

I was referring to the costs of flight training. I would never pay 60k for a mechanic school haha. And I would never want to get paid almost nothing with payments from a loan that size. Such as being a regional airline FO with 60k in debt. As for working at a dealership, I'm in the same boat. I like working on my own car, but I have no interest in working on cars all day, everyday.

 

[trafficinsight]

I realize now that maybe sounded a little more harsh than I meant it to.

What I was getting at was that flight training doesn't have to cost you 60k and the 25k is only temporary and is only one of the many options you have, so don't give up on flying prematurely. I did both at the same time and haven't regretted it at all.

In terms of an A&P school, I'm sure there's a community college around where you could pick up the certificate over a couple years of classes with absolutely zero debt. What most mechanics don't have, however, is a college degree and that may help to distinguish you at least in this field (I've had many people, even someone at the local FSDO, comment that it's rare to see a mechanic with a degree).

Pay for mechanics in GA is probably universally around 15$ an hour unless you take on extra duties like inspector or parts manager or something like that. I think there's money to be made in having your own shop, but then I hope you like 14 hour days and 6 day work weeks.

Airline maintenance? I dunno... A trip to United's shop at SFO when I was still in school cured me of that desire. It was the very definition of "Hostile Workplace," but I'll grant that this was in 2003. If I could do anything with my A&P it'd be run a restoration shop!

 

[Roger Roger]

If I could do anything with my A&P it'd be run a restoration shop!

My hero is the old retired dude one row of hangars down who restores Super Cubs, one 5 year project at a time. The one he is working on now will be IMMACULATE when he is done. And he works when he feels like it.