r/AircraftMechanics

I making a career change and I aspire to become an AME (Canada). Other than a keen interest, I am green when it comes to aviation. I’m currently looking at a couple of entry-level airport positions and may have the opportunity to work in either ramp/ground operations or aircraft de-icing.

For someone trying to eventually get into aircraft maintenance, which type of job would give me the most valuable experience?

Thank you all in advance

I’m halfway through A&P school in OKC.
Thinking of my options…
what would you do if you were me?

9/10 of the A&P graduates at my school go straight to Tinker AFB. My school has a great relationship with them.

Sounds great for most people, but my goal is airlines. Not only for the money, (better than military) but primarily for the type of aircraft and those flight benefits..so…should I go regional so majors will look at me in a few years? Or should I go military for the security and hope Delta feels the same way about that experience in 2 yrs?

TLDR: I have the “guaranteed final SkyWest interview” and a potential back door into Tinker if I don’t screw that up. More than likely I’ll have to choose one path before graduating and I’m unsure of what to do. What would you do?

Has anyone been invited to interview with United this month or next month?

Although I passed, I almost feel disappointed in myself.

Thoughts like, "I could've done better", "I should've known that", are kind of stomping out the joy of passing this test I've been prepping for in school for 2 years.

I understand that a pass is a pass, and that achievements are good, so why is it so hard to accept success?

Has anyone else felt this way after the O&P or any test they've passed? Just curious. Thanks all!

I’m a senior in highschool this year, been a dishwasher/line cook for 2 years, as a freshman, my engineering class took a field trip to a bombardier hanger near my town and we toured it and got offered jobs 25$/hr, I want to escape the kitchen the second I graduate highschool, how quickly can I make 6 figures with an a&p? I need 6 figures asap due to personal reasons, will I need to study some kind of math or something for the a&p tests or will they teach me everything at bombardier? Is it physically demanding? I’m 6’5 so being hunched over the grill/cutting board/sinks has taken its toll on my back. I started doing under the table construction when I was 12 so I ain’t no snowflake but it’s my long term health I’m worried about.

We will have FAA General written exam after about 1 month, any weird/traps exam questions you actually saw on your own general written exam within past 4 years? thanks in advance! School has some scholarships for score 95%.

I'm using dauntless, asa prepware, Airmantest as exam preps now. Any questions rephrased, new answers, or new not within these questions banks are really appreciated. Any rare or new acs codes questions appreciated. Or any questions moved from airframe/powerplant to general written exam. Thanks.

I’ve talked to older mechanics that have been offered $65+ while making per diem only getting taxed on min wage (or close to it)doing contract work and to me it just makes more sense to work with these rates because 1. Your tax bracket is lower, while taking home most of the $ you work for 2. You can buy your own health insurance and do personal finance with the extra $ you make and still be making more, and 3. You’re not stuck in one place if the place you work pans out.

New A&P. Got a job with an MRO a little while ago. I'm coming from an automotive background where the only time you had a chance to take a breather was when parts/shipping department fucked up, or when there's somehow no customers booked to visit the shop. Wrench turning, inspections, building quotes, browsing IPC to order parts, diagnostics, car shuffling, and test driving was non-stop.

So far I would say it feels like 50% of my time on the clock since getting hired has been sitting on my ass waiting for other people, equipment, parts, or new tasks. It feels like 25% of my time has been actual A&P work (wrenching, signing off work, analyzing paperwork/AMMs)

Seems like everything else I've been tasked with could have been accomplished by an Amazon warehouse worker (moving equipment, moving parts, packing crates) No one has said anything to me about standing around, except for my peers who are equally frustrated with the lack of things to do. Is this normal? I'm getting paid to sit and wait and I do not like it. It's giving me anxiety.

These MROs act as if it’s a privilege to be working for them. Newsflash, you need us more than we need you. I can roll my box down to the next hangar while you’re stuck with a halfway built up engine, good luck fixing that. Foh

Which is best way you think you get First AME apprentice position ？

What are some good, comfortable lightweight hard toe shoes? I am looking for something without he puncture plate under that add a ton of weight to the shoe. Any recommendation are welcome :)

This is the second time I have applied to SkyWest Airlines within five months. In April, after completing the background check and on-demand interview, I was informed that there were no positions available in Palm Springs and was instead offered a location in Utah, which led me to withdraw.

Three weeks ago, I applied again for the same position. I have completed a new background check and another on-demand interview. However, a representative who recruits from my school indicated that there are no openings in Palm Springs. Despite this, the company’s job postings continue to list Palm Springs as an available location.

My question is: Is there truly a Palm Springs opening, or is it possible that applications are being redirected to other locations, as was my previous experience? I would appreciate insights from anyone familiar with this process.

I'm currently attending an accelerated 147 school, have passed my General and will take my Airframe written and O&P in a few months. I'm due to graduate in Feb, 2027. For you experienced gents (and ladies), what would be your recommendation for making strategic, long-term career moves rather than "take anything that gets thrown your way"?

I want to get a broad range of experience and not just chase the money (not that there is anything wrong with that). Would you recommend pursuing a job at, say Envoy in their Heavy Maintenance station in Wichita, doing C-Checks so you get an opportunity to see all the systems involved and thoroughly understand the plane (obviously would be an E175 with Envoy)? Or would you hold out for a major in this environment?

What if your long-term career goal was to be an AOG tech or travel? Or...perhaps pursue opportunities with private jets or corporate? There are just so many options (and yes...I realize it may be completely out of my control once I graduate). Also, I'm willing to move anywhere and basically do anything. If you wanted to maximize your opportunities (and of course the money) in the current environment, what do you suggest?

I’m 20 and currently working in GA maintenance in Florida while working toward my A&P. I should have my Airframe around June 2027 and Powerplant around June 2028. I’m considering moving to Dallas/Fort Worth after getting my Airframe and trying to get into aerospace/defense if I can get a job. Lockheed Fort Worth is the ultimate goal, but I’m completely open to working for Bell, Bombardier, another defense contractor, etc. first and using that experience to eventually get into Lockheed or Northrop. I’ve done a lot of sheet metal work at the company I’m currently at and that’s kind of what I was aiming for at a bigger company and working my way up. How realistic is this path if at all? Like I said I’ve done a lot of sheet metal, but also do the basic GA stuff, 100 hrs, tires, annuals, some avionics, and a few other major repairs . Also, for anyone who’s worked at Lockheed/Northrop: what does career progression look like after starting in structures/assembly? I’d eventually like to move into more advanced aircraft work rather than doing structural assembly forever. Any advice from people who have actually made the GA → defense transition would be awesome.

Hi everyone, I'm writing this because I'm little worried of my skills of a new aircraft mechanic.

I graduate later this week and will go to take my airframe writtens and O&Ps in September. I already have my powerplant.

For awhile now, I've been feeling worried about my abilities as a mechanic. Before I started attending this tradeschool I didn't have any mechanical skills, or really many troubleshooting skills. Even now I feel they are incredibly rusty.

I primarily passed my tests by memorizing the 8083 books and prepware, but feel I still know very little. For example, I can tell you how a dry sump oil system works and the different components, but if you told me to tell which component was which and what's wrong with it, I would struggle.

My school has offered to allow me to come by after I graduate and practice on their equipment which I'm thankful for. But I don't know if it's enough.

I guess what I'm asking is, is this type of anxiety normal for new mechanics? Do you begin to understand how to diagnose these systems better with actual work experience? I don't want to be that guy at work who knows and does nothing which is why I ask.

Any advice is appreciated.

After 6 years of hangar work I have finally received my licence (in europe you need 3-5 years experience for B1.1) and have transferred to line work. So far I’m liking it however what I’m struggling a little bit is when I have a short turnaround, being 30-40 minutes, and the aircraft has complaints is settings priorities. What do you guys do, always do your walkaround or crew brief first or see as you go? Let me know some tips and tricks!