Fred Robel
27 Years Experience
Au Gres, MI
Male, 49
I'm a licensed Aircraft Mechanic & Inspector with twenty five-plus years in the field. I've had a varied career so far, with time spent in the sheetmetal, mechanic, and inspection specialties. Most of my time is on heavy Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft, of the passenger, cargo, and experimental type. This career isn't for everyone, but I enjoy it.
Please do NOT ask me to troubleshoot problems with your airplane, that is not what this Q&A is for.
I would speculate that there are more contrails in the sky over Crimea, because it is a very interesting place, and there are planes taking lots of pictures of what is going on. That, and people leaving, on airplanes.
I don't reckon that they were chemtrails. I've never seen any evidence of chemical spraying devices on any aircraft I've ever worked on.
As far as to the existence of said chemtrails. We should look for the simplest explanation.
Is what we see streaming out behind aircraft at altitude, a condensation of water vapor around the warm engine exhaust?
Or is it a worldwide government plot, to plant mind control chemicals in aircraft (and somehow keep that all secret) to be sprayed into the atmosphere?
My money is on the simple condensation.
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Currently, as an inspector in an engine shop, my tools consist of what I carry on my belt: A good flashlight, a leatherman, a mirror, a blue pen, black pen, and red grease pencil.
Our shop cabinet has numerous precision measuring devices. Calipers, micrometers, depth guages, etc. All a mix of Starrett, and Mitutoyo brands.
We also have two GE borescope kits, which are simply marvelous.
When I was a mechanic, I had a Stanley Vidmar toolbox, which I judge to be the sturdiest for the money. With a mix of Craftsman, Mac, and Snap-On tools inside.
Basically consisting of what you'd imagine to be in a mechanic's box. Screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, hammers, punches; with several different variations of each.
Also: Don't underestimate the value of keeping a 'cheap' set of wrenches and sockets in your box. They are used to make 'special' tools (bending, cutting, etc) to reach difficult areas. That way you don't have to wreck your good brand tools.
I can't exaggerate how much I love my Snap-On Ratcheting screwdriver. Get one with the 'old fashioned' hard plastic handle, as the newer one with the rubberized inserts will get eaten by the hydraulic fluid.
Start off with the basic tool list your workplace will give you. And just build it intelligently from there. Buy quality when you can. But Craftsman works just fine, don't be a tool snob.
There seems to be an almost infinite number of specialized tools and fixtures that each particular aircraft you work on will need. Usually, the company you work for will buy or rent those for your use. Occasionally, you will find yourself doing one certain job so often, that it makes sense for you to buy, or make it for yourself. But you won't know that, until you do.
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I attended a two year aircraft maintenance school in Lansing, Michigan. At the end of the schooling, I was able to take the Oral and Practical Tests for my Airframe & Powerplant license.
It's really up to you, as to which path you take. You can go to a school like I did, and be done with your license after two years. Or, you can go buy some tools, and find a job as a mechanic's helper at a Repair Station or some other aircraft place. Your goal, if you choose this as your career path, should be to have your A&P license. That enables you to work, and to sign off your own work.
If you take the working for your license path, you can expect to work at least three years as a helper, before you can get your A&P license. Because, it takes 18 months of documented work on airframe things, to get signed off to take your Airframe oral and practical test; then it takes another 18 months of documented working on Powerplant things, before you can get signed off to take your powerplant tests.
If you go to a school, they will usually have the testing available to you there, or nearby; as you reach the levels of schooling needed for each license.
If you sign up for an aircraft maintenance school, they will include the basics of each mechanic discipline. It is just the way things are taught. Don't underestimate the value of re-learning basic concepts though. It can help you in the long run.
Good luck.
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The short answer is: Get used to it.
In reality, there may be places to go to find helpful hints as to where to find the info you need. But in the long run, it's better for you to just learn how the individual manufacturer's manuals are set up and organized. This will give you a good 'feel' as far as where to start looking for the more obscure references.
I've found, that the more recent the manual, the more of a standard it adheres to. As the companies that put out our publications do seem to be trying to make things a little easier, and have more commonality, as far as how things are laid out.
The older manuals though; they can be a headache and a half. Douglas did their manuals one way; Boeing did theirs another; Pratt & Whitney does theirs a third way still. The list could go on.
It can feel like a goose chase to find information sometimes. If it's a PDF document, use the search function to help narrow things down.
Otherwise, just do your best to try to learn the manuals you use most often. Before you know it, you'll be the manual guru that everyone turns to when they just can't seem to find what they are looking for.
Best of luck.
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Court Reporter
How do you transcribe when people in the courtroom are talking over and interrupting each other?
Claims Adjuster
Will you get disciplined if you approve too many claims?
Tattoo Artist
Is it illegal to tattoo a client if he's drunk?
Vinod, I'm not sure what you mean? If you mean the basic tools I use on the job, check out the answer I just gave to Chad........
"What tools or equipment do you usually use on the job?Asked by Chad over 1 year ago
Currently, as an inspector in an engine shop, my tools consist of what I carry on my belt: A good flashlight, a leatherman, a mirror, a blue pen, black pen, and red grease pencil.
Our shop cabinet has numerous precision measuring devices. Calipers, micrometers, depth guages, etc. All a mix of Starrett, and Mitutoyo brands.
We also have two GE borescope kits, which are simply marvelous.
When I was a mechanic, I had a Stanley Vidmar toolbox, which I judge to be the sturdiest for the money. With a mix of Craftsman, Mac, and Snap-On tools inside.
Basically consisting of what you'd imagine to be in a mechanic's box. Screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, hammers, punches; with several different variations of each.
Also: Don't underestimate the value of keeping a 'cheap' set of wrenches and sockets in your box. They are used to make 'special' tools (bending, cutting, etc) to reach difficult areas. That way you don't have to wreck your good brand tools.
I can't exaggerate how much I love my Snap-On Ratcheting screwdriver. Get one with the 'old fashioned' hard plastic handle, as the newer one with the rubberized inserts will get eaten by the hydraulic fluid.
Start off with the basic tool list your workplace will give you. And just build it intelligently from there. Buy quality when you can. But Craftsman works just fine, don't be a tool snob.
There seems to be an almost infinte number of specialized tools and fixtures that each particular aircraft you work on will need. Usually, the company you work for will buy or rent those for your use. Occasionally, you will find yourself doing one certain job so often, that it makes sense for you to buy, or make it for yourself. But you won't know that, until you do. "
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I landed my first Aircraft Mechanic job by pure luck. Someone I worked with at the time, saw a job posting for a place two hours North; and she clipped it out of the paper for me. If she hadn't done that, I don't know what I'd be doing today. (at the time, I had been working towards being an electronics technician at the local community college)
Yes, I felt competent enough to handle any task that was thrown at me. Only because I was young and stupid, and didn't know any better. I made a LOT of mistakes those first few years.
Achieving perfection is always a work in progress. Sometimes you think you've done it; until some time later, when you learn something new, and realize you didn't do it as good as it could have been done.
I don't suppose I'll ever achieve actual perfection. But I will always try.
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In large commercial aircraft, it seems to be the Boeing 737, in production since 1967.
For General Aviation I'd think it would be the Cessna 172.
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