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 guess I am not certain what your specific question is. It is important for anyone who works with machinery to understand a thing or two about friction. A flight mechanic needs to know no more, or less about friction than any other type of mechanic.
Does a person walking on snow and ice need to know about friction?
How about a carpenter, shaping or sanding wood?
This is a strange question you have asked.
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I generally work 40 hours a week. With some periods of needing to work 50 or 60 per week.
There is a regular scheduled 3rd shift here where I work, so I don't have to work those kinds of hours.
The only time I've been called in the middle of the night, was when I worked a position where I did not have real scheduled hours to work. Which sounded great at first, until they started calling at all hours of the day/night.
Where I work, mechanics start at $21 US/hr; and inspectors start at $55k salary per year.
The most common overtime I work, and have historically worked; is the kind where you come in for your regular shift, and get roped into staying until something is done. Which can mean 12, 18, even 24 hours on the clock. Getting asked to stay a little late is common. 4 + hours over, is rare.
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I'm sorry, I really have no idea if that is allowed. I'm not on that end of the business.
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First off: In the United States, an A&P (Airframe & Powerplant Technician) is never called an Engineer. And an Engineer, is never called an A&P. Reason being, that they are very different jobs.
In the USA, if you are an engineer; then you are involved in the design and stress analysis end of things. Whereas the A&P works the aircraft or components themselves.
Also: An engineer would require at least a 4 year degree from a university. An A&P can get educated and certified in 1.5 to 2 years, depending on where you go.
As far as cost for you to go to a school here in the USA, as a non-resident? I really have no idea.
You are going to have to contact the admissions department, of whichever schools you are interested in going to. They will break down all the financial estimates for you. That's what they are there for.
I can only speak from my own experience. That back in 1990 - 1992, when I got my two year degree, and A&P from Lansing Community College; it cost somewhere around $18,000 USD for the entire program. But that was with me being a resident, and living at home with my parents.
So you'd have to figure a non-resident fee, plus room and board on top of that $18,000 for you; as well as account for 25 years of inflation!
Sorry to not be more help. You really do need to get in touch with the admission departments of some of the colleges and universities that offer A&P certification programs. There are a lot of good ones out there.
I recommend the programs at Lansing Community College; Northern Michigan University; and Western Michigan University.
There are many others though, and I encourage you to shop around.
Good luck!
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Las Vegas Cab Driver
Do people ever ask you to keep your meter off in exchange for a cheaper fare?
Professor
Are professors really subject to the "Publish or Perish" policy?
Chef
Has anyone ever found anything gross in their food on your watch?
Yes, of course you can!
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The answer, as with most professions, is both Yes, and No. Reason being, is that you weren't very specific in your question.
An aircraft technician can work anywhere in the world that they have permission to work, just like anyone else. But the value of any licenses they have, depends very much on which company they work for, and the country they are in.
I'll illustrate this with a close neighbor of mine: Canada.
As a United States FAA licensed Airframe & Powerplant technician, I can work in Canada, as long as I have the applicable Canadian government permissions to do so (work visas, corporate sponsorship, etc). And I very much had the opportunity to possibly do so, back when I worked for Pratt & Whitney Canada in Upstate New York.
But, since the CAA (Canadian Aviation Authority; their equivalent of the FAA) does not have reciprocity with technician licensing; my A&P license wouldn't have any literal value. I would not have authority to release any parts or aircraft as airworthy. I would be restricted to working as the equivalent of an unlicensed mechanic's helper, or apprentice.
The same is true of a CAA licensed technician who wished to work in the USA. Different licenses for different aviation authorities.
A notable exception to my situation, would be an FAA licensed Repair Station. There many of them located around the world, and my A&P license would have value if I worked with them.
Another exception would be working with any US "N" registered aircraft. My A&P has value when working with those aircraft, no matter where on earth they are. As I could do maintenance or modifications on them, and have authority to declare them airworthy or not.
So yes, an aircraft technician does have opportunities to work anywhere in the world, as long as their licensing is effective where, or on what, they are working. Also, you could work for a company that might send you to all corners of the earth on their dime.
But then again, no, we as individual technicians cannot just go working anywhere we want, unless we have the proper government permissions to do so.
I hope that all made sense.
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Yes, of course it can get dirty. :D
You run into the same types of grease, oils, soot, etc.. that you do in car & truck maintenance. Though I would more liken it to heavy diesel trucks, in most cases.
General rule of thumb is: The newer the aircraft, the cleaner it is probably going to be to work on. But that is pretty universal as well.
I try to mitigate the mess in my old age, by wearing gloves when I have to handle filthy items; and keep lots of clean rags handy.
I try not to bring my mess home with me anymore. I'll never forget having to wipe down the inside of our washing machine sometimes, after doing a load of work clothes in it. It left a black film behind.
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