Aircraft Engine Mechanics??

Question

Do they get paid good money?? I'm from Los Angeles California, so i'll probably get my career there.

P.S hope they get paid good. LOL

Answer 1

Many people thinks that if your an aircraft mechanic or arcraft engine mechanic you get good pay right after school.Yes, If you have a good experience. Not only that your career will not end just a mechanic you will have a lot of opurtunities later on. Experience mechanics would generally get a pay from $19/ hr up to around $30 or may be even higher. To give you an idea entry level mechanics earned around $12 to $18/hr. Choosing your career in this field I would say one of the best decision you've ever made.Let me know if you want more information.

Answer 2

As the guys have told you, you won't step out of school and start making the real money.

The average A&P graduate comes out with vocabulary and some very basic skills. For the most part they are worthless on the line as a mechanic. The pay is equivalent, depending on where and with who you land your first job... pay can be as low as $8.00/hr!

You need to be ready to pay your dues, and I'm not talking money. You will be the gopher, floor sweeper, and general flunky in the beginning. Expect to have someone looking over your shoulder every time you touch the aircraft for a while. As you learn, and develop your ability, your responsibilities will increase... as well your pay.

Right now there is a lot of good experienced A&Ps looking for good jobs. So breaking into the majors will take a fair amount of skill, personality, and luck (unless you have connections). Don't count on getting your dream job in L.A., most A & Ps end up being travelers... you go where the job & money are.

You could choose to go the military route for training and experience, however if you plan to switch over to the civilian you will still need to get your A & P. While the military experience will help, the odds are you won't have the experience on the types of aircraft used in the civilian use, so there again you need to pick up some more experience.

Besides mechanical ability, you also need to have the right personality. You need to be honest, able to follow directions, and most of all not be one to be bullied into doing something you know is wrong. While most of the industry is good, there are a few out there who will try to 'twist the arm' of a lower mechanic to sign off something that isn't right. (Sign it, or lose your job.) You must be willing, to keep your ethics, even if it means loosing your job. After all when you sign something off, it's YOUR license on the line.

Well I hope I haven't scared you off, but like any job it has its good and bad points.

If you have what it takes and with a little luck, you can make a good living. With time your license and experience and even open other doors for you. Many of the good Directors of QC or Maintenance started off as a ramp rats, then there are the sweet government jobs, or even the possibility of becoming a self employed DAR.

Go for it, but do it with your eyes open.

Answer 3

There are more licensed A&P mechanics in the USA working on diesel trucks and in factories than on airplanes. American aviation schools turn out hundreds of new A&Ps every year while the major airline employers keep going bankrupt and laying off workers. There are not a whole lot of jobs available for brand new mechanics with no working experience.

If you can find a job at all, the pay scales are something like...

General Aviation... $9-15 per hour.

Regional airline... $12-20 per hour

Major airline... $16-30 per hour

Union pay scales may be a bit higher, but most shops are not union shops. If you do find a job, there's likely to be lots of overtime because it's cheaper for management to pay overtime than to hire another worker.

If you do manage to get a job with an airline, expect to work night shifts for most of your career, because most passenger airplanes fly during the day and are serviced at night. 12-hour shifts (6 PM to 6AM) are not unusual

Answer 4

JetDoc and Robin are both 100% correct, as JetDoc said, there are a lot of good, highly experienced A&P's working on trucks right now, the aviation business is very soft right now, for ground and flight crew.
And all of the recruiters at A&P schools and flight schools can BS all they want about the industry exploding in the next 10 years, it isn't happening or going to happen. If anything we are going to see further consolidation, more airlines going bankrupt and more apes and rats out on the streets.

I would say if you want to do it just because you love airplanes (as I do) then go for it, if you want to do it to make a lot of money then you better start elsewhere, this is not the place.

Hate to sound glum about because it is the greatest job in the world to me, I am just trying to let you know the realities of it all.

Answer 5

My buddy is an A and P mechanic, he worked for a while for an FBO making around $14 an hour, he did this for about 5 years. Now he is working for UPS and raking it in. It takes patience as far as getting in a good company, great career though.

Answer 6

Yea bro and good choice as a career BRO im going to be an AF jet poilot tho and YES MAN they get paid really good so Good Luck man and be a Good mechanic

Answer 7

Location is the key in what Aviation Mechanics make. One in New York probably makes alot more cabbage than one from Kentucky. In California (L.A. probably lots of green) it is a pretty good career choice I would think.

Answer 8

Most of the major airlines are laying A&Es off after 9/11. Many of them are in bankruptcy or trying to get assistance from the government. Research the field carefully. Good luck to you.

Answer 9

aircrft mechanics are paid very well, further if one clears the licence papers of FAA and get endorsements then what you earn in 1 quater to spend in havana for 3 quater of a year

Answer 10

They get paid fairly well....you can get trained for free by the military :-)

One of my best friends is a Rotary Wing (Helecopter) Mechanic in the Army. He loves it.