90% of my career has been in helicopters however I have dabbled in almost every other area in the fixed wing world as well. Helicopters (in Canada) you are indeed outside lots all year round, however there are also overhaul shops to work at. IMO rotary doesn’t have as much turnover in Canada because of the cult mentality. I think GA fixed wing is way up there in turnover because of the low pay and crappy customers.Pat Richard wrote: ↑Wed Aug 03, 2022 11:40 amI really don't know. I think maybe it might be more of a case of "what geographic are" sees the highest turnover?Bug_Stomper_01 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 11:06 pmI know lots who have come and gone from there, I wonder what area of Canadas aviation game has the highest turnover?? You see airlines advertising enough but the one that stands out to me is business jet work… I could be wrong of coursePat Richard wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 8:44 pm That place was and still is a giant cancer of a operation. Granted, Im speaking from a maintenance perspective, but I've also had the misfortune of working there and I'd never go back.
Which brings us to their never ending ads - their reputation precedes them and they have a hell of a time attracting experience. Throw on top of that the cost of living in Kelowna and KF's brutal entry AME payscale of $28 a/hr...well, they dont help themselves.
On the pilot side they are unionized so they have seemed genuinly more content so it might be better than the maint dept.
Search this site under kelowna flightcraft. Lots of info
Aviation maintenance has never suffered from one sector poaching, or enjoying a stampede, from one category to another. Theyre all shitty in their own way.
Helicopters - get flight pay, but have to work in bug infested or miserable outdoor conditions. My experience was working all day/night outside, out of truck, watching other mechs popping uppers to get awake. You worked half the year but it generally compared to fixed wing on annual income.
Fixed wing - barely half my time was indoors on M2 aircraft. So basically my experience in helicopters, albeit with less tempermental equipment.
Almost always 12hr afternoon/graveyard shifts. Best schedule being 4 on/off, worst being 3 weeks on/off. You basically started tired, having to commute at early hours to catch flights then do a late/graveyard shift. When you left you were getting off shift late at night and had to be on a flight around 7 AM. Forever tired.
Overhaul - moderate amount of time spent there, still had some crazy shifts. Best was afternoon 8 hour shift, worst was 11 hour 12 day stretches, no days off. Constantly on your feet and overtime being demanded constantly. Take a guess what company that was/is?
Ultimately, it comes down to the least shitiest you can tolerate.
That being said, AME's have shown a huge appetite to take it up the arse so the level is quite high. Other trades think we are as a whole, insane.
But someone mentioned Management companies and being on call as being up there as well in another post I started, that I would say for not only technicians but pilots alike the turnover is extremely high, if not the highest. I haven’t seen more job ads anywhere else in aviation in Canada (helicopters or fixed wing alike) for pilots and ames as well as the other supporting roles as I have in business jet work.