Encore AME jobs

[longjon]

I agree, anyone who does a Maint Release on a Q400 for $25 bucks an hr ought to re think their line of work.

[Pat Richard]

I agree, anyone who does a Maint Release on a Q400 for $25 bucks an hr ought to re think their line of work.

or get their head checked out after it's pulled out of their ass...

[flatface]

Deleted

[chowda]

thats really interesting and a lot of it makes sense. i know lots of guys who are divorced and broke, multiple car payments, crazy mortgage, but they work in the patch so they can make the payments but they have not much leftover. i know companies love there workers in debt too because it makes them fearful of loosing there jobs and makes it easier to eff them around.

thanks flatface

[NeverBlue]

Here are the modern rules and conventions:

Married with children, the more the better.
Big mortgage, the higher the better.
Two new unpaid for cars in the driveway, more debt.
165% of annual income in debt, or more.
Two vacations per year on line of credit.
Credit cards maxed out, the more the better.
Participate in a DB pension plan that becomes vested at an early age, locking you in or suffer severe penalties.

I tend to look at it a little different than that:

Marriage...I won't touch, people have many different reasons for getting married.

Children...there are many people who don't look at some of the consequences/responsibilities of having children, they just have them and then complain about/deal with the consequences later and claim they're stuck in their job and claim they don"t make enough

Mortgage...I have a number of close personal friends in Vancouver that are living way, way above their means. Some with 4 and $500,000 mortgages and claim they're stuck in their job and don't make enough

165% of annual income in debt...Big screen TVs, Smart Phones, Computers, Tablets, Gaming, SUVs, Mini Vans, Sports cars, all on credit, and claim they're stuck in their job and don't make enough

Two or more vacations a year...Vegas Casinos, Dominican, Mexico, Florida, Costa Rica, Cuba, Hawaii, all on credit and claim they're stuck in their job and don't make enough

Credit cards maxed out...new shoes, new skates, new stick, new clubs, new driver, dinner out 4 times a week, digital cable, sattelite tv, data plan, concerts, hockey games, etc etc etc, all on credit and claim they're stuck in their job and don't make enough

I follow none of these conventions and have never been stuck in my job and therefore never complain about it. When I have started to complain, I've quit and moved on to something I liked.

I wouldn't take a job at Encore because I don't have to...I make better money and am happy where I am...but if I had to I certainly would and I would never judge anyone for doing the same.

$50,000 is not poverty and is above the average single income in Canada...That is a fact

add profit sharing, company shares, yearly increases, and flight benefits and you're just fine.

sit at home and complain about it...you're the dummy

I have no idea what you make Richard...but I know it's not enough for you and all you do is complain and probably feel you're stuck.

Otherwise you'd have moved on long ago...

[Pat Richard]

Modern society has enslaved the working man. Governments, Bankers, the judicial system and the Revenue agency have set up rules and conventions that create stability in society by enslaving the blue collar worker.

Here are the modern rules and conventions:

Married with children, the more the better.
Big mortgage, the higher the better.
Two new unpaid for cars in the driveway, more debt.
165% of annual income in debt, or more.
Two vacations per year on line of credit.
Credit cards maxed out, the more the better.
Participate in a DB pension plan that becomes vested at an early age, locking you in or suffer severe penalties.

These workers are enslaved by their sense of responsibility and by their debt, they have virtually signed up for a life sentence of debt repayment, and cannot extricate themselves from this merrygoround.

To leave any job under these conditions will lead to tremendous stress and severe repercussions, and possibly the loss of everything the worker has accumulated and earned in a lifetime.

http://www.roadtowellbeing.ca/questionn ... ssors.html

If the new generation followed a different set of rules and conventions, the MAN could not enslave them the way our generation was.

Never marry, never have any children.
No debt, of any kind.
Never own anything, just rent, lease, or borrow, you will have nothing to lose.

With nothing to lose, they cannot be enslaved by anyone, including an employer. They are free to walk out and find employment with anyone who treats them with DIGNITY and RESPECT.

Are these rules realistic, probably not. The further you move away from today's rules and conventions, the more free you will be.

+1

I think a lot of good ideas there, in particular the highlited bit. Exactly what an(many) employer doesn't want in an employee.

If anyone is curious, go here http://www.ratehub.ca/mortgage-affordability-calculator and see what 50G a/yr affords you when you want to move out of your parents place. Better hope there is more than one bread winner in the family.

[5x5]

Enslaved????? Really?

Give your heads a shake. Every one of us is exactly where we are due to the decisions and choices we did make or didn't make. And our future is determined by the choices we will or won't make.

Ditch the sense of entitlement, accept the responsibility for managing your own life and work at making it better if your not happy as it is.

[NeverBlue]

Well said 5X5

I don't understand where these views come from

BTW...work for 10 - 15 years, increase your income, save some money, then buy a house, pay for it for 25 years, retire and your all good.


...just some advise from someone who is doing just that and having no problems getting by in this "underpaid, high responsibility, enslaved worker industry"...

started in 1990 making $8/hr

[Troubleshot]

You know...every now and then, when I think I miss aircraft maintenance, I come to AVCanada and read up on the latest in aviation and get a reality check. I have been out for 1.5 years now (I sound like I am in an AA meeting) and I can honestly say I am happy. When I was working in the industry I think my perception was clouded because that was all I knew. Most AME's feel that their job is one of the most important jobs in a company, and I would have to agree just based on the "you can't @#$! up factor", same goes for pilots, but that is where the comparison ends. There are countless positions (non-management) in the airlines that are above the AME wage or close to it. One example I have from experience is from an airline I worked for years ago, I found out that someone in Crew Sched. was making only $1/hr less than me....these people sat up stairs in their slippers playing solitaire while I changed wheels and brakes in -15c temps and at 3am in the morning.

I really can't believe that someone here can justify 50K/yr to fix airplanes....I am speechless, no really...If you honestly think that this is wage justifiable the rest of the working world is gonna pass you by. I don't know how to fix it but please, please don't defend it.

I manage a Wind Turbine farm now and all of my Technicians made over 60K this year, you know what happens if they fix something wrong or mess up...the turbine stops and we go back out and fix it right... no one dies, TC isn't involved, they don't lose their license, ...well you see where I am going with this...

Anyway good luck to you all....

[longjon]

$50,000 a yr. I wouldn't get out of bed in the morning and go work on airplanes for that

[NeverBlue]

$50,000 a yr. I wouldn't get out of bed in the morning and go work on airplanes for that

...I've said many times...I make more than double that.

...but I started low and I've paid my dues...and stayed because I liked it and wanted to stay

No one said it would be easy and no one said I would become rich doing it.

I don't work outside and I work 9-5, 5 days a week.

I manage a Wind Turbine farm now and all of my Technicians made over 60K this year, you know what happens if they fix something wrong or mess up...the turbine stops and we go back out and fix it right... no one dies, TC isn't involved, they don't lose their license, ...well you see where I am going with this...

...well good for you...but you've just defended your occupation

...so don't ever tell me not to defend mine hypocrite

Aviation maintenance overhead costs are bigger then any industry I've heard comparisons to here...it is what it is.

You can either handle the wages...or you can't


There were many techs that left and went to CMB or Skytrain for bigger paychecks, but it became too clear that the overhead costs couldn't manage those wages...now the BC tax payers are paying for it and a lot of the techs came cralling back after either deciding they hated the monotonous work, the shitty hours, their asshole supervisors or were laid off.

To me fixing the same turbines everyday would be no different than assembling cars all day or welding pipe or picking fruit or putting inserts in a newspaper or watching people put their money in a box before going through a gate...etc...etc...etc
Once you learn how to do it...what else is there?

...but that's just me

[SeptRepair]

Hey Troubleshot. You hiring?

[YYCAME]

As a final followup to my previous posts on applying for Westjet Encore I was a bit disappointed in the recruiter today.

To recap 2 weeks ago I did a phone interview because 1) I'm always curious in doing something new even if it pays a bit less 2) I've had various friends say a lot of good things about how Westjet treats their employees.

During the phone interview the recruiter whose name I will omit explained to me that the ACA premiums and shifts weren't decided on yet, and that it would depend on some board meeting the next week. So I said I would like to continue the process when she could give me more information on this so as not to waste their time. So today, two weeks later, I decide to make a followup call and leave a friendly voicemail asking if they had any new information on the job as I was still interested in continuing the process and hoped they had some better information. Actually I had expected them to call me before then when they had the info but perhaps that was miscommunication with me and the recruiter.

One hour later I get an email with the standard thank you for applying but we have selected other candidates at this time form letter. I can only assume that was a response to my voicemail due to the timing.

So on one hand I suppose a person could find it humiliating that I got shot down for the lowest paying AME job in Calgary. But actually I think it speaks more about the recruiter and Westjet HR then myself, since I'm awesome sauce and very humble Plus there can't be that many Calgary AME's with a DH8-100/300 endorsement and Q400 line experience lining up to apply. I think it speaks more to the fact that the recruiter was trying to sell me on a job based on Westjet culture and when it came down to answering questions like about pay and shifts I apparently was not Westjet material. Fair enough, maybe money and shifts aren't the most important things in the world, but I suppose I'm just not sure what they are offering then. Everyone is already nice enough to me at work and I've done volunteer jobs that had a great work enviroment as well but it didn't seem like a good long term career path. I'm not looking for new friends here, but a way to provide for my family, and maybe that was my mistake.

I still think Westjet has been a good influence for aviation in Canada and I'm sure that the guys that do end up working there will like it, even if it is just a stepping stone up to mainline and a B scale airline for new engineers. But it made me realize that if your applying for a job, it is better to waste the recruiters time by jumping through the hoops and saying yes to everything rather then try to ask some relevant industry questions of a low level recruiter whose only job is to provide the company with people who want the job based on a good feeling between them and the employer.

On the bright side, my wife will be very relieved to hear I got turned down since she has been telling me from day one that it would be ridiculous to leave a job I like, with a crew I like, with the best shift I could hope for in aviation for a young family, and 30% higher wages for a start up that offers nothing more then a promise of good times and better pay if they succeed.

Now I have go to work next week and admit I didn't even make the cut at Encore

[Pat Richard]

Fair enough, maybe money and shifts aren't the most important things in the world, but I suppose I'm just not sure what they are offering then.

The privilege of working for westjet, lol.

No, seriously, Im confident that's what they are trying to peddle in the absence of good money/shifts, and how dare you ask them such questions, lol.

Not much to be disappointed about, man. You're wife is right to be relieved.

[NeverBlue]

it would be ridiculous to leave a job I like, with a crew I like, with the best shift I could hope for in aviation for a young family, and 30% higher wages for a start up that offers nothing more then a promise of good times and better pay if they succeed.

...You just wanted to try something new???????

your intentions are pretty clear

You think I'm an idiot??

One of my biggest fears when I fly on the airlines is that I get a tech as colossally stupid as neverblue working on the machine i'm a passenger on.

...you should take a bus then

I never said they were looking for entry level people...I simply said it was a starting wage at the company...very similar if you start at Jazz or Air Canada...you can't negotiate a wage at those companies...the union makes sure of that.


jeez...do you people all have WT syndrome?

[Troubleshot]

$50,000 a yr. I wouldn't get out of bed in the morning and go work on airplanes for that

...I've said many times...I make more than double that.

...but I started low and I've paid my dues...and stayed because I liked it and wanted to stay

No one said it would be easy and no one said I would become rich doing it.

I don't work outside and I work 9-5, 5 days a week.

I manage a Wind Turbine farm now and all of my Technicians made over 60K this year, you know what happens if they fix something wrong or mess up...the turbine stops and we go back out and fix it right... no one dies, TC isn't involved, they don't lose their license, ...well you see where I am going with this...

...well good for you...but you've just defended your occupation

...so don't ever tell me not to defend mine hypocrite

Aviation maintenance overhead costs are bigger then any industry I've heard comparisons to here...it is what it is.

You can either handle the wages...or you can't


There were many techs that left and went to CMB or Skytrain for bigger paychecks, but it became too clear that the overhead costs couldn't manage those wages...now the BC tax payers are paying for it and a lot of the techs came cralling back after either deciding they hated the monotonous work, the shitty hours, their asshole supervisors or were laid off.

To me fixing the same turbines everyday would be no different than assembling cars all day or welding pipe or picking fruit or putting inserts in a newspaper or watching people put their money in a box before going through a gate...etc...etc...etc
Once you learn how to do it...what else is there?

...but that's just me

Hypocrite?? that is a bit harsh...Anyway I am not defending the Wind Industry (not sure how you got that) you see, the thing is I don't have to defend it...it is far better than the aviation industry in every way. No, I am not defending my occupation I am saying YOUR industry sucks. Get it? Listen bud I have worked in both industries and I know the difference...go ahead and try to argue with me on how Aviation is better than Wind (or any utility industry for that matter) and I'll make you look stupid.

-we make more money
-we only work day shifts
-company vehicles
-all tooling provided (everything)
-better health benefits
-4 weeks vacation (your first day on the job you get that)
-free uniforms, laundered by a company that picks it up every week
-unlimited sick/personal days (yeah no shit)
-My company budgeted me $400 month for my Techs just for employee appreciation (we usually go golfing or BBQ, etc..)
-we all have company issued laptops and iPhones
-etc, etc, etc....

Anyways I have much more I could prove my point with. And if you think my guys get bored with working on Turbines I can tell you they break a lot more then planes, these things are 2.1MW power generators and have over 390 alarms or faults that can come up any given day so that argument is invalid, and anyone with half a mechanical brain would have known better to make a statement like that.

[NeverBlue]

unlimited sick/personal days (yeah no shit)

really?...I can take 365 days off and still get paid for all of them I worked for you??...bull

...you must have WT Syndrome to

No, I am not defending my occupation I am saying YOUR industry sucks

go ahead and try to argue with me on how Aviation is better than Wind

...and you say I have half a brain...nice statements...why would I care what you say after that?

I never ever said my industry was better than yours

-we make more money
-we only work day shifts
-company vehicles
-all tooling provided (everything)
-better health benefits
-4 weeks vacation (your first day on the job you get that)
-free uniforms, laundered by a company that picks it up every week
-unlimited sick/personal days (yeah no shit)
-My company budgeted me $400 month for my Techs just for employee appreciation (we usually go golfing or BBQ, etc..)
-we all have company issued laptops and iPhones
-etc, etc, etc....

you obviously never had a job like I've got 'cause I have all of that...except more vacation days...and I definately don't have unlimited sick days...that's just bull.

you haven't mentioned profit sharing/shares or flight benefits

[ourkid2000]

Sitdown Rando.........lol.

I wouldn't get too woundup about what Neverblue is saying here. If he actually has what he says he has, well he probably has the finest AME job in North America.

Troubleshot is right though, once you see what's going on at airlines outside of the hangar you get pretty disillusioned. Not always, but usually.

[Troubleshot]

I am sorry I don't believe you to be honest, you forget I worked in aviation for 13 years. Sure you have more vacation now but you didn't start at 4 weeks vacation I can guarantee that. 4 weeks vacation in your first year of employment is a huge perk and unheard of in aviation. I never had a company truck I could use as a personal vehicle in aviation, hell we got flack sometimes for going to McDonalds in the line truck, and your company pays for all your hand tools eh? please, who do you think your fooling here? I know guys that have the sweetest corporate gig known to man that don't get that.

As far as the unlimited sick days go...it is call Culture, something non-existent in Aviation. My company believes that if you need time off to take your kid to the hospital then you can use a sick/personal day and not your vacation time....I know you have a hard time with this but it is not that uncommon in modern, forward thinking companies (Google it). Would I take 365 days off sick? No, why would I? My company is nice enough to not rape my vacation over a family issue so I will return the favor and not abuse it...you see how this works? Again I understand your disbelief but that is Aviation Syndrome clouding your judgement...I used to have that disease too.

As far as the bonuses/profit sharing/or similar, we have a quarterly incentive program for the tech's...they hit certain targets they get a payout. It can be as high as $8000/year but usually is $6500-$7000/year payed out over each quarter. My bonus would baffle you so I won't mention it here.

Flight bennies? I had them my whole career in aviation, I got bumped more times than I could count...usually at a connection stop somewhere. Now I have enough money to by a full fare ticket and not stress if I am going to make it home before I supposed to go to work on Monday.

You see I know all about aviation, don't confuse what I am saying here. Being an AME is very respectful profession and most guys I worked with were real Pro's....it is aviation industry that is stuck in the stone ages.

NEXT!

[skywardbound]

Hey Troubleshot. You hiring?

So are you guys hiring?

[Troubleshot]

I am not hiring right now, turn over is not very high. haha.

this was a posting for a Site Manager a while back, not sure if it is still open.

Site Manager - Stettler, ALB-11000190
Description


Site Manager – Stettler, AB Wind Farm
Vestas-Canadian Wind Technology, Inc.
Salary Range: $95,689.44 - $143,534.16
Nature of position: regular, full-time


Power Your Life

Vestas offers you challenging career opportunities in an ever-changing environment. With more than 40,000 wind turbines in 65 countries, Vestas is the world leader in modern energy. As Vestas grows into new markets, we are looking for strong leaders to help manage new business. Vestas looks to accelerate innovation through the development of our employee's skills and talents. Our goal is to reduce CO2 emissions dramatically and ensure a sustainable world for future generations.

Responsibilities and Tasks

As a Wind Site Manager, you will be responsible for the overall leadership, management, and success of one or more wind power plants. You’ll be responsible for key performance objectives such as safety, execution excellence, customer loyalty, and financial performance. Your leadership will help drive an effective team dynamic and ensure that the wind site operates at peak efficiency.
Because Vestas is expanding and entering in to new markets, opportunities are available throughout US and Canada. Wind site location will be determined based upon availability, candidate skill set and preference, and organizational need. Vestas offers relocation assistance and opportunities for advancement. As a new leader within Vestas, you’ll attend a prestigious 8-week leadership development program in Portland, OR, USA at the beginning of your employment.

[ameguy721]

One hour later I get an email with the standard thank you for applying but we have selected other candidates at this time form letter. I can only assume that was a response to my voicemail due to the timing....

I had a very similar experience, but I didn't call the recruiter (although I was about to). I think the timing was a coincidence on your part (since I got the same email without calling) but that doesn't change the message.

I asked some very specific questions which I wasn't very excited about the answers to.

Despite this I left the door open, didn't rule anything out, and was told I would be contacted again with more info. Then nothing for 2 weeks followed by an eff off email.

I think it speaks volumes when multiple experienced AME's (I have time on the Q400 but no endorsement as well), who are willing to listen and go through the process (although there is no way I would have accepted in the end at those wages) don't even get granted formal interviews or answers to relevant questions.

I've always viewed Westjet as one of the very few, maybe only, progressive companies in this industry. This Encore experiment really has me re-thinking that. I think they're growing themselves a little monster over there and one day its gonna eat that whole airline.

[NeverBlue]

and your company pays for all your hand tools eh? please, who do you think your fooling here?

...I have never had to buy a crimper, wire stripper, removal tool, insertion tool, lockwire pliers, anti-magnetic screw driver, torque wrench, multimeter, RF adapter, Interface cable, laptop, tablet, signal generator, headset etc...never

The tools I've purchased fit in a small bag and include a multi-tip screwdriver, side cutters and a 1/4 inch socket set...big deal

...13 years in aviation and you assume your job was the only one?

now who looks stupid?

[GyvAir]

I am not hiring right now, turn over is not very high. haha.

this was a posting for a Site Manager a while back, not sure if it is still open.

Site Manager - Stettler, ALB-11000190
Description

Site Manager – Stettler, AB Wind Farm
Vestas-Canadian Wind Technology, Inc.
Salary Range: $95,689.44 - $143,534.16
Nature of position: regular, full-time

In the interest of avoiding comparing apples to oranges here, I think posting the qualifications required in the job posting you gave as an example would have been a good idea:

"Qualifications

Associates degree or equivalent, Bachelor’s degree preferred
Experience and knowledge of wind turbines and power plant operations. Will consider similar industry and/or technology such as hydraulic, rotating heavy equipment service and maintenance
Significant experience as a leader of a field-deployed technician team with responsibility for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance
Experience managing safety programs that include LOTO, Electrical, Fall Arrest & High Angle Emergency Decent, and Confined Space.
Demonstrated leadership ability in coaching, mentoring, motivating and developing employees to achieve a highly aligned, motivated and engaged team.
Demonstrated continuous improvement and quality methodology skills.
Previous accountability for budgeting, P&L, and cost management.
Demonstrated ability to achieve customer loyalty through effective relationships and demonstration of value differentiation.
Valid driver's license, passport and ability to travel as needed to meet business objectives.
Ability to successfully complete a 200-400 foot pre-employment climb test, pre-employment physical and drug screen, criminal background check, and driving record check. Knowledge of technical drawings and schematics."

Line number one alone eliminates the majority of AMEs still working in aviation. I strongly suspect that none of the AMEs accepting Westjet's current offer would have stood a chance of being hired for that position.

By the way, that posting expired November 2011. They do however have other current postings in Canada that I must admit do look interesting and realistic to an experienced AME looking for something new.

[hoptwoit]

WTF is with the deleted posts around this place. I've seen way worse left up seriously WTF