Any reason why you are a AME or want to be one!

[tohellnback]

Do you realize we have the lowest shop rate for repairing machinery in the world!
Or do you not know the difference in mechanical trades or is it EGO!
We don't work on bicycles but camaraderie seems the same
this machinery is airplanes and people depend on your skills
most profesional are using the right tools for the job
but i i have seen the mediocre mech use any thing cause it makes them look useful
I am talking 3/8 ratchet on a 3/8 head for a 3/16 bolt
there is a collegiate in Richmond that pumps out the worst
you want a failure well this is going to happen
I have never seen a bunch of F ups in my life that is being pumped out by this operation
whats with these so called experts that are training these kids they try to reflect their knowledge and it aint working
I guess They wished they never quit there real jobs for a puppy mill that turns out shit and grief
Why is it the engineers are responsible to make sure the apprentices don't kill anybody
It is overload for the guys responsible to ensure airworthiness
Why are you working aviation?
Id like to hear from you

[longjon]

ok

[robertw]

I got into aviation maintenance because I've loved flying machines since I was about 10. I also found out I liked fixing mechanical stuff too. It was my dad's idea to put the two interests together.

[CID]

I liked the smell of that zinc chromate putty and bees wax. You can't use zinc chromate tape anymore and conformal coating replaced bees wax for protection against the elements so now all that's left is the MEK buzz but they want to take that away now!

[all_ramped_up]

I like flying machines, taking stuff apart, complex systems and loud noises.

The pay isn't fantastic but it sure beats fixing some schmo's Civic. I'll take resolving snags and ground runs on a Sovereign over a 1.8L VTEC any day.

[plhought]

I liked the smell of that zinc chromate putty and bees wax. You can't use zinc chromate tape anymore and conformal coating replaced bees wax for protection against the elements so now all that's left is the MEK buzz but they want to take that away now!

Post of the month.

Damn I miss Zinc Chromate tape.

[cramer604]

Ive seen some one eate zinc chromate tape.

[cramer604]

I thought that the money would be good. Plane and simple.

[Aero wrench]

I still have some zinc chromate paste but the best is spreading Mastinox on my toast in the morning with a shot of MEK in the coffee.
Seriously, I thought the money was going to be good. After 30 years i have enjoyed the career and the variety that i get every day.

[Angusnofangus]

And I thought I was the only one that liked Mastinox on my toast! Have you tried a little Skydrol to pep up your coffee? Mmmmm, good.

[cramer604]

How about huffing freshly opened prc semkit bags.

[Angusnofangus]

Heaven on earth!!

[longjon]

Thinking back on how we used these products before WHIMIS info makes me shudder, but for me the best reason for being an AME is the smell of Jet Fuel exhaust on a cold winters day. for some reason its intoxicating

[crazyaviator]

This thread has deteriorated substantially like the shelf life of a fine wine! When my first and only child ( daughter) arrived into this world when i was 48, after MANY years of PRC, MEK, thinners, tolulol, used oil and 5 dozen other carcinogens, I checked my daughter out real quickly when she was born ( 10 toes, check, 10 fingers , check, 1 head , check etc) BOY, was I relieved to have a healthy little girl after all I put my body through !!

[Angusnofangus]

Thinking back on how we used these products before WHIMIS info makes me shudder, but for me the best reason for being an AME is the smell of Jet Fuel exhaust on a cold winters day. for some reason its intoxicating

I ,too, like the smell of jet exhaust. But have you ever noticed that PT-6's seem to have their own smell? Definitely not the same as JT8'S or J79's.

[GyvAir]

I ,too, like the smell of jet exhaust. But have you ever noticed that PT-6's seem to have their own smell? Definitely not the same as JT8'S or J79's.

It's probably due to the whole reverse flow versus straight through thing. Like roasting or brewing your coffee longer, you end up with a different aroma.

[cramer604]

"You have to put the lightening holes in so that the lightening holes can go through."

[Glasnost]

Sure. For the shiny airplanes. Nothin shinyer than a corroded and clapped out 180 on some lake in the middle of nowhere.

Being an AME has been pretty good to me, all things considered. I've worked for shit and dirt wages but I've also worked for pretty good ones, too. Auto movie or heavy duty you're working your ass off for ever dollar you get rather than finishing up early and getting paid a whole day or a minimum daily rate just to show up in case anything breaks.

Stop comparing shop rates. Shop rates mean sweet @#$! all. If you compare something like a small aircraft shop charging $80/hr to a dealership charging $120, consider you can work on light aircraft for maybe $50000 worth of tools, where the dealership has to have several million.

Wages could be better. They could always be better. But in my experience the grass isn't greener. Go look up some automotive forums where mechanics are bitching about how little they make, comparing themselves to the AME crew chief makes over $100k on his T4 (though he neglected to say that most of it was overtime, appeasing middle management, and babysitting).

[Wonderdog]

Fishing off floats, anywhere.

With a box office flying...

there's that fucking cotter pin, in my pocket....

To all engineers,

[Planetman]

Well ever since the accident I could no longer play piano in the whore house.
I had to do something, so aviation was my only fall back.

[helidougg8111]

the only reason you would want to be an ame is if your intelligence was stunted, you had unrealistic expectations of what the job entails, are happy making less then what any other tradesmen make, had some demented fetish for aviation (akin to being one of those weridos who gets off on being humiliated and blackmailed by a dominatrix) and enjoy being seperated from your family with night shift and rotations.

dougg out

[robertw]

Helidoug, I sense a wee bit of bitterness in your posts today. A lot of us have had a good go in aviation. Not all of it is shift work and travelling to remote locations away from family. I have been working in aircraft maintenance and manufacturing for close to 20 years and I have never had to travel extensively. Aviation has been good to me and my family. If you have a lame working situation that does not suit your desired lifestyle, you have the power to change that. Being bitter and calling out others will not help you or anyone else, but only make you hate your own situation more.

[helidougg8111]

Helidoug, I sense a wee bit of bitterness in your posts today. A lot of us have had a good go in aviation. Not all of it is shift work and travelling to remote locations away from family. I have been working in aircraft maintenance and manufacturing for close to 20 years and I have never had to travel extensively. Aviation has been good to me and my family. If you have a lame working situation that does not suit your desired lifestyle, you have the power to change that. Being bitter and calling out others will not help you or anyone else, but only make you hate your own situation more.

im glad aviation treats some of you well! This mindset is usually reserved for owners and their kids who decide to get in the business by overstepping the rest of the staff, who has the real world experience. If your genuinely happy with working in aviation maintenance, and are satisfied with everything it encompasses ie; salary, benefits, rotations, shifts ect, then id say you fall in to the Unicorn/bigfoot category! There is a reason this industry has earned the stereotypes it has. Ive been across the country and can count on on one hand how many ames ive met who are not regretful and looking leave.

And i dont feel im calling anyone out, just adding a perspective to educate naive ame wannabes before they get in the biz.

[digits_]

and are satisfied with everything it encompasses ie; salary, benefits, rotations, shifts ect,

I am pretty sure nobody is ever satisfied with EVERYTHING a job encompasses. Most AMEs I meet seem to be having some sort of fun doing their job.

[helidougg8111]

and are satisfied with everything it encompasses ie; salary, benefits, rotations, shifts ect,

I am pretty sure nobody is ever satisfied with EVERYTHING a job encompasses. Most AMEs I meet seem to be having some sort of fun doing their job.

There is nothing wrong with the actual physical act of turning wrenches on aircraft. when i was young i rather enjoyed it.

my point was not that other jobs will satisfy every desire, they will provide better in every aspect then an ame job.