Best college for aircraft maintaince program?

Greg87 · Post by **Greg87** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:07 pm

What is it about Centennial that most people don't like? I've just been accepted to Centennial for fall 2007, so far nowhere else, but it's early. I want to choose Centennial anyways because it's closer to home, I may even decide to live at home and drive there. If you personally work hard does it make up for any slacking from the college? Is Canadore really that much better of a college that it's worth the extra money and distance? Any info greatly appreciated.

PS: please, I don't need to hear any more horror stories and attempts to "save me" from a life in aviation, I've been around planes since I was 10 and I've witnessed an aviation maintainance company go bankrupt, if that didn't scare me away, neither will you. By the way, as far as I know, all the guys that got laid off have jobs either full time or contract, within a couple of weeks of the bankruptcy, some within days. Any former TG guys hanging around here?

Dr.Piper · Post by **Dr.Piper** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:43 pm

Hey Greg. With you knowing where I work, its not about the money LOL.

There is a lot of negativity here definitely. I personally am not too worried about the amount of money I earn (or do not earn). I just like aircraft, though troubling and aggravating at times.

I appreciate it for the fact that I have an Aircraft Maintenance Engineers licence, something I am very proud to have. If you are in anything to do with aviation, trust me its not for the money.

The amount of money I spent to obtain my AME licence is piddly compared to what our instructors had to pay to get to where they are but at least I get a plastic $115.00 card (woohoo!)

I went to Canadore at the old Bomarc base (1990-1992). But the new campus is a beaut!

I figured that Thunder Bay was too far away for me and Toronto was way too expensive.

If you are looking for money galore, then aviation is not for you.

OMGWTFBBQ · Post by **OMGWTFBBQ** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:45 am

Post removed

gonfly'n · Post by **gonfly'n** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:53 pm

Canadore was my choice but centennial is geographically closer. Why would a prof who teaches at Canadore promote centennial college? I think you could find a job having graduated from centennial. It's all about who you know and how good of a worker you are.

Greg

You going to centennial's open house march 10th?

123dash · Post by **123dash** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:12 pm

Like working nights,weekends.holidays for little $ ? GO FOR IT!!

gonfly'n · Post by **gonfly'n** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:33 pm

I do all of that now for 10$/h. More education=more money earned or am i missing something?

Meecka · Post by **Meecka** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:30 am

In the rest of the world the whole "More education= more money" thing might be true... Not so however for the aircraft maintenance industry. Unless you get into a good shop, which tend not to have much of an employee turnaround, be prepared to work your behind off for little or no recognition.

This is not the wonderfull world that it is painted out to be... In reality it is much, much worse.

Weekendatbernie's · Post by **Weekendatbernie's** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:14 am

What's up with all the Canadore Honks!! I'm sure it's a good school if all you want to go to is Voyageur. BCIT is where I graduated and it's pretty good. Got to work on 737s and Harmonys 757s.
But it really doesn't matter where you Grad from. It's who you know not what you know.
If you don't know anybody it takes you a little bit longer but it just makes you work that much harder.

custom100 · Post by **custom100** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:08 am

hay weekend i agrea with you that it does not matter where you graduate from but as for the who you know not what you know thing i'm not sure. this may be the case in fixed wing but with so many operators in the helicopter side looking for guys i do'nt think that that applies here. it may help but if you are likeable, work hard, and get along with the guys/girls that you work with finding the job won't be a problem.

i didn't know any body at the company that i'm working for my past employers are what sealed the position for me. and no non of my past employers are in the aircraft industry.

Weekendatbernie's · Post by **Weekendatbernie's** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:03 am

Thanks Capt. Obvious
Custom:
Unless you go work for some large Overhaul Company(which takes anybody that breathes), it's going to take some time to build up the contacts to get into a job that is worth while towards your license.
Every Apprentice leaves school with the same slip of paper. But one of the few things that will separate you from the pack is if you know someone already that is willing to take a chance on you. I didn't and it sounds like you didn't either.
Which leaves me to my previous comment of "it makes you work that much harder to find a job".

SnapedOn · Post by **SnapedOn** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:24 pm

Im a student at Centennial College its not so bad!! I mean If your in the program because you want to be you will find enjoyment!! I also went to confed for a while for a different program and I new some peps in the Maintenace program there and it seemed like a good place to go!

Dont let everyone scare you away from your career WE do this because we want to not because we have to... carss are dead the Airplane isnt.. Just find the right company and I recomend takeing a structures course after u graduate!!
Good luck

custom100 · Post by **custom100** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:51 pm

hay weekend your right, sorry if i took what you said wrong. it did make me work harder to get the job and keep it, so in a way it did help me. what i was told once by an instructor was that "a good rep will proceed you and a bad rep will proceed you by light years". so in an industry this small even how you interact and work at school will reflect on you.

as for taking a structures coures after grad i guess that will help to get a job

but do you realy want to be a hose dragger or an ame?? just kidding

Greg87 · Post by **Greg87** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:11 am

gonfly'n wrote:Greg

You going to centennial's open house march 10th?

Yes, I'm going to go the open house. I've made up my mind and I'm going to go to Centennial.

gonfly'n · Post by **gonfly'n** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:35 am

me too

conehead · Post by **conehead** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:36 pm

You must be NUTS.

ramp_rat · Post by **ramp_rat** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:50 am

I really hate about this Centennial vs Canadore thing! If you like airplanes, go wherever! You will learn the same thing, they are all operating in accordance with TC except, some schools have a lot better equipment than the other. Most of the teachers are mechanics from the same industry and knows one another at some point in the past. I graduated from Centennial, now licensed and endorsed, did it matter if I graduated from Centennial? It doesnt matter!!! But, I would recommend taking an extra year to do avionics/mechanics after taking the full two years of avionics/mechanics, it'll help you out a lot!!!!!

cat-boat · Post by **cat-boat** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:25 am

My opion is a little bit biased, but the best is definately Canadore. They have some of the best instructors and facilities. They built a new campass about 4 years ago. If nothing else Northbay is a fun place to party, and cheap to live

cooterdavenport · Post by **cooterdavenport** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:32 am

our_kid2000 wrote:I know its far but.........

The school in Gander, NL is top notch & cheap. A full years tuition is about 1500 bucks and living there is cheap as dirt. Its a 3 year program altogether, however, when you graduate you have the basic qualifications for both M (maintenance) & E (avionics) licences plus 21 months credit towards your apprenticeship, something you won't get anywhere else.

It opens quite a few more options when you have training in both.

Yah and you learn that there is a lot of truth about all dem Newfie Jokes. LOL

no newfies were hurt in the posting of this message.

Mike72 · Post by **Mike72** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:31 pm

Another Vote for Canadore here, will be graduating in a couple of months. Had a blast and the teachers are top notch!!!

wrenchingirl · Post by **wrenchingirl** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:18 am

Confederation is pretty good and seems to have a good reputation in the industry, the only people in my class that don't have a job for graduation are those that havn't applied to any companies yet, everyone seems to have 2 or 3 companies to choose from. Confederation is cheap, the instructors are excellent, Thunderbay is a good size town but very cheap to live in, the aviation programs have their own campus right at the airport, I think it was built 4 years ago, the equipment has seen better days but overall it's a pretty good program. I've worked with guys from BCIT, Red River (I think that's where the Winnipeg program is) and Confederation and everyone seemed to have just about the about the same knowledge.

Human Factor · Post by **Human Factor** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:25 am

Weekendatbernie's wrote:What's up with all the Canadore Honks!! I'm sure it's a good school if all you want to go to is Voyageur. BCIT is where I graduated and it's pretty good. Got to work on 737s and Harmonys 757s.
But it really doesn't matter where you Grad from. It's who you know not what you know.
If you don't know anybody it takes you a little bit longer but it just makes you work that much harder.

BCIT is a good school but last I heard (1999), there was a 3 year waiting list. I went to Canadore with a guy from Vancouver who wasn't willing to wait for an opening at BCIT so he ended up in North Bay as it was his 2nd choice by reputation.

BCIT is building a huge new campus at the moment so waiting lists might become a thing of the past (assuming they aren't already). The downside is that if you're not already living in Vancouver, the outrageous cost of living will shock you. Not the place for a starving student trying to make it on his own, that's for sure.

Flyinguy · Post by **Flyinguy** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:59 pm

What Happened To SAIT??.. didn't see much mention of that school?... has a 185 up to a 737... just wondering what there rep. is in industry.

Best college for aircraft maintaince program?

WOW