Best college for aircraft maintaince program?

BeechjetYKZ · Post by **BeechjetYKZ** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:30 pm

Which Ontario college is the best for the aircraft maintaince program? Geographically CENTENNIAL is closest (Toronto) but Canadore, Confederation and Sault all over it. Can anyone who has taken or knows someone who has taken the program offer me a suggestion? I hear Centennials program is not "well organized". Is this true?

THX

Northof60 · Post by **Northof60** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:33 pm

Canador is a good place I think they just built a new school. But I would consider some other line of work. You can make alot more money working in somting else. Do your reacherch.

BeechjetYKZ · Post by **BeechjetYKZ** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:32 pm

What position can make good money while being near/on aircraft?

motox415 · Post by **motox415** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:18 pm

Fueller, baggage handler, cleaner, and no college required.

Northof60 · Post by **Northof60** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:35 pm

Janitor,the plow guy,......................

BeechjetYKZ · Post by **BeechjetYKZ** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:53 pm

Flightline doesn't make such good money. Only $11-12 an hour. I find it hard to believe your advice. Everyone but you says there is money and fun in av maint. How about some more people's opinions.

motox415 · Post by **motox415** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:13 pm

Jagflyer: Get your head out of the sand. I think if you took a poll the large majority of AME's that have been in this business for any length of time would say there is little enjoyment left in it. Maybe that is why so many guys are looking in other industries. Unfortunetly we are not like pilots who love thier job so much that they can keep getting shoveled crap and take it with a smile waiting for that dream job.

BeechjetYKZ · Post by **BeechjetYKZ** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:51 pm

I want a job that will offer me interaction with aircraft as well as good financial security. Flightline is not a career for someone. I am not going to be fueling planes, throwing bags and moving planes all my life. I want a more "professional" aviation career besides a pilot, what else is there?

Northof60 · Post by **Northof60** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:28 pm

The guys in Alberta driving the water trucks make good money.

Vickers vanguard · Post by **Vickers vanguard** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:51 am

JAGflyer wrote:I want a job that will offer me interaction with aircraft as well as good financial security. ?

Are you F#%$ked from the head or you just don't want to listen !
There is no money in Aviation Maintenance......it's plain simple!
Sorry for the Harsh words but it's just like watching somebody walking blindfolded towards a ravine.
Even some major US airlines are now outsourcing some of their heavy maintenance to chineese AMO's......you can see the trend and where all this is going.....

wrenchingirl · Post by **wrenchingirl** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:04 pm

Here is what I can tell you about Confederation College in Thunderbay. Small classes, knowledgable and interesting proffesors, low tuition, every attempt is made to help struggling students and Thunderbay is nice town to live in. TB has all the ammenities and rent is reasonably cheap.

Don't let all these bitter guys put you off Aircraft Maintenance. If you are willing to work hard and be flexible about where you live you can make a decent wage and have a satisfying career.

I'm just starting out but I make a decent wage and I'm happy to go to work in the morning. I don't regret one bit that I left a higher paying job (which I hated going to every day) for this.

Northof60 · Post by **Northof60** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:02 pm

wrenchingirl wrote:Here is what I can tell you about Confederation College in Thunderbay. Small classes, knowledgable and interesting proffesors, low tuition, every attempt is made to help struggling students and Thunderbay is nice town to live in. TB has all the ammenities and rent is reasonably cheap.

Don't let all these bitter guys put you off Aircraft Maintenance. If you are willing to work hard and be flexible about where you live you can make a decent wage and have a satisfying career.

I'm just starting out but I make a decent wage and I'm happy to go to work in the morning. I don't regret one bit that I left a higher paying job (which I hated going to every day) for this.

Give it Time.

gli77 · Post by **gli77** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:43 pm

Hey Jagflyer,

The nastiness you get on here is a reflection of the industry in Canada. If you only want to do a two year course then do avionics. There is money in aircraft maintenance but you have to go overseas contracting and then come back with a good nest egg setup. If you are smart and invest as you go you can do really well. But it is not easy and some jobs take you to some undesirable places. Not all of us are as pissed off as those on here. There are always some who are never happy no matter what. Be your own judge. That's life.

Most get blindsided in this world. They figure after a 2 year program the world is theirs. Next comes a loan for a new car, then a wife, then house, kids and before you know it they are stuck, loaded with debt, working nights for some jackass and hating every minute of it. Misery loves company and it is extremely contagious.

Pilots are actually worse off, but as someone has pointed out it is because some wise business men captalize on their eagerness for the job.

What I would recommend to you is to go to University and get an engineering degree. Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace or Carlton has an Avionics/Aerospace program. You can also do the AME program through correspondence with educationdirect.com while you do the engineering degree. With this route you will have that professional career in aviation.

Without the degree about the only way to get ahead is to work contract, and as I said the best way to do that is to go overseas. Most important for this route is to get your licence. Also do it young and start reading the investing books now.

Good Luck.

natureboy · Post by **natureboy** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:05 pm

JAGflyer wrote:I want a job that will offer me interaction with aircraft as well as good financial security. Flightline is not a career for someone. I am not going to be fueling planes, throwing bags and moving planes all my life. I want a more "professional" aviation career besides a pilot, what else is there?

Funny I was like you once, 4 layoffs later and another new company with permant nights has finally sucked all the enjoyment out of me. I you are looking for good money do something else, if you want to be respected do something else.

You are only remembered for your @#$! ups all the stuff before that won't matter. I know quite a few AMEs now and the only thing you will ever hear them agree on is they would never do this again.

The colleges feed you shit on how great it is and how good the money is because they are a buiness, they need your money. They would tell you the runways were made of gold and each time you saved a plane from leaving broken you would get a raise as long as you signed on.

Trust me when I say this, look from the fence because the mystic of the airport dies quick on the inside.

motox415 · Post by **motox415** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:45 pm

GLI77. I must agree with you on the degree. That would probably be the best route to go . especially when you can consider that maintenace coarse can be done via corespondance coarse. This will give you many options in the job market. And you are correct, I got tired of the crap in Canada and that is why I have been contracting overseas for the last 7 years. Generally you have to put up with alot of the same politics etc. as back in Canada but atleast you get payed well for it.
Natureboy.. I really had to laugh when you said the Colleges told you the runnways were made of gold. That brought back some memories at my Canadore days. It could not have been said better. Cheers.

BeechjetYKZ · Post by **BeechjetYKZ** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:12 am

Uni is not an option. I do not have the requirements (marks and course) wise for it. Well, I'm talked out of AME, I guess it isn't so worthwhile as I thought.

gli77 · Post by **gli77** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:48 am

If you've let the negativety of one forum disuade you, you need to take restock of what interests you. Basically you have the opinions of 8 or 9 guys, who you do not know or know what their story is. I can not say this business has not been good to me, it definitley has. But it is true that some it chews up and spits out. The reasons are vast.

If you are interested in a career in aviation take a look at all the options. Pilot, AME (there is more than 1 category, mechanic, avionics and structures) degree'd engineer, ATC, or take a look at the aviation management programs.

If you dont have the marks for uni then do the avionics or structures course at a college and do the M course through correspondence at the same time.

Make no mistake that aircraft maintenance can be a tough business and you must make your own path. Have you thought about what exactly you wanted to do? Mechanic, Structures, Avionics, helicopter, fixed wing, airline, general aviation, corporate aviation?

BeechjetYKZ · Post by **BeechjetYKZ** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:23 pm

Avionics sounds interesting. I'm very tech oriented so that might be why. I do not want the responsibly or stress of being a pilot. I considered ATC but when I really thought about it, I said its way to much of a stressful job and I do not handle stress very well at all. A job where I can go in, finish my work and leave in the evening. I saw something about this "M" thing in the college books. What is the "M" licence and why would I need it?

So, now Aviation management. What career path can that lead to and where can I take something like that (or where is the best place to take it)?

I do feel quite discouraged by the stuff I heard in this thread and I'm getting close to the point where I need to choose a program to research to find where I should take it.

gli77 · Post by **gli77** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:21 pm

Hey Jagflyer,

An M licence is a mechanic. An E licence is avionics. An S licence is Structures.

M is wide open for the type and areas of work, and most of the people that post on here are M guys so you can see what that field would be like.

E and S are more specialized which means there are less people but less jobs as well. That being said I know of no good E or S guy that is out of work. I know of many E & S guys that work contract and do very well.

You dont like stress so you would be more tuned to a heavy maintenance environment or doing modifications. For an M this basically means doing assigned tasks. For an E this means doing modifications, running wires and terminating connectors. For an S this means a lot of sheet metal mods and now a days composite work. E can get stressfull at the end of these programs when doing check outs if things do not function correctly. S can get stressful if you make a mistake and of course projects short on time carry their own urgency.

If you can get good at bench repair inside radios, as an E you can do very very well! It is a very specialized task but you likely will never be on here whining like others. You actually do not need the E licence but it is a good idea to get it anyways.

From your post you seem to want a simple go to work and do your job sort of career. I would not recommend M to you. Your options for the 9-5 jobs are limited and almost nonexistant at the lower levels. You are more likely to find steadier work as an E or S in the positions I stated above. Keep in mind that a lot of times you get out what you put in. Also realize that when you leave college you will be an apprentice and not have an M, E or S licence. For these you will have to complete the apprenticship and then do Transport Canada exams. If, like some, you never get the licence your job prospects and pay will always be limited.

Of course for all of these trades you can hide at Air Canada or Bombardier and never have a stressful day in your life and make a good wage.

I am not saying you are going to walk out of college and into a high paying easy job. Unless you can get AC or BBD, you will have to have your own aspirations to get ahead.

There may be auto mechanics, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters who make more than the average AME, and then again there may not be. If you really want to cover your bases then check out what other trades have correspondence courses and kill two birds with one stone.

As for the aviation management courses I know of only one and that is at Georgian college. I am sure there are many more. I think Western University has something like it. I have no information on what it will get you as I have no interest in it.

benchmark · Post by **benchmark** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:08 am

hey JAG. during my last year in highschool i went and visited all 3 colleges to see what they were like. TB stinks, literally...it's a pulp/paper town, although people said "you get used to it." i also have a friend who recently graduated from there and he regretted going there. toronto isn't exactly cheap to live in, but if it's nearby for you then go for it. i went to canadore and really enjoyed northbay.

as for aviation, i've never been short of work. i would say it's a secure field even with all the terrorism going on..you can ALWAYS find work somewhere...but keep in mind as others have mentioned it may be in some godforsaken place at some ungodly hour of the night, making little money compared to other industries. if i were to do it again i would do something different with my life. if you do choose to be an AME don't expect any long lasting relationships with the opposite sex either

CD · Post by CD » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:43 am

I attended Confederation, taking an aviation management program that isn't offered any longer unfortunately. However, at the time, almost all of the graduates of the Aerospace Manufacturing program were being snapped up by Bombardier. We didn't have too much contact with the students in the maintenance program so I'm not certain what their prospects were like upon graduation.

Certainly the new facility in YQT is far superior to what we had access to. I also see that they are advertising for an avionics program for 2007...

BeechjetYKZ · Post by **BeechjetYKZ** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:20 am

2 people have recommeded Canadore in NB. What catches my attention is the avionics tech. Structural doesnt excite me. I will do some research regarding Avonics technician and see what i can find. Can anyone here give me a positive suggestion for Canadore or another college with the avonics program? Relations with the opposite sex are mandatory.

I did consider Av Management but I think something more "specialized" would be better.

phillyfan · Post by **phillyfan** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:09 pm

Hey NatureBoy

If it sucks so bad why do you spend your off time hangin out on line talkin about it.

our_kid2000 · Post by **our_kid2000** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:09 pm

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.

737ame · Post by **737ame** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:33 pm

i will also put in a reccomendation for canadore.. I graduated back a couple years ago... the new facility is top notch.. northbay is a reasonably priced place to live .. and the parties are definitely top notch... Minimal relations with the opposite sex .. during school.. but after class hours there is no shortage.. I had some roomated during school who took the avionics program and being out for almost 3 yrs now they say they found themselves with enough experience and felt ready to tackle the tasks encountered once entering the industry.. I would like to suggest the "m" program just for the fact i feel you are more versatile.. and with an m1/m2 you can tackle the "E" items all the same.. but keep in mind this is just my opinion and i am still a green horn in this business.. I was lucky to land a decent job with a great company.. other people may not have the same views