puppy mill prospect

[moco]

Hi everybody. I've been searching these forums for a while trying to get a handle on the maintenance industry here in Canada. I live in SWO, and am facing a lurking career change. I'm 40 years old going on 18. I say this because I would effectively starting from scratch. I've lived in Australia and ran a banner towing company, and built airplane hangers. Thats the extent of my aviation specific experience.
I am the most interested in avionics, and maintenance to a lesser degree. My first hurdle to overcome is the education aspect. Spending 2 years in college is gut wrenching when you're 40 with a mortgage. I understand I can do it in 18 months in North Bay, but that doesn't help much as its a long way from home. Manitoba has the ideal apprenticeship program, but again, it doesn't help me being that far away. Are there any other avenues to landing an apprenticeship without 2 years of school?

Thanks for any advice

[jsmetalbashers]

If Stevenson college in Manitoba offers a apprentiship program for avionics where you go to school for 9 weeks a year like the M program, that would be the best avenue for someone that doesn't want to go to school full time or be away from home for extended time. The chances of you being hired with no schooling are slim to none, avionics is something that requires training.
You may want to rethink aviation as a career prospect if you don't want to leave your home or are concerned with being where you are now. You will probably need to move to stay employed in aviation or to land your first job.

[TwinOtterLover]

There is also the old route that i think is still available although most employers dont really like to hire these people is 5-7 year apprenticeship and then writing all of the exams (i think there is eight exams total) from TC for your license. I believe this is still an option but i could be wrong

[mjwkoch]

stevenson college does not offer an avionics program just an m program right now. Theres talk about a structures program but nothing is official yet. There was alot of students from all over canada when i was there. They have dorums for rent and you recieve e.i. while your in school, the government also picked up the tab for most of the tuition. Its a great program I highly reccomend it.

P.S. Don't forget an m1 and m2 comes with e privileges

[mag check]

P.S. Don't forget an m1 and m2 comes with e privileges

Just having an M1 and M2 does not allow you to sign out E work, unless you can prove you have the relevant experiance. You need the relevent ATA tasks signed out.

[moco]

Thanks everybody. It's not hard to see how landing your first jobs can take you anywhere. I'm just trying to evaluate all my options. Right now I live 5 minutes from work. To go from this to 2 years of school and then an almost guaranteed relocation for less than half the money is a pretty big shocker. The Manitoba program cushions the blow alot better, but I wonder if living in Manitoba will be a shock in itself? i have no idea what its like living up there.

[b1ngnx33]

If you have a choice, don't go into aviation.

If you have no choice at all, bottom of the barrel, go to aviation.

I would like to say more, but it wouldn't be very nice, or constructive, or politically correct for avcan censorship

committee council.