Military A&P Question

[mtpopejoy]

My wife's cousin is thinking about enlisting after high school. He sees the $80k dollar signs but doesn't realize what it carries with it.
My question is: If he joined the Air Force or Navy and was to become a mechanic. Say he stuck with it until he could become a crewchief. When you leave the service do you have an FAA A&P certificate?
Regards,
Mark

[b29flteng]

No, but your time will count toward it. You still need to take the tests. A lot of people take those weekend crash courses and then take the tests.

[mtpopejoy]

Thank you much.
That is exactly what I needed to know.
Regards,
Mark

[bdk]

$80K sounds like union airline mechanics pay. I suspect that is a very small minority of A&Ps and not the norm. With all the consolidation going on in the industry, that kind of pay would seem to be even farther out of reach and probably requires overtime coupled with a lot of experience (not a starting wage).

Maybe you can add a poll to your thread and find out how much the A&Ps on the board make? A poll would be more discrete than people just blurting out their income (which they aren't likely to do).

[Sully]

Don't think that military experience will result in an airline job though. Most airline requirements are dependent on similar type experience. A lot of military training is too specialized.

I know quite a few mechanics who have an A&P with years of Air Force time that can't find an airline job. I had 23 years as an airline mechanic and when I went looking again I did not qualify because my "experience" was not recent enough. I had been in general aviation for 8 years.

Sully

[mtpopejoy]

BDK,
The $80k is what the Army is offering as a "sign on bonus" right now due to their extremely low recruitment. The only stipulation is that within 30 days of finishing your advanced training you will be in Iraq or Afghanistan.
That is where that number comes from.

[bdk]

Gotcha! Didn't know that.

[DougB]

I retired from the Navy 2 years ago and they were just bringing online a PQS for aviation rates that would fulfill FAA requirements for experience and training equal to going to an approved school. You would still take the writtens and O&P with the examiner but what do you want for 4 years of service. The FAA has had a guide for years telling them what rates, job specialties and work assignments were eligible for recieving an 8610 for the equivalent training.

[mtpopejoy]

Thanks Doug.
A good friend of mine is a Navy recruiter right now near me (he hates every minute of it). I will have to pick his brain on this.
Regards,
Mark

[bdk]

http://education.yahoo.net/degrees/arti ... hecks.html

Aircraft Mechanic
A vocational school training program can land you a solid living as an aircraft mechanic. The $40,000 to $80,000 earnings range reflects the specialized training required to perform avionics repair and maintenance. Aircraft mechanics inspect landing gear, instruments, cabin pressurizing systems, aviation electronics, and more.

The Lowdown: The FAA certifies 170 trade schools to train aircraft mechanics in the craft. Most programs take 19 to 24 months to complete, although some schools offer 2- and 4-year degrees in avionics or aviation technology.

Average Salary: $49,670 (BLS, 2007)

Shocking, yes!?

[The Inspector]

Whats most shocking is, after completing your A&P course, getting your ticket, and finding a job-the Bureau of Labor Statistics considers the job of A&P mechanic as 'semi-skilled'

[Enemy Ace]

I make my living as an A&P and salary is currently near the 200K mark as a military contractor. I spend 6 months of the year in Afghanistan. There are guys I know who make even more than that. If you are a good A&P with experience and can travel and put up with sometimes less than great living conditions you can make an awesome salary. but, forget about it if you just want to work 9-5 in the states and go home every night.
Tell the boy to go into the air force ( not the navy). get his A&P. Be a crew chief. and then search the 'net when it's time to muster out. He will meet civilian tech reps and contractors along the way. get their names and #'s and keep in touch. dyncorp, L3, M7, telford are all hiring. IT CAN BE DONE.

[Broken-Wrench]

I obtained my A&P from the military..First you should go to the FAA Fisdo office instead of the recruiter. Tell them that you want to obtain your A&P and were looking for looking for a military job code that would help you obtain both. The FAA gives you the permission slips to take the FAA writen /practical test. They have a book that has all of the military aviation jobs codes that tell you if you qualify for a powerplant, airframe or both certificates. The book also tells you how long you have to work in that job code to qualify. They are more than helpfull and will save you from making the mistake of only obtaining one certificate. The recruiter may send to to AO ( Bomb loader ) school and you'll get nothing but 6 years of your life gone. Also Go Air force as most of that equipment is in servce with the arabs and they are always hiring contrators...Army would be second as they had helicopters that are used all over the world. Aditionaly most contrators require a 5 level ( maintenance skill level) for employment.

Last edited by Broken-Wrench on Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:31 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[Broken-Wrench]

[quote="The Inspector"]Whats most shocking is, after completing your A&P course, getting your ticket, and finding a job-the Bureau of Labor Statistics considers the job of A&P mechanic as 'semi-skilled'[/quote]

The cabin guys ( arts & crafts) have ruined it for everybody else.

[The Inspector]

YEAH! The darned leg shavers!!!