Author Topic: career change. (Read 795 times)

Chaos68 · « **on:** October 23, 2003, 03:25:12 PM »

Im doing a career change. Im going to go to Michigan Institute of aeronautics.

http://www.mioa.com

in 19 months i will be able to work on airplanes/helli. I'll have my airframe and powerplant.

im excited, anyone else in the field of aeronautics/tech?

Maverick · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2003, 06:02:20 PM »

Chaos,

I just finished a program similar to that last March. It took me 15 months for my A&P.

Are you going there because of the location or reputation? Just curious is all. In state at Cochise College for the program is about $11 or 12k after the tuition hikes last year.

Are you going to have an A&P when you walk out the door?

Dago · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2003, 06:30:50 PM »

I am an A&P, been one for 25 years. Never been unemployed in those years, but it's been close a couple times. The airplane in my avatar is an N3N-3 I work on for fun.

dago

Chaos68 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2003, 06:32:09 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Maverick
Chaos,

I just finished a program similar to that last March. It took me 15 months for my A&P.

Are you going there because of the location or reputation? Just curious is all. In state at Cochise College for the program is about $11 or 12k after the tuition hikes last year.

Are you going to have an A&P when you walk out the door?

im going because of both rep and location, its only 15 minutes from my house and its FAA approved plus ive heard nothing but good things about them.

and yes i will have my A&P when i walk out the door.

Bodhi · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2003, 06:37:35 PM »

I say go learn on the job, thats what I did instead of "paying" someone to teach me, I got paid while I learned. I have worked both ends of the aviation spectrum from airlines and civil to warbirds. Now, I run a small warbird restoration shop. It's fun, and I look forward to going to work everyday.

Chaos68 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2003, 08:52:30 PM »

i would love to restore old warbirds!

i'm paying someone to teach me because i want to learn and i dont mind paying someone to teach me how to do a job.

the class is 50/50 50% in the classroom then the last 50% or the day is spent in the hanger working on what you learned about in class.

Raubvogel · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2003, 09:21:42 PM »

Just got my A+P this past February, used the experience I got in the military and just took the tests. I still have about 7 months left in the military, but I'm looking forward to getting into the civilian sector and putting the license to work.

Maverick · « **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2003, 11:11:55 PM »

Chaos,

Don't figure on getting the really peach jobs until you have a couple or 3 years of experiance. Try to go somewhere that will give you a broad base of experiance, not just stick you in one area such as hydraulics or sheetmetal. It will make you more salable later on when you try to hook a major employer.

Start looking at the tool catalogues and figure what you might need in addition to the minor list the school requires. Some of what you might think of as minor tools like an aviation spark plug socket can be pretty pricey. (almost $30.00) If you need to get safety wire pliers look for a 6" set with reversible twist. They'll set you back about $85.00 but do make life easier! Aircraft Tool Supply Company will send you a free catalog. You can see their adds in Trade-a-plane. Before you graduate I'd get a subscription to that publication since it's cheap for once a month delivery and has TONS of good adds and ideas for you to look over.

Chaos68 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2003, 05:16:02 AM »

thanks maverick! im going in knowing i wont make good money for a few years because of experience. I buy all my tools from the school that i will need (around $3200 worth of tools). But i will take get Trade-a-plane.

Creamo · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2003, 06:15:49 AM »

Chaos, some things jumped out at me that you said and you need to at least be aware of.

First off, the most important thing to get a job is the Airmans Certificate, period. Whether you get your A&P at Joe's Aircraft Mechanic School, military and hands-on credited experience, or Embry-Riddle, the bottom line is you will be licensed. I'm sure you'll get a kirby sales pitch from a school that says having them on your resume is an instant job, or an edge on the competition. That's their recruiters job, but I'm not so sure.

I fell for it with Spartan School of Aeronautics. $12-14 grand in 1985 mind you for their "name" but they just teach whats the FAA requires, just like everyone else. And when you graduate you are completely clueless so who cares. Don't quote me but some community colleges might offer every thing you need to get your certificate for over $5 G's less. From what I heard, way more than that... but if it's 15 minutes away, it might be good if you have pell grants and can afford it.

Also, tools. I'm sure the school will want to sell you tools! At Spartan they even tried to make money on breakfast biscuts, so Im sure raking in a few hundred on tools is part of their biznus. Go to a flea market for gads sake. Get a list of what they require, shop and compare at Sears, and then flee market or garage sale the rest. I used to keep gas in the Snap-on truck till I realized the only high priced stuff you need for tools is sockets and racheting screw drivers. The sockets grab those damn near rounded off nuts when a cheaper brand won't.

You'll be done in 18 months but go for the hoopty degree, a 2 or 3 month addition that pads the resume with some math courses, and I think by then the industry will be thriving.

udet · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2003, 10:37:11 AM »

Ih have a BSAE

mia389 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2003, 12:45:10 PM »

how does one get a A&P licsence? Anyway to do it from home? Im currently going to a 141 flight school, Im kindof interested in getting one if it dont cost me a whole lot of money.

FBsmokey

Dago · « **Reply #12 on:** October 24, 2003, 05:27:51 PM »

Quote

Anyway to do it from home?

Nope.

Would you want someone with a mail order A&P fixing your aircraft?

The A&P license is one of the hardest to get believe it or not, involves the most time and effort.

dago

Bodhi · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2003, 06:39:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Creamo
Chaos, some things jumped out at me that you said and you need to at least be aware of.

First off, the most important thing to get a job is the Airmans Certificate, period. Whether you get your A&P at Joe's Aircraft Mechanic School, military and hands-on credited experience, or Embry-Riddle, the bottom line is you will be licensed. I'm sure you'll get a kirby sales pitch from a school that says having them on your resume is an instant job, or an edge on the competition. That's their recruiters job, but I'm not so sure.

I fell for it with Spartan School of Aeronautics. $12-14 grand in 1985 mind you for their "name" but they just teach whats the FAA requires, just like everyone else. And when you graduate you are completely clueless so who cares. Don't quote me but some community colleges might offer every thing you need to get your certificate for over $5 G's less. From what I heard, way more than that... but if it's 15 minutes away, it might be good if you have pell grants and can afford it.

Also, tools. I'm sure the school will want to sell you tools! At Spartan they even tried to make money on breakfast biscuts, so Im sure raking in a few hundred on tools is part of their biznus. Go to a flea market for gads sake. Get a list of what they require, shop and compare at Sears, and then flee market or garage sale the rest. I used to keep gas in the Snap-on truck till I realized the only high priced stuff you need for tools is sockets and racheting screw drivers. The sockets grab those damn near rounded off nuts when a cheaper brand won't.

You'll be done in 18 months but go for the hoopty degree, a 2 or 3 month addition that pads the resume with some math courses, and I think by then the industry will be thriving.

With the exception of actually shelling out a bunch of big bucks for school I agree whole heartedly with Creamo on this.... which makes me very nervous.

Be careful where you spend your money. It is rediculous to waste it, when the end all result is the certificate. But, if you feel you absolutely need to spend that mopney, make sure you get the degree. Padding the resume never hurts.

As for tools, I own a massive variety of both hiprice, and sears craftsman series, but DO NOT fall for the BS school sales on tools. Way back when when I first went to a trade school for commercial diving, I spent money on "their" HAVE TO HAVE tools. Well it included a stupid $4500 C diver Watch and the like, anyways, it was just a scam to get a few more bucks outta me...

Be careful, be smart, and remember, you can buy a tool any day of the week, there are never deals that will not be repeated.

Chaos68 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 24, 2003, 07:08:12 PM »

thanks guys this is the stuff i need!

The teacher gave me a list of all the tools i will need. (unless i want to buy a "set from the school") At my job now i see mister snap-on tool man alot and he said he could get me 80% of the tools for cheeper then the school and surounding stores (ive knowned him for 8 years now).
Im going to this school because it close the next closest school like this is over 2 hours away. I am aplying for all the grants i can get, im first aplying for the pell grant.

thanks guys i need this info..