A & P Pilot

[LR25]

My .02

As I have stated before on the old board.

Having the A&P is a doulbe edged sword.

I will say it helped me get my career going as a pilot, but man did I work for it.

I worked on airplanes since I was 15 and yada yada, decided to go to A&P school right after high school( which took 22 months). One of the best decisions I have ever made I think. By the time I was 22 I was working for a freighter airline on DC-8's and was the station manager by 23, also already had all my rating except the ATP by then to.

But here is the ugly part about the whole A&P/pilot thing. I went to work for a 135 operator to fly and do "light" maintenance. Well by the time it was all said and done, I was pulling engines, buried in airconditioners and other none "light" maintenance type of work while the other pilots put on the bars and clean white shirts to go fly the trips. Needless to say that did not continue for very long.

I will also add this, if you are going out to get an A&P just for another feather in the cap to help land that flying job, you better have the skills to back it up. Remember, the A&P ticket it just a ticket to learn, you might put it on the resume, but if you dont have any work experience to go along with it you might be in for a little suprise. But you will have the power of the pen.

But it is a good feeling to know that I can go back to my other career if I have to in times that the pilot market dries up, which I almost had to excersize after September, still hanging on.

Good luck.

 

[avbug]

All of the above posts are correct, and accurate.

Flyinggal, unless you can go to work full time for 30 months as a mechanics assistant in addition to your flying duties, your only other path to certification as a mechanic will be night school or classes through your local community college. You can knock this out in 18 months to 2 years typically. If you can work as a mechanic, 30 months of full time work is required before being able to test for both the airframe and powerplant ratings (only 18 months to test for either one individually).

Back country work, referred to earlier, can be any kind of flying into remote areas, or areas less traveled. It often involves a lot of work on your own, with little support. It's frequently done at remote locations, off unimproved or poor airfields. Often dirt or gravel, often with no facilities, maintenance, etc.

With many former jobs, I've had to carry tools on board, and in some cases, parts. In a few cases, I've done repairs in flight due to the nature of the work.

Some remote area jobs are entry level, but many are not. In many cases, being a certificated mechanic isn't so much the issue, as one who can handle doing the work and getting the airplane home. It's a different kind of life, and a different kind of flying. The bottom line for the employer is can you do the job, and can you bring it home. Getting the signature is only a bonus.

 

[Fr8DoggyStyle]

I'd like to 2nd the remarks previously made as my career path somewhat resembles what LR25 was saying about his. I'd just like to reinforce that getting an A&P is much like getting a commercial pilot's license...... it's definitely a license to learn. Other than to be used to enhance your knowledge of aircraft systems or to bolster your resume, an A&P should be backed up with some real world working experience.


Another thing, (this coming from the mechanic part of me) pilots with A&P's should make sure and remember that thats just what they are- a pilot with an A&P. A few times i ran into pilots who had magically become god's gift to all things mechanical just by getting their yet unused A&P certificate. There are few things that will piss off a mechanic more than a pilot telling him how to fix his airplane. Its sorta like a mechanic with a fresh pilot's license telling you how to fly your airplane.

sorry i'll get off my soapbox now

 

[stingray]

I some how feel some of the comments where directed to me about a pilot/mechanic giving a mechanic suggestions on how to do some things and vice versa. However i do agree with the comments Fr8 made.
I do admit i have things to learn from both jobs, but My time as a mechanic on EC/KC/RC-135's, and as an A&P for Bar Harbour on Beech 99s, 1900's and Saab 340's, and some coporate aircraft. and My time has a professional pilot, Both of the positoins have given me the ability to talk from both angles with pilots and mechanics with some knowledge.
People tend to not listen to somone that appear outside there immediate profession even if you have the expierence to back it up. probably true in all business.

 

[bobbysamd]

Pilot with A & P

I think it's a good idea for a number of reasons. For one thing, as Avbug and others said, it's a great backup if you ever must stop flying. Another thing is it's another, excellent qualification to show on your resume. An A & P documents that you understand aircraft systems. That will help you big time during any airline groundschool. It also shows that you can prove or disprove an aircraft's airworthiness. A final good reason to get it is illustrated in something that happened with a friend of mine. He was a commuter captain years ago, and held an A & P. Something happened with his airplane at an outstation - nothing to ground it, necessarily, but something that needed a mechanic's attention. He took off his Captain's hat, put on his A & P's hat, examined the airplane, signed it off, and kept it flying.

I agree with the others that you should differentiate carefully with an employer exactly for what position your're being hired and your job description. Otherwise, an A & P is valuable credential. I'd do it.

Good luck turning wrenches.

 

[Fr8DoggyStyle]

"I some how feel some of the comments where directed to me about a pilot/mechanic giving a mechanic suggestions on how to do some things and vice versa. "

not whatsoever- don't let me lead you to believe that i think its a bad idea to get your A&P or that i think that YOU would be like that. However, I feel you should be aware of where you would be in the food chain. It just seems as though some guys feel that being a pilot with an A&P makes them more qualified than a full-time mechanic. This isnt to say that you cant be a better pilot to the mechanics by being an A&P. You can give them more accurate write-ups and even help them with the troubleshooting thought process.

gotta go to work