Originally Posted by
jetmech1
Most people who don't know the aviation world are really mis-informed about the industry. They think it's all glamour and roses! I chose the maintenance field, because I really didn't want to spend the majority of my life in hotel rooms or worrying about my next layoff (as much). I'm a proud mechanic that really does feel for the pilot profession. I did start out at a regional airline, but I was home every day, but managed to squeak out over 30k my first year. I vividly remember talking to a RJ pilot one morning at the hangar, and when he told me he went to college at NYU and was making around 20k as a FO, I was shocked. He gained my respect by doing what he loved to do. Life is good now, but it only took me a few years to get a great job (Purple Tail). Good luck to all pilots waiting on their chance for a better life.
I'm not sure AMT's have had it much better. I mean, look at what happened at Northwest Airlines a few years back. Their entire AMT cadre was replaced with guys who crossed their picket lines. Also, it seems many U.S. mechanics are getting replaced by guys working in MRO facilities overseas or in Mexico and Central America who work for a much lower wage. United Airlines laid off a few thousand mechanics during their bankruptcy and outsourced much of their work, and just announced they are going to lay off more of those guys. I'm not sure I'd recommend that profession, either!