Toecutter

Looking for a bit of advise. Wondering if I should go to a regional and get my ATP and a good amount of multi jet time just for the sake of having it or go back to fixing airplanes? I am currently flying cargo for a 135 outfit and while I enjoy some aspects of the job, for the most part the money and being awake on the backside of the clock is underwhelming.

I have 3000 hours CFI/CFII and multi and have been an active A&P/I.A. for around 15 years and I enjoy wrenching and working with other mechanics and have no desire/time/money to get a Bachelors degree. Without the degree I know most of the desirable jobs will be out of reach. Curious if any of you out there went down this path before. Thanks a bunch

rickair7777

I would say since you're already flying, it can't hurt to go to a regional and see how you like it, and what opportunities may be available. You might decide it's worth pursuing the majors, one way or another. You can always go back to wrenching if you don't like it.

I have enough time off at my major that I could wrench on the side if I wanted to.

JohnBurke

That subjectively depends on what you call a "desirable job," but if that category of classification includes jobs which pay well, which are rewarding, which allow an excellent quality of life, which make an impact on the world, which present a challenge, and a host of other factors, then your assertion needs some rethinking. There are plenty of jobs out there in aviation that do not require a degree. If your search is narrowly constrained to major airlines...perhaps your choice is to go maintenance and forget it.

I do both, and have been doing both for a number of years. I've done well with maintenance, and very well with flying.

You can go get an associate right now with only a few classes...and be half way to a four year degree. If you don't want to bother, no big deal. It's a wide world of aviation, and there are plenty of choices; you can fly big iron internationally, spray, fight fire, do corporate, 135, or a host of other things, or fly for any of the regionals, without any need of a degree.

"kevbo" will be along any minute now to rub your face in it and attempt to convince you that there's no future in aircraft maintenance. When he does, bear in mind that you've been at it considerably longer than he ever was, and his career was a failure...but rest assured, he's the missionary of negative thought on aviation maintenance. Now, in 3, 2, 1...

4020Driver

I agree with Rickair.

With today's hiring environment, and better pay at the regionals, why not give it a shot? Try flying for a regional for a year or two. If you like it, then do what John said, with an A&P, an associates is just a couple classes away and I know SIU-Carbondale has a maintenance management program that's online now.

The pay at the regional will probably be the same (or better!!) than what you're doing now. The only thing that might hold you back would be if you had family obligations.

There's nothing wrong with wrenching, in fact, that's what I done for my career thus far and have the upmost respect for my fellow A&P's.

But, I will say the pay, generally, will never match what you would be making flying. I was a Chief Inspector and eventually an operations manager for a medium sized repair station and still made less than what a regional captain made at that time and, at that point, it's a dreaded office job.

If the time away from home is an issue with flying, keep in mind that most maintenance is performed during the night and on weekends and holidays and if you're a really mechanic, you'll be sent on more road trips to help others out. My point is that that time away from family might be similar to flying, with less upside potential.

Good luck with your decision!

Rama

I second these opinions.Wrenched for years on small and large aircraft.
Flying pays a whole lot more in the long run.
Consider a regional with a flow through.

kevbo

IThank you for the introduction John. I will concede that a great maintenance job is better than a bad one flying. That means being your own boss and setting your own work rules. You can do it right now with your IA. You are also halfway to potentially winning the airline lottery. That is a lot to walk away from. Decisions decisions! As a mechanic, you never want to work for the man. There are way too many poor people dragging down wages and work rules. I recently walked through the local A&P school hangar and found the demographics have deteriorated greatly since I was there 30 years ago. You want to be an employer in this enviroment.

JohnBurke

That didn't take long.