Hey folks,

First of all I couldn't think of a better place to post this so if someone feels it should be move, by all means.

For all you guys established in the profession, how beneficial would it be to add an Airframe and Powerplant to your name? I've been tossing around the idea for after I graduate college. I figure if I stay a "student" and attend a part 147 school I can put off student loans and instruct or what-have-you, while I take courses. That way by the time all is said and done I should meet 135 mins and have an A&P to boot. Plus I figure it will make a solid backup should I run into a situation where I'm not flying.

What I wanted to know from you Fixer/Flyers out there is how well it has served you in the past as far as getting jobs? How long did it take? What schools to look at? Have you used it a lot? etc etc...

 

You'll still get paid the same at an airline. You'll just have more debt.

Lots of less reputable 135 ops look for guys with both so they get two jobs taken care of for the price of one.

 

well, i have no doubt that its what got me the job i have now...but, unless you work as one for a while you will really not know anything. An A&P is just a license to learn. I worked as one for over three years full time and I know there is still a great deal I have to learn. Honestly, its not worth it if you just want to fly. If you were to get a job because they wanted you to work as both then you wouldn't really know how to do anything. you wouldn't even know how to proseal a panel as just an A&P school graduate with no experience.

getting an A&P takes roughly two years (19 months at most 147 schools). don't get it at a university, go to a tech school or do it really cheap by apprenticing (most places won't let you if they don't think you will stick around). and yes, i have used it a lot obviously by my old job.

 

Mine got me the opportunity to get experience with heavys, then after some years of working as an a&p and flight training got my first flying job. A couple of years ago an a&p and a comm ticket would get you a flight engineer job and you were on the way, not anymore as those oldies will very soon be only memories. In any case consider that getting an a&p is very time consuming, and is only a licence to learn. Howerver it might help if a flying job at a 135 is in your plans.

 

You'll occasionally see the corporate operator that's looking for a pilot with an A&P. It could open a few doors, but just on that basis wouldn't be worth the time, effort, and cost. "Solid back up"? Hardly, especially with little experience.

Two reasons to get the rating:

1.) You like working on / fixing things - being a mechanic appeals to you.

2.) You've targeted a specific operator that requires an A&P license.

Otherwise, forget it.

Really, you're already in college. If you are going to expend that kind of money and time, consider an MBA.

 

I got my a&p the "cheap" way - apprenticing while in high school and college. I have no doubt in my mind that having a good working knowledge of how airplanes tick has gotten me out of more than one sticky situation (clogged fuel injectors, failing magnetos) that could have left me stranded or hanging in a tree.

I also have done work for people in exchange for some time in their airplanes - my mechanical abilities are what got me into the air show business, and got me time in a ton of neat airplanes.

My A&P is also the reason I've made it through my first year as an FO without getting nasty collection calls.

As long as this industry is languishing, keep learning and have a good backup plan. I think an A&P can serve you well. Just make sure you find some side work while in school, if you can, so that all your experience turning wrenches isn't from the classroom.

Some of us don't have the brains for the MBA stuff.

 

I have seen A&P plans backfire. I was working at an Alaskan part 135 once when a new hire pilot admitted that he was also an A&P. He ended up working in the hangar all season. Some places need mechanics more than they need pilots.

Sometimes A&P's will agree to work in the shop in order to get their foot in the door at certain companies. Often the employer will promise a transition into flying after a while. However, over time not only do the flying skills fade but the management begins to see you as only a mechanic and the promised move into the flight side does not come to pass.

If you are not careful having an A&P might insure that you have a more difficult time advancing in your career.

Skyhigh

 

I worked as an A&P for a long time before flying commercially. It got me a flight engineer job for a company that I was wrenching for(as previously stated that is slowly going away). Got furloughed, finished my ratings and flew 135 (helped there too) until getting recalled back to the right seat. It also allowed me to do side jobs for extra money-even in slow times people need work done on their airplanes.
All that being said its not something you decide on or take lightly-it takes years to really learn about wrenching and as in flying you never stop learning. Its well worth pursuing particularly when your younger and have more time for it, but it is not something you do just to pad a resume.