Mechanical or avionics first? Help !!!
 

Hi, I'm planning to do piloting after my aircraft maintenance engineering course. Now I'm struggling to choose either mechanical or avionics to get me become a better pilot. Can anyone give me some suggestion? Thanks 😀

which one is more interesting to you? Do that.

Either will make you a more knowledgeable person.

I would be more interested in avionics. Modern aircraft are so avionics-oriented, I would think it could prove helpful in understanding the ins and outs of how stuff works.

I am assuming you're referring to aircraft maintenance in which case I am both a pilot and aircraft mechanic. Aircraft maintenance has taught me far more about how an aircraft works and operate than all 38 years of my flying experience. Common sense is priceless because no one can create a fix for everything that can and will go wrong.

I got an Associates Degree in both Avionics and Aviation Maintenance before finishing with my B.S in Aviation Management. If you are going to choose one, my suggestion is to take Aviation Maintenance. This will allow you to pursue the A&P Certificate. The Avionics equivalent is the FCC General Radiotelephone and does not require graduation from an approved course, like the A&P.

Additionally, being able to decipher hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical schematics, will provide helpful later in life as you learn about the various airplanes you fly. Hope this helps.

I'd say aircraft mx is more universal and will carry over better as you learn systems of any particular airplane. Avionics is cool, but it changes so fast in GA that a year after you finish you'll be behind, yet changes so slow in airline flying that what you'll learn will already be decades ahead, and in any case less relevant than general maintenence. But neither is a bad choice. Pick the one you like you can't go wrong here.

Neither one will make you a better pilot. Both will make you a more rounded aviator, but neither will make you a better pilot.

Avionics technicians can always find work, and tend to be well paid. They're in perpetual short supply, and anyone with avionics qualifications is always welcome on a shop floor (but wont' get paid much extra, if only working as a mechanic).

Neither qualification will get you much in the way of additional salary or recognition as a pilot, except for utility positions were pilot/mechanics are desired (ag aviation, for example). Both are good qualifications to have, but primarily to keep you working when you can't fly.

Avionics is a perishable skill, and qualification. If you're not involved in avionics all the time, you'll miss the boat, and fall behind; especially these days, avionics tend to become outdated quickly, and dropped from manufacturers lines. Keeping current is critical.

Keeping current isn't as critical in aviation maintenance, but you should understand that there's a lot more to aviation maintenance than there is to flying the aircraft. I've done both, most of my life. Flying is the easy part.

Being a mechanic has put me in positions I couldn't have had otherwise. My first turbojet job came as a consequence of being a mechanic; they wanted a director of maintenance/copilot, and I got the job. My first large airplane experience came as a consequence of being a mechanic, in heavy air tankers. Many positions, however, don't place much value or premium on maintenance history or experience. It looks good on your resume, but won't get you in the door any faster at an airline or most corporate jobs.

If you do intend to pursue aviation maintenance, I encourage you to begin collecting your tools now, as you'll spend a good share of your career continuing to buy tools. Buy good tools; economical tools are more attractive when you're struggling financially, but they're false economy. Get good tools that cost more, but that will last a life time and that are made of better materials and to better tolerances. It may take longer to get them, but quality tools are bought once; junk needs frequent replacing. I've had occasions over the years when I simply bought one wrench at a time out of a set, each month off the MAC or SnapOn truck, until I had the set, but it was well worth the purchase, and I still use them today.

Unless you're opening your own avionics shop, much of the avionics testing and troubleshooting equipment is too expensive, and is usually part of the shop where you'll work. A good meter is a must.

Aviation maintenance (mechanic) training is broader in scope than avionics training; avionics is more of a specialty that branches off of mechanic work (though not necessarily; there are a lot of avionics techs that aren't mechanics, or that only hold an airframe rating). It might prove more useful overall, but at the same time in most modern cockpits, you learn the panel and you've learned the airplane...and the panel is all avionics. Pilots don't learn how avionics work at all; just what they display. Consequently, a specialty in avionics won't necessarily do much for you as a pilot, but the same holds true for maintenance training.

You should also be aware that completion of maintenance training, just like pilot training, is nothing more than a license to learn. New mechanics are generally know-nothing new kids that have a lot to learn, and who have only been exposed to a general sampling of the basics (after two years of training). To really get to know aviation maintenance, you need to get on a shop floor and work, and it takes years to get a good grasp of the subject, well after you've completed certification and training.

I think maintenance can make you a better pilot.

Expand on that.

job opportunity
 

For a aircraft maintenance engineer, mechanical or avionics will have better job opportunities and better future? 😕

Go to the second page of this thread. Click on your moved thread. Following instructions and reading are important parts of the piloting profession.

The above sentence is unintelligible. Try again.
Best of luck.

I'm guessing he got lessons from this guy. :D

http://www.mopo.ca/wp-content/upload...it-520x313.jpg

I'm guessing that English may not be the primary language. To carry that further, most other counties refer to mechanics as engineers.

My brother worked for a legacy in the U.S. as a mechanic. He now works out of the country as an "engineer" for a foreign legacy airline.

However, he only has his A&P but not his R&E. But at the time when he was facing a layoff post 9/11, having his R&E would have opened a few more job oppurtunities for him in the U.S. One (at that time anyway) would have been as a sim tech at the airlines training facility. Again, at that time, extremely good pay, good schedule, not having to do a brake change at midnight at ORD in the winter outside, etc etc etc......