A&P Part 65
 

Hello -

I am very interested in getting my A&P through the Part 65 experience route for both A&P. I see on the FAA website that 30 months of experience is required. Any idea how much a 'month' equates to? If I do one hour a month for 30 months would that qualify? (Obviously I am using that merely as an example). Would it need to be 30 months x 40 hours/week x 4 weeks/month? Does part-time work count? Must it be paid? Thanks for any insights someone may have.

Our local fsdo wanted the equivalent in hours of 30 months of full-time work. It does not have to be full time or paid work. An A&P can sign off the experience requirements for you if you have worked together.

The days of one mechanic simply signing a note saying that he saw the work performed are rapidly coming to a close. The FAA prefers more documentation now.

The Feds don't really like the OJT route; additionally they are cracking down/changing their policy on IA's too. The FAA is trying to do away with the IA's that are not, at least, working as A&P's or otherwise in the loop as in a supervisory position, Etc.

If you have the time go to a community college and complete a A&P program in about 18 months time. The alternative is a private college charging you up the yang yang. Good luck!

That is really the best route. Additionally, if you are seeking a Bachelors Degree; most city colleges offering an A&P program will put together/facilitate a special major for you, if they don't already have that system in place. That is, you do the A&P at city then transfer to a state college for the remainder. Many folks have done this and it effectively results in an aviation degree and generally one that is more useful...

I kept a logbook for my son when he started coming to the airport to help me, he was 8 years old. After age 17, his work with me was very sporadic. After he graduated college and earned a non-av degree, he decided he missed the airport and wanted to test for his A&P. When the FSDO examiner was presented my sons logbook, he whipped out his calculator and started figuring. The examiner wanted to see 30 months equivalent of hours, approximately 5000 hours. My son was signed off to take the written, oral and practicals and is now in the field maintaining aircraft.
So some would say... how did he gain significant hours at a young age/ Good question.. My wife and I home-schooled him,,, half the day was academic studies.. the remainder was getting his hands dirty.
By the way.. he's a fantastic mech.

About fifteen years ago Aviation Maintenance Technology magazine ran an article about Eastern New Mexico University and their associate degree. Online, a mechanic holding A&P ratings could achieve an associate degree with only four classes. It's still that way, with the bulk of the credit coming from the A&P.

Many schools do the associate along with the maintenance training anyway; if you can spare the time, schools offer a good basic understanding, though it's very basic.

That's the best way to learn something...hands on and young.

That's correct! Keep a time card and daily journal of your maintenance experiences under the supervision of an FAA licensed mechanic. You need 40 hour weeks and you can test for an Airframe or Powerplant after 18 months each (36 months total for 1 at a time)or both after 30 months. If you work 20 hours a week just double the time experience.

Examiners for the A&P are similar to examiners for pilot certificates, each and every examiner/district varies somewhat.

The FAR's are pretty generic in that statement too this is what it says
§ 65.77 Experience requirements.

Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must present either an appropriate graduation certificate or certificate of completion from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school or documentary evidence, satisfactory to the Administrator, of—
(a) At least 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes, or powerplants appropriate to the rating sought; or
(b) At least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both the airframe and powerplant ratings.
[Doc. No. 1179, 27 FR, 7973, Aug. 10, 1962, as amended by Amdt. 65-14, 35 FR, 5533, Apr. 3, 1970]

The rule of thumb I used to hear was 1900 hrs when it came to part 147 classroom hrs. But using experience to get your sign off I am going to say that 1 hr a month for 30 months isn't going to cut it..(I know that was just an example.) Again I guess it depends on which FSDO you go to with your experience documents whether they will except it or not.

As a person who scrutinizes business contracts all the time the only words in which are relevant in this piece are the portion stating Satisfactory To The Administrator. Subject to interpretation!

That's an excellent point!

i recently did the part 65 thing to obtain my A&P. long story short, the words, "satisfactory to the administrator" are indeed the only thing that mattered. i got my experience on the side, not via a full time job. i had nearly every hour work documented on a home-made worksheet and in dust covers in a neat little binder and a letter from my overseeing A&P/IA. he FED looked at my binder for five minutes and closed it. we chatted it up for 5 mins and he signed my stuff. professional presentation of work history helps. ambiguity is your friend in this case