Aviation Maintenance Technology Certificate
Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:12 pm
Alright all you AP guys, is a Aviation Maintenance Technology Certificate from Wyotech worth getting and what the heck is it? I qualify for state funded training and this is one of my options. I figured I'd ask you guys if it was worth it or not.
Mon Sep 12, 2005 9:48 pm
Associate of Arts in Aviation Maintenance Engineering Technology was a three month add-on to my A&P training back in 1980. Basically it got me some general education in addition to the A&P training.
In any case, it never hurts to get a degree if you don't already have one. You might want to continue on to get a BS if you can. I think that is the real point at which a degree makes a difference in your employability.
It all depends what your employment goal is. If you are trying to get a job in a very competetive field you may need more unless you know "high people in places."
Please don't mention that you know the Kernel when you go looking for a job though...
In any case, it never hurts to get a degree if you don't already have one. You might want to continue on to get a BS if you can. I think that is the real point at which a degree makes a difference in your employability.
It all depends what your employment goal is. If you are trying to get a job in a very competetive field you may need more unless you know "high people in places."
Please don't mention that you know the Kernel when you go looking for a job though...
Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:39 pm
Hmmm... I was just curious as it is one of the options available too me but it is a less than 12 month course so I figured it couldn't be too useful. Will probably get a Web Developer certification or something equally stupid (the certification, not the web developing) 
Thu Sep 22, 2005 3:17 pm
Alright all you AP guys, is a Aviation Maintenance Technology Certificate from Wyotech worth getting and what the heck is it? I qualify for state funded training and this is one of my options. I figured I'd ask you guys if it was worth it or not.
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There is always work for underpaid mechaincs! You won't get rich and you have to buy alot of tools. I would do it because I like planes but some guys do it for money and get disapointed when the promised cash doesn't come. And it seems like in aviation your always starting over.
Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:03 am
Broken-Wrench wrote:Alright all you AP guys, is a Aviation Maintenance Technology Certificate from Wyotech worth getting and what the heck is it? I qualify for state funded training and this is one of my options. I figured I'd ask you guys if it was worth it or not.
_________________
There is always work for underpaid mechaincs! You won't get rich and you have to buy alot of tools. I would do it because I like planes but some guys do it for money and get disapointed when the promised cash doesn't come. And it seems like in aviation your always starting over.
Depends on what you mean by underpaid, minimum wage or $30K a year. It's all a matter of perspective.
Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:51 am
Good point! I guess I'm a little spoiled. $24 an hour sounds good untill you start buying tools. I did alot of contract maintenance and have enough tools to run a commuter airline. I have always made around $16 to to $22 a hour and $35 at United in the midwest it's probably higher around here. It paid my way thru college. I never had to work for minum wage. I always had my A&P to fall back on. Some guys just get into it for the money and are really disapointed with the cash. You would probably like it because you like planes. If you do it and have to buy tools get em off ebay and Eaa Oshkosh. Don't buy them new! The Snap-on stuff is too expensive. It seems alot of guys were always waiting for the big airline money that seems to be the carrot that that few catch. I would highly recomend General aviation or line maintenance jobs they are alot of fun. Overhaul is like working in a factory. It was always a pleasure to work around guys that REALLY liked planes but if they didn't and were there for the money it was hell. It's a Gypsy life as my fellow mechanic Chip Harkless would say!
Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:48 pm
Thanks for the input BW!
Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:23 pm
I agree that Snap-On tools are expensive, but at 2am on a Sunday morning, you aren't going to get your local Sears to open up to replace that one special socket you need to complete the repair and get the bird airborne. My old Snap-on guy and my Mac guy were the type that would do it if we had a crisis...might cost me a case of beer or a couple of steaks on top of the tool price to get them out there though.
Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:28 pm
I bet you never ground down a Snap-on to make a special wrench? Craftsman proffesional work fine for me. I do admit I have SK ratchets and snap-on screwdrivers. SK Ratchets that I own have 32 teeth for those tight areas for fuel nozzels. I save my money for cherry pullers and the high dollar tools ect.
Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:27 pm
Actually, I do grind and hack on any brand of tool if I need to in order to make it work. Right now I'm waiting on a $60+ socket from Snap-on to get here so that I can chuck it up in a lathe and face it off so that the flats are flush with the face so that I can get the nose gear pivots off of the AT fuselage.
I tend to buy the Snap-On and Mac and Proto stuff as it's a heck of alot easier than getting to a Sears. The two closest Sears to me have about the poorest stocking of tools that I've ever seen. Besides, it takes 4+ hours out of my day just to drive the 110+ mile round trip to either Sears. With Snap-On and Mac and Proto, I can make a phone call and have it at the door within two days, or I can call up one of the truck guys and have it in a couple of hours.
When I started putting my tools together, I also decided to go with S-O, as most of the 500+ mechanics that hired in around the same time I did, chose to buy Craftsman....ever worked in a shop where you have 10+ mechanics in a small work area and all have the exact same brand of tools and the same boxes....and no requirements for tool control?
I tend to buy the Snap-On and Mac and Proto stuff as it's a heck of alot easier than getting to a Sears. The two closest Sears to me have about the poorest stocking of tools that I've ever seen. Besides, it takes 4+ hours out of my day just to drive the 110+ mile round trip to either Sears. With Snap-On and Mac and Proto, I can make a phone call and have it at the door within two days, or I can call up one of the truck guys and have it in a couple of hours.
When I started putting my tools together, I also decided to go with S-O, as most of the 500+ mechanics that hired in around the same time I did, chose to buy Craftsman....ever worked in a shop where you have 10+ mechanics in a small work area and all have the exact same brand of tools and the same boxes....and no requirements for tool control?
Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:40 pm
There is no way I would grind on a snap-on they are way to expensive! I keep my wrenchs on big 727 Safty pins. "They go in the nose gear stering" I put all my wrenchs on there and then hold them up and I can check them very quickly. I have assigned places for all my tools and I don't let other mechanics in it. I havn't lost a tool in years. The minute I find it missing everything stops untill I find it. I also Don't like snap-on good as gold warrenty on air tools. it's only 90 days. I have all ingersol- rand. My angle drills cost around $400 each. I have a line box for regular tools and a line box for S/M and another for avionic stuff and all the heavy stuff in 11 Vidmars. I'm cleaning all my rivet sets tonight I throw them into the vibrating poliser. They look like new. you can't beat snap on screw drivers. Sears just twist under torque. 4 hours to Sears? I used to work for Express one down your way. I loved working for them. Where are you at Sherman , L39 airport identifier not jet. I usally worked alone by myself or in groups of 2. I did alot of s/m and didn't care to be around cabin guys and then would go to my airfreight job and would work alone most of the time.
Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:30 pm
Only reason that I am going to be grinding on this socket is that S-O is the only vendor that has this size with as thin a wall as it is. Due to a design problem on the nose of the AT, the clearance between some structure and the bolt head is about .07" and the height of the head is only .125" or so.
The identical box problem went away back in 1987 when I moved from the production floor to Flight Test Instrumentation and no longer turned wrenches. When I busted back to the shop floor, we could bring in our own boxes so it wasn't a problem anymore with the rails and shadowing that I have in my boxes. Now, where I am, we have supplied tools and absolute tool control even to the point of a complete run station tool audit prior to flight release.
As to air tools, I'm split between IR for sanders, Dotco for die grinders and right angle drill motors and CP/Souix/ARO for straight drill motors.
Hopefully, I'm going to be moving over to a taco wagon to cut down on the number of tool boxes around the home shop. Two big stacking rollaways and a dozen hand boxes and numerous tubs and crates makes it hard to find things sometimes.
As to loosing tools, I've lost a total of three sockets in 20 years at the three shops that I have worked in, one to outright theft and the other two to lucky bounces into a high volume people/equipment traffic isle.
No, not at Sherman, but familliar with the place. I now live right on the Parker/Hood county line, about halfway between Weatherford and Granbury. I started working at Fox-51 Ltd in 1981 and weekend/part timed there until 1996. I went to work for General Dynamics/Lockheed in 1986 and been in and out of here since.
The identical box problem went away back in 1987 when I moved from the production floor to Flight Test Instrumentation and no longer turned wrenches. When I busted back to the shop floor, we could bring in our own boxes so it wasn't a problem anymore with the rails and shadowing that I have in my boxes. Now, where I am, we have supplied tools and absolute tool control even to the point of a complete run station tool audit prior to flight release.
As to air tools, I'm split between IR for sanders, Dotco for die grinders and right angle drill motors and CP/Souix/ARO for straight drill motors.
Hopefully, I'm going to be moving over to a taco wagon to cut down on the number of tool boxes around the home shop. Two big stacking rollaways and a dozen hand boxes and numerous tubs and crates makes it hard to find things sometimes.
As to loosing tools, I've lost a total of three sockets in 20 years at the three shops that I have worked in, one to outright theft and the other two to lucky bounces into a high volume people/equipment traffic isle.
No, not at Sherman, but familliar with the place. I now live right on the Parker/Hood county line, about halfway between Weatherford and Granbury. I started working at Fox-51 Ltd in 1981 and weekend/part timed there until 1996. I went to work for General Dynamics/Lockheed in 1986 and been in and out of here since.
Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:00 am
Look me up on Ebay. Jigs505. I up to my a$S in tools. I just bought 8 roller tool boxs today from Sikorsky. Scott If you read this and decide to become a mechanic I'll hook you up better than what I paid. No alot of good stuff as i'm finishing up my fall clearance sale.
Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:46 am
Cool Scott!
You could join the ranks of all the airline guys looking for jobs!
I heard that Wyotech is now getting $25k for the course.
You could join the ranks of all the airline guys looking for jobs!
I heard that Wyotech is now getting $25k for the course.
Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:51 pm
The whole point is moot at the moment. I went for my third meeting and they said I qualify for training but the state is out of money so no dice. Oh well. Maybe I'll look into student loans and such.