car mechanic to AME..??

[radar o'reilly]

I am currently a qualified automobile mechanic, and have my flying quals.

In a way to be more attractive to prespective employers, I am wondering if there is some way to overlap/covert/bridge my auto mech quals to AME quals.

Has anyone heard of it happening..??

If so, whats needed..??

[punt]

Radar

You will probably have to take some sort of official course and get someone to hire you on the side for some ojt to build up time.
Lots of folks do it,not sure how it works in your neck of the woods.Here folks can take an ICS correspondance course and go to work as an apprentice for 4 years.

Curious,doesn't auto mechanics pay more?

Cheers

[Flying Mechanic]

The co I used to work for in Oz took a guy on who was Car mechanic and he was excellent,he picked it all up really fast.If I was you go round to all your local airports,knock on some hangar doors,get some experience and you will get a break.I started out as a Aircraft Mechanic,and my big break in flying happened because I was working in the hangar first.You are alot more appealing to operators if you can help out with Aircraft Maint. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[whatbolt]

When BA ran out of apprentices some years ago they had a scheme to take people with an auto background and gave them a cross over course into aircraft engineering as fitters. SOME auto engs I have known have made the transition easily-SOME aircraft engineers cant fix theirs or anyone elses car---
Seriously-at the moment I would stick to being a really good and hopefully well payed auto eng rather than what the aircraft eng trade is going through-and will go through for the next 5 years???

[OldLame]

Radar. .If you are intent on joining the aviation industry set your sights on becoming licensed. Being an AME is not better paid than an auto mechanic. If you go this way be prepared for 4 or 5 years of study to get your first license. If you have the right attitude it ia a very rewarding job.

[GE 90]

Just to add my tuppence worth. Yes a lot of guys in the industry have made the transition and have been very successful. Trouble is, with aircraft getting more and more reliable and service checks getting further and further apart the chances to take things apart and play with them are getting fewer. Which in accountant speak means you don't need so many engineers. You may have noticed if you go to "Airmech.co.uk/forum" that airlines are cutting back on staff so don't give up the day job. (There are more cars on the road than aircraft.). .Having said that many flying schools are willing to let you get your hands dirty if you don't charge too much for your services. You can gain experience and at the same time study for your qualifications. As previous people have said aim high as,in the UK at least, many companies don't really recognise AME's.. .When things pick up in the future and more people are flying again the shortage of Licenced engineers will mean jobs will become available.. .Best of luck

[Line_LAME]

[edit: comprehension failure <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> ]

[ 26 January 2002: Message edited by: Line_LAME ]</p>

[Blacksheep]

I think we are missing his point here. He wants to be a pilot, feels that having aircraft maintainance qualifications and experience will help him on his way and is asking if his auto mechanic qualifications can be converted. The short answer is no, but if he's already got technical qualifications, they will make for a quicker transition in getting his licence as he will already have covered much of the theory.

Personally, I don't think that having an engineer's licence will be that much help. Hours are what counts in the aircrew world and building hours as an instructor is more useful than working as an unpaid LAE. I know of GA companies using low hour co-pilots as general help when they aren't flying but I suspect that an LAE would be taken advantage of in a big way. The local flying club offers LAEs flight hours in exchange for maintenance and some have taken the bait. The club has an interesting concept of a fair exchange rate and I haven't seen any LAEs get a PPL yet.

**********************************. .Through difficulties to the cinema

[radar o'reilly]

Blacksheep, you hit the nail square on the head.. .Thanks for all the replies though, all info is good to have when trying to work things out. :) :) :)