Is this career dead?

[Grambo]

Thanks AR once again...

How do feel about the age thing though, with regards to physical demands.

At 65, would you be unfit for the job? What is the average retirement age?

[Alber Ratman]

It's the same as any job, You see a lot of engineers who are in their early 60s.. They will be working with engineers in their mid 20s and its the same with mechanics as well!

My advice would be stay in education if you are able to due to the downturn that is happening in the industry, or if you can get an appo course, ask if its one that is going to get your the B modules for your chosen path. Most company courses will offer an ONC/HNC in aviation maintenance or the "A" modules.. Waste of your time IMHO as these qualifications mean so little. they will however give you a much better grounding than the 2 year "147" foundation degree that so many MROs seem to love (even though the practical experience of such people tends in a lot of cases to be very low indeed)

[mr snow]

If you want an insight into how Licenced Engineers could be a thing of the past (not good!). Grab the last copy of ALAE's, "Tech Log" and have a read.

[Alber Ratman]

Yeph, I agree on the agruement for keeping LAEs in lieu of the operators attempt to get by with "approved engineers".

Is a companies QA department going to bend at the request of the accountants upstairs into giving an approval to somebody that isn't ready?? The EASA system does give some common standard (even though different NRA's interpretation of 2042 does leave a lot to be desired!)

The present system does (in the vast majority of cases) produce highly competent engineers.

[EGT Redline]

An operators desire to do away with the LAE and replace him with an 'approved person' is based purely on cost reduction. Us LAE's are seen as an expensive overhead and burden on the profit making ability of the organisation. I've known a senior manager to state that he would employ a load of kwik fit fitters to do our jobs on a fraction of the wage if the regulations would allow. Sadly he is not alone and there are plenty more like him out there with that train of thought.

As that old saying goes:

"If you think maintenance is expensive, try having an accident"

Our industry has already been dumbed down enough, we've got our lovely friends at EASA to thank for that. The day the LAE is removed from the equation is the day I find another way to travel on my family holidays.

[Alber Ratman]

I've seen an MRO employ a load of Kwick Fit fitters as MO's.. It didn't take long to realise that they needed a large ammount of supervision and teaching!!

As I said in my last post.. The accountant..

[PC-6]

As an alternative, you could try to aim at the light turboprop twin side of aircraft maintenance. Quite a few very interesting (and reasonably paid) jobs out there where not only do you need a licence but also the ability to interpret a Maintenance Manual written 30 years ago. And deal with the indigenous population as a bonus

Ok, it might be a bit of a niche market but worth considering...

[mtoroshanga]

Listen to EGT Redline.
I have been in aviation for 48 years and have A,B and C licences from the old Section 'L' days and ABC fom the current paraday they call licencing.
I have about 19 types on my licence covering Sikorsky, Eurocopter and Bell types and cannot release an aircraft without authority. We are an embarassment as far as I can see, wishy washy CAA has let the companies dictate who signs for what resulting in yesmen certifiying. If you think this is the safe option (as opposed to the cheap option) then think again. We are heading for the mother of all cock-ups. Companies and not authority are dictating with all that implies.