LAME to Fitter in the mines
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Join Date: Apr 2008
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Age: 53
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LAME to Fitter in the mines
I have been working as a fitter in an underground coal mine for the last 7 months after 22 years as an aircraft engineer.
Well the pay is pretty damn good, stress is close to zero and you work as hard or as easy as you want.
So what's it like?
Can be hot, dusty, you have a lamp on your head which is your only light most times, doesn't feel like your confined to a small tunnel as they are mostly quite big.
The machines are robust and relatively easy to understand and operate.
The rosters are generally equal time day night 10 to 12 hour shifts.
These mines are looking constantly for tradesman to fill positions but its generally a who you know that gets you in the door if you have no mining experience.
Pay rates go up regularly (doesn't happen in aviation).
They bus me 45 min to work and back, wash my work clothes, give out xmas presents and a cash bonus.
Long service accumulates no mater what mine you work at, and your sick days get paid out when you leave.
So what's the problem?
It's so freaking boring, hardly any mentally challenging tasks and man you get dirty.
It's a 14 hr day from door to door.
Must be time I finished my pilot license......
Well the pay is pretty damn good, stress is close to zero and you work as hard or as easy as you want.
So what's it like?
Can be hot, dusty, you have a lamp on your head which is your only light most times, doesn't feel like your confined to a small tunnel as they are mostly quite big.
The machines are robust and relatively easy to understand and operate.
The rosters are generally equal time day night 10 to 12 hour shifts.
These mines are looking constantly for tradesman to fill positions but its generally a who you know that gets you in the door if you have no mining experience.
Pay rates go up regularly (doesn't happen in aviation).
They bus me 45 min to work and back, wash my work clothes, give out xmas presents and a cash bonus.
Long service accumulates no mater what mine you work at, and your sick days get paid out when you leave.
So what's the problem?
It's so freaking boring, hardly any mentally challenging tasks and man you get dirty.
It's a 14 hr day from door to door.
Must be time I finished my pilot license......
Job is job, Erwin - I'm sad you're not available to work on my plane - but happy for you, now that you've escaped!
Ten years ago the average age of Australian GA LAMEs was something like 54 - not sure what it is now.
Ron
Ten years ago the average age of Australian GA LAMEs was something like 54 - not sure what it is now.
Ron
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Erwin, sounds like an excellent move. Its a pity that many more don't follow your example.
That way theres no losers, the movers gain and the few left behind get a worthwhile payrise.
I have not seen figures for average age for LAMEs. I am 60 and a bit, I work with a 65 year old avionics man. Our youngest I think is fortyish. I suppose I will keep going for as long as my Zimmer frame will get me round the airframe.
All my days are at least 14 hours so that would be no problem. half of the day is work and the other half spent sorting the paperwork that goes with it. I get a month off for a month worked and then I really get to know boredom, after a week I am ready to come back to work.
That way theres no losers, the movers gain and the few left behind get a worthwhile payrise.
I have not seen figures for average age for LAMEs. I am 60 and a bit, I work with a 65 year old avionics man. Our youngest I think is fortyish. I suppose I will keep going for as long as my Zimmer frame will get me round the airframe.
All my days are at least 14 hours so that would be no problem. half of the day is work and the other half spent sorting the paperwork that goes with it. I get a month off for a month worked and then I really get to know boredom, after a week I am ready to come back to work.
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Piggy if only it worked that way but no the other guys just work harder to pick up the slack.
I only intend to do it for a little bit as I have some land here I will build a house or units on, then we are out of here.
Hopefully on a round world working holiday.
Its hard to fathom that there are appentices here that start on $50 000 and fourth year is $90 000 and operators start at $99 000 to $200 000.
With all the skills we acquire it seems now just how under paid we are.
Chief
I only intend to do it for a little bit as I have some land here I will build a house or units on, then we are out of here.
Hopefully on a round world working holiday.
Its hard to fathom that there are appentices here that start on $50 000 and fourth year is $90 000 and operators start at $99 000 to $200 000.
With all the skills we acquire it seems now just how under paid we are.
Chief
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Chief I can see where you are coming from. I met a heavy duty plant mech 3rd year apprentice who was on 75k a year with TAFE and 2 weeks extra training a year paid for by the company.
Last year I was working with a Radio LAME in his late 70's who had problems some days remembering his license number.
Piggy how about a job , Would love to work a month on and month off ;-)
Last year I was working with a Radio LAME in his late 70's who had problems some days remembering his license number.
Piggy how about a job , Would love to work a month on and month off ;-)
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'With all the skills we acquire it seems now just how under paid we are.'
Yes I reckon you are right, we spend years getting the training and experience and for years paid peanuts. I remember well the number of times upper levels have told me if you don't like it f**k off.
Now the tables have turned full circle, and there are jobs paying passable salary. There are certainly less mechs willing stay with aircraft.
I am happy enough for once with pay. The only continuing problem that goes with the job, the responsibilty of work done stays with us way into the future and on the paperwork.
Work in mines and the rigs, industrial turbines certainly is the way to go. I spend any spare moment when meeting young people in the industry to look at the big world outside of aviation. More pay, less responsibily but admittedly boring.
Yes I reckon you are right, we spend years getting the training and experience and for years paid peanuts. I remember well the number of times upper levels have told me if you don't like it f**k off.
Now the tables have turned full circle, and there are jobs paying passable salary. There are certainly less mechs willing stay with aircraft.
I am happy enough for once with pay. The only continuing problem that goes with the job, the responsibilty of work done stays with us way into the future and on the paperwork.
Work in mines and the rigs, industrial turbines certainly is the way to go. I spend any spare moment when meeting young people in the industry to look at the big world outside of aviation. More pay, less responsibily but admittedly boring.
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Good man.....
One day I was counting the valve caps on my aircraft (just in case some of them happened to be primary seals) when I saw this guy walking past with a bag so I stopped him, rummaged through his bag for a couple of minutes and then caressed his crotch. Security is everyones concern......
One day I was counting the valve caps on my aircraft (just in case some of them happened to be primary seals) when I saw this guy walking past with a bag so I stopped him, rummaged through his bag for a couple of minutes and then caressed his crotch. Security is everyones concern......
YouTube - Young Boy Strip Searched by TSA (New link to TSA lies interview)
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I'm not at liberty to say how many valve caps were launched, but I counted them all off and counted them all back!
boll8x, forgot to put those cx's in the component change register.. better do that first thing tomorrow!
boll8x, forgot to put those cx's in the component change register.. better do that first thing tomorrow!
Thats all very well but were they the same colour when you counted them back as when they were counted off eh? 
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I believe one of the overseas airlines with a maint base at SYD has just lost a couple of AMEs to the mines as well. Better money (of course) and less days at work. Guess you don't know until you try it, but the amount of knowledge disappearing out of the industry will start showing up at some time in the not too distant future.
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Aaaah Tom if only that were the case. Unfortunately (like the UK) Australia has an inordinate number of people working in the licenced security field. They are issued whats known as an Aviation Security Specialist licence and it is a relatively simple process of transferring the ASS licence across to the AME licence, and thus the shortfall is easily backfilled.
I myself regularly rely on the services of an ASS to utilise their licence and assist me in my maintenance activities when I would prefer to be inside sipping on a double decaf latte' rather than outside on the tarmac.
The ASS is actually one of the more difficult licences to obtain and is in great demand in Australia. I am not 100% certain but I believe that one of the first steps on the road to becoming an ASS is to obtain an A&P licence.
Frigid may be able to clarify this point.
I myself regularly rely on the services of an ASS to utilise their licence and assist me in my maintenance activities when I would prefer to be inside sipping on a double decaf latte' rather than outside on the tarmac.
The ASS is actually one of the more difficult licences to obtain and is in great demand in Australia. I am not 100% certain but I believe that one of the first steps on the road to becoming an ASS is to obtain an A&P licence.
Frigid may be able to clarify this point.
Last edited by Gas Bags; 1st Feb 2011 at 18:27.
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Just changed mines
T&C
$92 per hour + super only
Mon to Fri day shift only 12 hrs
Camp and food paid as I am away from home 3 nights a week.
Hmm LAME ticket more and more looking l not being renewed.
Time to put some money into my V-tail.
CE
T&C
$92 per hour + super only
Mon to Fri day shift only 12 hrs
Camp and food paid as I am away from home 3 nights a week.
Hmm LAME ticket more and more looking l not being renewed.
Time to put some money into my V-tail.
CE
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You are definitely on the right track. West Australia is paying good money as well at the moment. The trouble for aviation and especially helicopters, the contract goes to the lowest bidder. The lowest bidder in turn pays the pilots and mechs low pay.
The low pay then attracts newcomers wanting a foot in the aviation door to start in what is a hard industry to get started in. This is fine for people just starting off in an aviation career but squeezes more experienced people to move on to different industries.
Looking at my own licence there is no renewal date, which is good. The aviation industry is feast and famine and I reckon more than a few people have finished because of not having enough work experience in the previous two years when CASA was on the two year system of renewal.
The low pay then attracts newcomers wanting a foot in the aviation door to start in what is a hard industry to get started in. This is fine for people just starting off in an aviation career but squeezes more experienced people to move on to different industries.
Looking at my own licence there is no renewal date, which is good. The aviation industry is feast and famine and I reckon more than a few people have finished because of not having enough work experience in the previous two years when CASA was on the two year system of renewal.
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Its just a demoralising... If i could go back 5 years i don't think i would of even bothered with aviation, just tried to go straight to the mines...
Work is the price we pay for money... Id much rather be over paid and under worked then the other way around. I seriously hope the industry listens, because its a really enjoyable job.
Work is the price we pay for money... Id much rather be over paid and under worked then the other way around. I seriously hope the industry listens, because its a really enjoyable job.
