Aircraft technician (mech) v(AV)
 

Sorry if this question has been asked a hundred times before, basically i am stuck between choosing mechanical or av. They both sound interesting to me and i think i would enjoy either, if anyone here has worked in both fields or can give me and insight i would appreciate it

Depends whether you want to get your hands dirty or keep them clean...

Aircraft are becoming increasingly "electronic". AV's are in more demand and usually command higher salaries. I would say that the AV has more mechanical knowledge than the mech eng has AV knowledge, simply because his electrical equipment is usually controlling the mech components and he has to have a basic understanding of how they work.

I would say go AV....... and I'm mechanical.

I am ex RAF and A Licenced Engineer now, my Licences cover me for Engines, Airframes, which includes Compasses, Instruments, Electrics (and Entertainment Systems I think), it also covers me for basic Avionics, as said a lot of systems are now going over to Electronic displays and computers etc.
It depends what you want to do, a lot of the stuff on aircaft that are covered under my licences such as electronic instrumentation, but most are simply plug and play as in not line repairable, but you still need to know what they do and how they work. Though a lot have built in test equipment ( BITE) Civi wise they expect you to know. Personally I think Mechanical has a lot more scope and variety, but as said avionics in e civilian market tends to command I higher salary, though both give you skills that can carry over into a multitude of other jobs... I know a lot of contractors that in downtime build trains.. :)
I will and do tasks ranging from rebuilding crashed aircraft, re sparing wings through to changing a fuse.

The EASA mechanical licences actually go into electronics to degree level.

ramborogers - check your PMs.

Long answer:

Go Mechanical, it is a lot easier to go B1(mechanical) to B2 (avionics) at a later date if you decide to go licenced than it is to go B2 to B1. B1/ mechanical covers a much wider variety of systems & technologies, and still covers a hell of a lot of electrics.

I was Mechanical in the RAF & now hold B1 & B2 licences, being dual licenced opens a lot of doors for you as you have no restrictions in signing off any defect, and modern aircraft as mentioned earlier are far more electronics based, so it makes sense to cover all the bases if you can.



Short answer:

Do you ever look at your dog and think "hmmmm? :ok:"

Go AV. I got two tool kits instead of one, as AV were cross-trained (yes Nutloose, including in-flight entertainment!) whereas Mech weren't. I'm sure MoD are more enlightened today. :ok:


Go AV, if only to avoid having to hone a main oleo. Most boring job on God's earth.


But remember the definition of electricity. It's magic and it hurts if you touch it.

Rambo, check PMs

H

Do you want to do proper fault finding and repair or do you want to rattle them dice......

( if the av techs couldn't find the fault they would start rolling dice, three sixes was a change the pack....)

Do you like dogs?...............

I was AV before I went pilot. I still use my taught skills 34 years later. Mechs are the same, just different skills.
I would say to you, take the tests at the recruiting offices and see which aptitude is best and what they offer you. Then smile if you get in, because you will enjoy both. Take every learning opportunity and get you licences done as early as possible. Not because you want to leave, but because it gives you more options in the future.

Then learn when and when not to party. Party at every opportunity.

As this is the Military Forum talk of licenses isn't really answering the question posed.

Wow..... they really have advanced. Where I am, the AV's are still throwing chicken bones in the air :E

Or sacrificing the regimental goat, spraying his blood around the hanger.....
Then getting naked and doing the kamaheban moon dance for wisdom to discerne which box to change.......

Then saying **** it, changing the pack and blaming the mech trades for a broken door causing the delay......

Jayc530, don't get your knickers in a twist. It IS relevant to the military forum. When I said that you should get licences, I meant it. Not to leave the service, but to take any worries and pressures of service away. You can enjoy your military career more, knowing that you always have a plan B. You can pursue the fun postings, rather than the career postings, always having that plan B. I did a freaking excellent 24 years in the RAF, but my Avionic and Piloting skills always had Plan B.
Did I mention Plan B?????

There's no shame in being a hairy a**ed rigger with a comprehensive toolkit of GS driver, adjustable spanner, and an 'ammer. Having said that though the wiggly world of electronics is everywhere, my marine diesels are reliant on a fuel cooled box of unimaginebly complicated PCB'S. But the V16's controlled by the wigglies still need bloody big pipe wrenches and lump hammers to keep 'em going :cool:

All electrics are is dry hydraulics... The trick with electrics is keeping the smoke inside the wire. :E

Not that it's much help but I was on the team that wrote the Avionics course for the RAF. We started teaching it in 1990 (Av Mech 1 where are you?) which seems like yesterday to me but is more than a pensionable engagement away. Aaargh.

I would say go avionics because it makes you sound like you're brainy. Riggers and Sooties always seemed to have hairy arms to me, you really don't want to be associated with them. I know people that associated with them and they developed scurvy.

They had a course?..
All they did on the VC10 was dust the instruments with a 2 inch paintbrush

The AF on the E3 was to wipe the Comms station display screen....