Eventually, even with AA lowering the barriers to entry there will be a serious shortage of mechanics. Yea 18months and $9563.50 may get you through the program, but even when I went to school not everyone who completed the program obtained a license, and not all of those were able to cut it as a mechanic. Without experience the License is a license to learn. So with enrollment way down and people leaving the industry at an ever increasing rate, a rate that will accellerate as the economy recovers and opportunities are created outside this industry (and at other carriers that offer better pay, benefits and working condistion) pay rates will eventually rise for mechanics even at AA, I cant say the same for Fleet Service. I'm not trying to be elitist, just realistic. AA's rates for mechanics are way below industry average, they will not be able to retain new workers with the worst deal in the industry, they will even lose considerable amounts of their more senior workforce, so eventually they will have to raise wages, but AA pays the going rate for the airline industry for fleet service, and still much higher than service companies in the same locations. A shortage of Fleet Service clerks can be rectified in a very short time period, not really the case with mechanics, pretty much 80% of the work age population has the necissary requirements to become a FSC, fewer than 1% have an A&P. There are more lawyers, Doctors and Pilots than A&Ps. Very few A&Ps remain unemployed and the schools that do train A&Ps boast of an extremely high placement rate, with many of them finding better employment outside of Aviation.
So while a future at AA may be pretty grim, as far as the next few years at any rate, its probably still brighter than a future as a FSC at any airline, except SWA. If you plan to stay in this industry, that $9563.50 and 18 months may be worth it.