What Are My Prospects?

[3Lions]

Hi

Can anyone give me any idea what my prospects are for becoming employed as a licensed M1 AME for a a fixed-wing company?

My maintenance experience has been in the British Forces (8 years) - maintaining Lynx and Gazelle helicopters. I'm shortly going to sit the TC exams, then all I require to obtain an M1 license is 6 months civil experience.

Is this rotary experience going to get me anywhere for landing a job with fixed-wing aircraft?

Thanks for your help.

 

[MagSeal]

Don't be discouraged since there hasn't been any replies to your question. The truth is there isn't alot of engineers in here, mostly pilots.

I did a bit of a crossover into the fixed wing world when there wasn't much to do in the slow season. It all depends on the operator. Many will accept your knowledge for what it is. Some won't.
Knock on doors, push your experience as a whole. Highlight your planning abilities, your work ethic etc. If you're a fast learner, learning on a new type shouldn't be a problem. Don't expect miracles, or huge paychecks either until you can prove you can do the job they are after.
I had to start with simple tasks when I worked on fixed wing, and I don't blame them. I actually enjoyed doing all the crap jobs that nobody else liked to do (flap actuators on a king air 100 come to mind)
Good luck.

 

[Elvis]

Magseal....Fixed wing...A secret life maybe?

:elvis: :elvis: :elvis:

 

[picapart]

I tried the cross over job in the slow season when i worked in the territories as well. The highlight of the job was finishing the meals. Other than that all I did was daily's on a 737,anything harder and I had to phone someone. (such as a burnt out landing light). Gotta love unions

 

[picapart]

Does anybody have an idea of how many engineers make an apperance in here . I kinda think a dozen or so .

 

[3Lions]

Thanks for the advice. Have to say I was surprised this morning when I saw the replies.

MagSeal: What's made you stay with rotary? I'd prefer to stick with rotary but I've got this (some may say stupid) idea of becoming a fixed-wing pilot.

 

[frenchwrench]

what end of the country are you in by the way??

 

[3Lions]

30 mins outside Med Hat - between Lethbridge and Med Hat.

 

[MagSeal]

rotary is where my dreams (nightmares) were.

It's also where the excitement is, more opportunities to see different places. and the money isn't bad either...

 

[3Lions]

It's also where the excitement is, more opportunities to see different places. and the money isn't bad either...

I haven't heard that too often. Generally, the comments I've read on here and similar forums suggest the pay is pretty poor. Infact, reading these comments has played a big part in dissuading me from rotary - satisfying job but have to pay the bills and all that...!

 

[MagSeal]

tell me what you'd expect to make as a fixed wing guy, and I'll tell you what I made my last year in the field. Bet you might change your mind.

 

[3Lions]

Maintenance or flying? I've heard there's a big shortage of rotary AMEs (not sure about fixed-wing) so I imagine, because of the demand, there'd be some good paying jobs out there.

On the piloting side of things, I've read on these forums that the average helicopter pilot in Canada makes below the national salary average ($50k). If pay didn't come into the equation I'd have no doubt about paying the $$$ to become a rotary pilot - I'd prefer the work/lifestyle compared to that of a fixed wing pilot plus that's where my experience lies. What've you seen of heli pilot wages - is what I've read accurate?

 

[amodao]

I am M1 with rotor only experience and in 1999 I applied to 3 fixed wing companies looking for employment. The company in Calgary offered me $18.70 an hour to start and after 1 year of employment I would go up to $19.30. I was to start in the paint stripping shop and after 6 months would move onto landing gear maintenance. The two jobs in Edmonton were for the same company just one was civil and one was military. I said no to the military side and was offered a job working in a paint stripping/paint shop for $17.50 an hour. Advancement to other jobs was to be base on attrition rate on the floor.
Even after I would get my M2 they had no plans to put me on a type course of any kind. I decided that it wasn't in my best interests to pursue this avenue.
Just a note, I have had a few freinds go fixed wing and all of them are back working on helicopters. Their biggest problems were the lack of continual work and the missing job satisfaction at the end of the day.

 

[jetbox]

I don't know if this will help, but just to give you an example of the kind of money that's out there, I'm desperately looking for an AME to move here for a permanent position. My other AME last year made $68000 cdn which includes getting 3 months off.
All we have is R44's, Bell JetRangers, Astars and Mediums. If we have an average year, my engineers are all guaranteed to make $60000 plus and I still have a hard time finding someone to fill the position.
Anyway, if you know of any one looking for a change, let me know!
When I worked in the Arctic, I was making over $70000/year but after 5 years of spending more time in camps than at home, the wife put a stop to that!!!!!!!
From what I heard, the pay is usually better in rotary but it's also relative to your location and the type of iron you're working on.
The excitement value is also definitely higher in rotary than in fixed wing!

 

[3Lions]

jetbox: Thanks for the info - great help!

Have you come across many/any rotary pilot engineers (AMEs)? If I ventured down this avenue, should I expect a similar wage to what you've given for your AMEs?