I spend a lot of time out in the hanger watching the mechanic's work (helping with the simple stuff) and just got to wondering how many of you have A&P's, how did you get them, costs etc. ? Don't really have the time or money right now to pursue it but think it would be a lot of fun and would make my family feel better about my flying.

I got my A&P from military experience, actually the permission to test. You can work for some time frame in years under the supervision of an A&P (documented) then you obtain permission to test from the FSDO. You have a time limit to complete the written tests, it's plenty of time to do it, I just forgot how long it is. Then you take an oral and pratical test.
Another way is to go to a tech school
A third way is to have an FAA buddy just sign you off for permission to test. I saw this done for a Dr. here in town

Had my A&P for 23 years now, my IA for 20. Went to a couple schools to get them.... a license to learn.... then came out and got to work.
John

A&P/ IA

i spent 2 years at a local university to get my proverbial "license to learn". there was a very high drop-out rate when i went through. it took a lot of self motivation to do well. but well worth it.

I'm now 86 years old and have had an A&P for many years. I've never wanted to try to use it to earn my living because wrenching on aircraft is at the bottom of the pay scale in that line of work. Greasy fingernails pays a good deal more at the local Volkswagon dealer than at the Cessna or piper dealer and , the last time I looked, there were no log books requiring sign offs. Airlne mechanics can do very well, but I choose to live in areas that are usually far from where the airlines want their work done.
Truthfully, you gotta to love 'em to work on 'em for beans and bacon. (And a little beer!)

Got mine in 1975. Used my GI Bill and went to PCC in Portland. You gotta love the work because you will never get rich in this business. Too many dopes out there working for the "Glory of Aviation" Quoting my Brethren it's a "license to learn".

Our local high school has a A&P course and a night course for adults.
My A&P has never been my primary job, however it has opened doors in other area's for me. I got mine by rebuilding a J-3 under supervision. My supervisor just happened to be the local A&P examiner.

I do not have mine yet, but I am working and logging time with my local AI. It is hard to fit in with family, building a house and having a job that requires me to be out of town 3 out of 4 weeks, and when in town wants there 50 hrs as well.

It has been slower to accumulate hours for the A&P then I had hoped.

Bought a 1946 Champ for a project to help me build hours toward my A&P. More fun and less expensive than going to school, will sell the Champ when it is done. Think it would be nice to sign off my own work and help a few buddies with their planes when I retire in a few years.

I am currently working on mine at the local community college.
Seth

I am too lazy to earn an A&P. So I paid almost the equivalent of a Ford GT to send my kid to Embry Riddle for his A & P. Now he can work on my airplane for free! Think of all the money I am going to save!

Don't bet on it Rod every time my kids help me I owe them more I think than if I would have hired someone.

I have had mine for 6 or 7 years I guess, I got it because I am cheap, I don't trust other people very well and it is real hard to find anyone who can or will work on old planes.

I qualified for the experience, got the sign off and went to a test prep school in California for the test.

Got a job working in general aviation back in the late 70's. Not much money but later got hired at Naval Air and worked A6's at first then moved into avionics and electronics doing system testing on Phoenix guided missiles. Hired on with a big airline in '89 and am still hanging onto that gig. I have my IA and do annuals and some maintenance work on the side as well as my restoration work and take care of my brother Yellowbelly's M7 (well, keep an eye on him and sign the books anyway)

It's not something that will get you rich but considering the expense of aircraft maintenance and ownership having the licenses equates to a certain amount of wealth if you do own an airplane. Plus you get to hang out at the airport a lot...

geneswan wrote:Got mine in 1975. Used my GI Bill and went to PCC in Portland. You gotta love the work because you will never get rich in this business. Too many dopes out there working for the "Glory of Aviation" Quoting my Brethren it's a "license to learn".

Gene, you've lit a fire. At age 33, if I were to complete the PCC program, I'm thinking I could save X number of dollars over my flying/ownership career if I possess an A&P. I'd always thought about the A&P being something you jump into with both feet, as the apprenticeship hours are required, but with a proper academic program and night classes, you don't need the apprenticeship, correct?

http://www.pcc.edu/programs/aviation-maintenance/

Mainly, I do not like other people doing my maintenance, because there is no way they will put as much TLC or diligence into working on my plane as I will. I don't need a new career, but at $75-85/hr, and the creative hour-padding my local shop monkeys try to get away with, it should definitely be a savings over the next 40 years.

Zane, did you get some updated info on their course? I checked into it at one time, but got discouraged because I found this comment under their FAQs. It doesn't work so well with a regular joby-job.

PCC wrote:We only offer classes from 7am to 12 noon, Monday through Friday. The only exceptions are our two Practicum classes and the aviation welding class which are scheduled during the early afternoon, and the AMT101 orientation class which is offered on Saturdays. The reason for the 7am to 12 noon class time is that it allows many students the opportunity to work in the afternoons and evenings.

That is interesting, but actually it's probably better. I can make day classes work. I like spending the evenings with my lady.

So how many hours do you need to work under someone before you can qualify for the test? Is there a certain syllabus, or just a number of hours to work? I would love to do this, just not sure how the concept works, outside of the school route--I don't think I can go back to college, my liver won't make it through

Lance

I know what you mean. Besides I don't think I can afford (short term) to be paying for school and flying. 1900hr from what I can tell and then a signature from the AI that you were working under to go take the tests.[/i]

From the FAA's website;

Basic Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic

I'm a US Citizen. What requirements must I meet to get a mechanic's certificate?

1. You must be
* at least 18 years old;
* able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
2. You must get 18 months of practical experience with either power plants or airframes, or 30 months of practical experience working on both at the same time. As an alternative to this experience requirement, you can graduate from an FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School.
3. You must pass three types of tests;
* a written examination
* an oral test
* a practical test