Improving Mechanics’ Status
I would like to thank each of those that responded to the question, “will various basic and advanced certifications help aircraft mechanics improve their status in the industry?”
All of you pointed out in one way or another that the career of an aviation mechanic requires improvement in pay and recognition. Additionally I read the opinion that some of this is due to the technician’s lack of ambition. This latter point may be a symptom of the problem and not a cause. You agree that new certifications attesting to skills and knowledge levels will not bring about any change unless there are incentives to obtain these certifications, the most obvious of which is higher pay rates. Satisfaction in doing a job at a professional level is just not enough. And you are saying that there must also be a buy-in by management to recognize and support the certification effort. For what it is worth I agree.
I do not agree, however, that there is a stigma associated with being an aircraft mechanic. My former chairman used to say, “If you don’t like what you are doing here, why are you here.” The same is true for aircraft technicians. I believe 99 percent of technicians like what they do; to me, it might be that the lack of appreciation or recognition, etc. by others may be self-fulfilling.
Scott mentioned the continued ranking as semi-skilled labor by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. This is a problem. I know that for many years PAMA worked hard trying to change this. Unfortunately there are political considerations whenever you try to change anything in our bureaucracy and there are factions, mostly management, which will not support this. I recommend each of you support the efforts that are and will be made on your behalf in this area.
As to the European system versus ours, many of you made good points, especially Jean Pierre. Regardless of the negatives, I think the transition to this system will help the technician in the long run. I do not think jobs will change because some one is not rated in an aircraft; to the contrary, that does not occur now. Technicians receive training that is needed for the most part. This may not have been true 20 years ago but that has changed.
Please continue to send your remarks and or opinions on these issues. I feel there is more here than has been stated. It goes to the heart of your “career.” If efforts are being made and resources used toward this end, your beliefs, ideas, and opinions should shape the directions these take.
An interesting article. I pretty much have stopped reading or receiving your magazine because it seems to me to take the management line all the time. I think there are too many people on your staff that are ex-management and only see AMTs as tools to be used and discarded when necessary. That we cost too much and complain too much.
I work for American Airlines and having been with AA for 19 years and have worked my way up the ladder from baggage handler to stock clerk,to AMT I have seen one thing very clear. Management sees AMTs as necessary evils that cost too much money and that maintenance is costing the company too much. They don’t see us as insurance,that we keep their fleet young and safe. AA management defers everything that the FAA and Boeing will let them. This can be seen in the abismal rate of flight cancellations due to maintenance.
I would love to see AMTs seen as a skilled career field as it is,but you hit it on the head when you said it hadn’t happened due to political considerations. The people at the top of the food chain will do anything to keep American workers from receiving the credit and pay that is due them,that is unless you are in the executive ranks where your “Buddy” status keeps you getting large bonuses even when the company is loosing billions.
It appears that what we need, as a profession, is a dedicated lobbying group to push for us in Washington.The pilots have ALPA and to a lesser degree, AOPA. The airlines have ATA and IATA. What do the AMT (A&P)communities have? Nothing! PAMA’s worst failure is that they have been concentrating all their efforts on the hollow gesture of having an official”AMT Day”, while expending no meaningful effort to promote our professionalism or to bring back the level playing field for domestic repair stations in the heavy maintenance field. Both AMT Society and PAMA have been so busy fighting for their share of a shrinking membership pie that they have effectively ignored issues where they should be joining forces to advance our profession as a whole. Advanced certification is great, but there’s no carrot for most of us. It’s just another expense that most in our profession can ill afford.
Nick, your article hit the nail on the head. The problem is not the “semi-skilled” designation. It is the influence of the airlines that is not countered by any group representing the AMTs. That is a prescription that guarantees regulatory one-sidedness.
Howie Fuller
A&P, FCC, IA
Maurice and Howard you have both hit the nail on the head. I am a supporter of what PAMA and AMTA have done to get AMT’s recognized if for now only a celebrated day. Now that step one is complete it is time that AMT Society, AMTA and PAMA sit down and map out getting our career put on the skilled labor listing and other issues ironed out. As A&P’s were are represented with a fragmented front of agends and groups with hurt feelings. Time to put the petty diferences between organizations and pull together a united front for a common goal. The magazine has been lacking since the shake up, and I am glad to see hard questions asked in the blog instead of worrying about eclipses, and trivial stuff not related to aviation. Truthfully up until just a few weeks ago was concidering leaving the society and canelling my subscription, but there has been movement to show direction so I’m here to stick it out and do my part.
Join in and Be Heard,
Mike
A&P Mechanic
Ambition? Do we feel so entitled that we have no ambition to make ourselves better? Some one else has to do it for us? Do you think some one who feels as entitled as you do will do anything for you?? The only person in the rest of your life that will lift a finger for you. Is you. Make yourself more marketable by investing in the only thing that matters. Yourselves. The magazines, the unions and the politicians are only in it for one thing. Themselves. Cynicism? Or simple perception? Do what is right for yourselves. You are the only ones that will make you happy. If you love your career unconditionally, then you will be the best. Pat yourselves on the back for keeping these aircraft airworthy. Just ask any laymen if he understands the logistics of keeping any aircraft airworthy. Of how many of us it takes to keep them safe. He won’t congratulate you, because he hasen’t a clue. So don’t look for it outside yourselves.
The bottom line is pay. I love what I do but I can do it as a hobby. Ineed to earn a living to raise my family and if that means doing something that I don’t love as much then so be it.
There is very little profit margin in Aviation. Management sees labor as the single largest cost, and the Pilot group gets the lion share of that slice of the pie. There is only so much to go around and until the maintenance group earns the same amount as the pilot group there will never be the respect or self respect given to maintenance that it is due.
Special licenses or authorizations will not change that fact. They will only add cost to labor because now we become specialized and put limits on multitasking, as well as the cost of training.
I have been an A&P for 30 years, and have advanced my career through working in small repair stations, to working for an OEM, to part owner in a repair station, to field service rep for a turbine engine overhauler. Certainly my pay has increased over the years from $5.50/hr as a fresh A&P to over $35/hr as a specialized “expert”. But now here I am at 56 years of age, top of my game with experience and wisdom earned the hard way, and I find that even given an outstanding review by my superior, I am not eligible for a pay increase because I have hit the top of the grade. At the same review I am encouraged to take night classes to add some additional letters to my BS in aviation Maintenance management, or simply because it looks good at review time. Why? What will it buy me? I understand that I need to be the best and strive for excellence for myself and not to please others, but I am sorely tempted at the same time to slack off since the only reward I will receive for continued excellence will my be knowing I did over and above. I know that attitude is wrong and I resist it, but why should I/we be placed in this position? Yes, I love what I do, but most of us are not perfect yet and as humans we still respond to the old carrot and stick approach. Reward for advancement. It’s how the world works.
Nick, your MSN email is blocking everything I send you and probably others as well. What did you do to upset Bill Gates? I told you to stay away from Melinda!
AMT is a good thing…as a veteran of helicopter maintenance for 25+ years I have seen how technicians are treated as second class. We all need to unite and make ourselves heard as professional, dedicated and valuable assets. I am on any team that promotes our well being and salary equality. I enjoyed the comments here and will continue to add mine.