Has anyone here ever worked for trans state? Specifically as a mechanic. I have an interview in a couple weeks and am rather curious what to expect especially since I am coming from a ga background.

Not sure how they are now, but when I was in that industry they were on par or so with Mesa as far as mtx. practices, treatment of techs, pay and benefits.  thats not saying much.  That said, i shared ramp space with both airlines and the techs themselves were always great to be around.  

This was 10 years ago, so lots has changed, could be old outdated info.  

Treat it as a stepping stone to get some turbine experience, then move on.  

Hmmm OK. My one concern is being stuck on third shift or something. I have a pretty cuash job with about three years of MX experience I just hate my location.

If your concern is being stuck on the midnight shift then don't apply for an airline.  Seniority will dictate what shift you work and it will take years with the company to make it to day shift.

Ok, good to know. I couldn't do third shift because of health reasons.

Great choice, because your health would hate you

I work for an airline and am still on the midnight shift after sixteen years.  I could have held a couple of positions on day shift but didn't like the crew I would be working for.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure "health reasons" doesn't get you enough super seniority to get out of working nights.

It doesn't on the flying side of an airline, anyway.  

For any airline, Learn all you can about the CONTRACT you will be working under.  It governs everything about your life.  

Like the other guy said, TSA is strictly a stepping stone, and not one of the better ones.    When I worked there, they had helpers turning the wrenches, and the Mechanics hung out in the MX shop, smoking, and occasionally signing things off.   The Mechanics destroyed a number of perfectly good airplanes, and lost their taxi authorization, during a spate of runway incursions.   The stories were legendary.

Oh yikes. Yeah I don't plan to try to even get an exemption due to health, I am not a special snowflake lol.
Not sure what I want to do now since my current employer offered me a DOM job today....

DOM job?

Director of maintenance. Faa is willing to exempt the normal limitations on work experience for me. So I would also be taking care of a 135 operation.

Trust me, you don't want the tsa job then.    Get the DOM job, and then use that to springboard into a good paying job in a place you want to live.    What you want, is a high end Pt. 91 corporate gig.

Do share

I figured someone would ask.   Let me preface by saying; I didn't see it happen, and didn't even see the resulting carnage, but... my favorite story involved an Embraer Jet where they were doing a full power runup, on just one side.    The ground was icy, and it jumped the chock, and spun 180 degrees, Katana-chopping the wing into the cab of a pickup truck housing other mechanics.   Luckily, they had quick reflexes and ducked, just in time.    

Apparently, they also enjoyed putting Jetstream 41's up on jacks, retracting the gear, and then dropping them down on the props.  

I personally saw them Hot-Start, overtemp my Jetstream, so that the turbine wouldn't turn anymore.   Funniest part is, they didn't bother to tell us.   Guess they were hoping we wouldn't notice.  

I also personally saw them burn up an engine cowling, because they didn't bother to reattach the exhaust housing when they returned one to service.  

Dunno if any were completely destroyed, but expensive incidents were not uncommon.

Yikes

Yikes is right....  Wow.  I thought the local shop was bad when they burned up a king air engine...

pffft, how about throwing an O rivet in the inlet to even up an ITT spread 

HAHA that's amazing.... It never ceases to amaze me what some people think is a good idea.