I'm currently 33 years old, and my wife and I have three kids, the youngest of whom is almost 5 years old.

I drive tractor trailers locally and I'm home every night. Not a bad gig, the money is ok, and there's usually very little mental stress.

That said, I don't know if I want to do this forever. I have started looking into aviation maintenance tech school here in the ATL area.

Any techs on here? Do you enjoy it? How is the money? I'm currently around $48-55k per year, depending on OT.

I'm fairly technically savvy, and I believe I'd enjoy working on aircraft, large jets in particular. Plus we are only 30 minutes from the airport in ATL, as far as available work might be concerned.

But I wanted to get feedback from anyone in the know before I consider taking  on an $18k tuition note. Program is 21 months, and it wouldn't be easy to complete while working full time, but I think it's doable.

Thanks in advance!

I went through A&P school 15 yrs ago.  Out of my class and the class after, I think 2-3 of the two dozen guys got new jobs.  Some already had the job when they went to the school, they were getting tuition assistance or where trying to get higher pay.  One guy went to work at JiffyLube right by the airport......he would hang out at the airport constantly hoping someone would take him in, not sure if they ever did.  I was already a pilot, so I went that route.  Granted this was at the worst time possible (just after 9/11), but I really haven't heard it getting much better for mechanics.

I can tell you this, you're making more money NOW, than you will as a AMT.  If money is the goal, look into marine or ATV maintenance, HVAC, or some other specialty.  Aviation should be as lucrative, but it's still a "labor of love" apparently.

My understanding is that the airlines have maintenance hubs outside the US (overseas) for major overhauls and other large scale work.  Your local airport provides service that either can't wait till the aircraft is sent outside the US for service, or incidental troubleshooting of gripes.

Don't know if that is accurate but I've read the same on this very subject not long ago.

I work for a major here in ATL, and I would highly recommend it.  That pay you are bringing home now, will be your STARTING pay.  Current pay scales, with a license premium are as follows:

Start - $50XXX
2 yrs - $63XXX
5.5 yrs - $73XXX
Top out 7.5 yrs - $91XXX

From start to 2.5 yrs., you will have a raise every 6 months.  After 2.5 yrs., you will receive a raise yearly until your 7.5 yr. top out.  Profit sharing is another plus we are enjoying currently.  Not bad for 2 yrs. of school.  These are only rates for an AMT.  More pay if you climb the ladder into Lead AMT, Insp., and so on.  They also give a line premium/hr for Line Maintenance.

Got my A in 91 and my P in 96.
Don't do it

Thanks. And thanks to all of you so far.

I feel that being in such close proximity to the world's busiest airport sure couldn't hurt the availability of good jobs in the field.

I will say one thing....you have to really have a love for aviation. If you do, then the pay, working conditions and work schedule will not be a factor.

say goodbye to the sun for about 10-15 years, because nightshift has your name all over it

Lol this is true, night shift for everyone!!!!! I got lucky actually and got a great job in general aviation right out of school. I don't make much but the company is growing quick and I got thrown right to the wolves when the head mechanic quit... Be prepared for stress.

I started A&P school right after high school, single, no kids. I've had my A&P since 2009.



Regional airlines are easy to get hired at, because there are constant job openings, because working for them sucks. I've heard that Skywest is okay to work for, but I have no first-hand experience with them. I worked for Mesaba (now Endeavor), which sucked back then, and according to everyone I know who works there, sucks worse now. Don't get me wrong, I very grateful for the experience I got while working there, but I can't imagine signing up for that while having a wife and kids to take care of.



I work for a smaller airline now, working on bigger jets, and it is a pretty good job. I make good money, but it took a few years to get to that point.



If you can be reasonably sure of getting in with a larger airline (Delta, seeing as you are near Atlanta), it might be worth it. You'll probably make what you earn now, and probably do even better a few years down the road.




At the school I went to, any class time missed had to be made
up later. Keep that in mind when you are signing up for full time class
hours on top of full time work.

I know a couple of guys who work for the large guys in Atlanta , at least 1 is a member here . I will call him and get him to chime in

As for seeing daylight, I held dayshift 2 yrs. in.  I was able to hold that until I made Inspector for 2 yrs.  The NW merger knocked me back with all of the high timers, but made the best of it.  I'm now working on my 20 yr. and wouldn't trade it for anything.  I've been able to work many different jobs i.e. composites, 4 different engine lines, and inspection.  I chose a desk job about 4 yrs. ago for the flexability.  Now, I work Mon-Fri, and work from home on Wed.  Here in ATL, there are so many places to go, as long as you build your knowledge and network.  I got this job fresh out of A&P school at 22 and love it.

I went through A&P school in the early 1990s.  One of the instructors asked how many of us thought we would make a career out of aviation.  Everybody in the class raised their hands.  Then he said that he would be surprised to see more than about three of us working in aviation, five years down the road.

When I started looking for a job, any decent job wanted at least three years of experience.  How do you get three years of experience?  Military aviation, or three years at a shit job.

Around six years ago, the local job market seemed to be minimum of five years of experience, with at least a couple years experience working on what they work on.

If you are tied down to your home location (house, kids, etc), the job market can suck, at times.  If you are willing to move several states away for a job, more opportunities open up.

Starting in 1988, DAL acquired many mechanics from Western, then Pan Am.  They also did a lot of hiring between 1988 and 1992.  Starting in less than 2 years, those same mechanics will be approaching 30 yrs. of service, and lately DAL has been offering retirement packages almost every year.  There should be a good amount of openings coming soon.  With all of the new aircraft being bought/sold, I believe the job market will be strong.  
I have a teenage son who will be hitting this timeline at the perfect time.  I am third generation DAL and they have always treated my family great.  My son is looking forward to being number 4.  If I had ANY reservations about him going into aviation, I would have steered him clear years ago.

Not trying to only respond to the good, but the close proximity to ATL is what I'm banking on as far as job availability is concerned. Thank you all for your replies.

It's getting harder and harder to find qualified people to help maintain aircraft.  We use to have almost twice as many people to do the work we have now.  I'm speaking of working at Delta Airlines, I've been here over 16 years, almost two of which were spent on furlough.

I love being around aircraft and still enjoy my job and fixing the aircraft I'm assigned to.  I work in Dept. 260, contract maintenance, bays 7 thru 9.  Right now I'm working on the aircraft that flies personnel to Area 51 near Las Vegas.  Delta has the contract for the U.S. Air Force which entails Air Force 2 (a B757 or C32) which carries the President and other dignitaries and the C-40 (B737).  

After we finish with the JANET (N859WP) aircraft we will begin our new contract with the U.S. Navy's P8 737's.  I'm pretty excited about this new type to enter our hangar and gain experience on.

We currently have a B777 in bay 9 which is the Presidential aircraft from Turkmenistan.  Bay 8 (the bay I work in) is currently finishing up on the Area 51 aircraft and Bay 7 is currently working an Air Force Reserve C-40.  

I started my career in the U.S. Army as an avionics technician which lasted five years.  My first job after the military was avionics installation in General Aviation aircraft then onto the Corpus Christi Army Depot.  I gained my commercial aviation experience at Mobile Aerospace in Alabama then onto  Delta in Atlanta.  

Honestly, an MRO like TIMCO or MAE is a good place to gain experience and pad your resume but the pay sucks, you have to start somewhere.  

I'm still on the midnight shift after 16 years but I've had the opportunity to move to a different shift but have chose not to.  

If you have any questions just sent me an IM and I'll do my best to answer them.

I taxied past those aircraft a couple weeks ago. Really surprised me to see them. Told the guy I was flying with that those are the Area 51 shuttles. I could tell he was skeptical but was too polite to doubt it.

I'm blown away by those hangars every time I see them. It's difficult to grasp how big they are until you see a 744 parked in one. Do you have any idea how high it is from floor to ceiling?

Have a read.

http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2014/07/29/delta-techops-behind-the-seven-story-doors/

I want to say the hangar is at least 90 feet tall, I have some pics somewhere.


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The tail dock in bay 9

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OP a huge demand for PLC guys is and has been on for years. No skilled labor for Industrial Electronics/PLC/Automation is being pushed. Most young kids don't want to do it. If I where starting a new career at my age 46, I would do what I do now, PLC and troubleshooting. I am going to learn to write code one day and really have it made. But the pay in Atlanta area for a PLC guy should be 55-65K starting out. And you don't have to be near an Airport.

I tried a few years ago to find a place to learn PLC's , I had no success

Another thing OP, you will always have a job as an AMT,  all you'll have to do is move and start on the midnight shift again.  

You wont make much money with the Regional's.  If you can stick with the majors or Cargo like UPS or Fedex.
I been with rengional Airline going on 11 years.  Healthcare package is expensive and it sucks.
Lets just say Delta starting pay is what are top out pay is.  The only good thing is I now work in the Engine shop and that is on days.

I been thinking about trying to get on with Delta so *cough* if any of you Delta guys can help with that it be much appreciated!

Thats a very good point.

It's a fun job, I've done everything from 152's to wide bodies, and still miss the work.  

We've got a great school here that I was interested in going to but I can't give up my full time job to go to class 40 hours a week.  If you've got the chance I'd go for it.  As others have said, you'll always have a job somewhere.

Look at working for a service center. Any Bombardier or Gulfstream or Falcon service centers near you?  

Up in the northeast starting pay (with your A@P no experence, walking in from the street. is 18-19 bucks an hour)

Get your training there, go to some factory schools and network with the customers and you will be able to find yourself a Director of Maintence job.  It wont be easy, but that's where the money is in aviation unless you fly.