r/aviationmaintenance • u/TurinTurambar_1776 • 6d ago
Hey guys
Hey i just started an A&P school. Do you guys have any advice for me? Im only 10 weeks in and im really enjoying it( though it seems overwhelming lol).
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u/Windiana_Rones 6d ago
I'm just over two thirds of the way done. Gonna be taking my O&P before the end of the year for GEN and PPT. One thing I'll say is don't take things too seriously but be sure to maintain the knowledge of how to do things the right way. You will be stuck with people who show up for the payout and do not care whatsoever. You may also be around people who like to cheat and instructors who don't want to teach. Just remember what you are there for. For your future and no one else's.
Other than that, it's super fun and especially for someone like me who went to college already. Organize your tool set customize it so you know what's yours and Always ask questions which is easier said than done but it's true. I went to college but I had no idea how electricity works so I had to ask for lots of help compared to tradesmen going through the school.
Enjoy! This will be a great time in your life. It will suck sometimes. And other times you may think you are not cut out for it. Put in the minimum required effort and I guarantee you will do better than half the people attending. Good luck and have fun!
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u/TurinTurambar_1776 6d ago
Thanks! My class on Federal Regulations is killing me lol. The professor seems like he hates his job and it comes out in his lack of teaching ability. Im doing pretty well in everything else for right now.
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u/woke40yo 6d ago
I’m just in my second semester in the first half of airframe. For generals which I just went through over the summer, just make sure you’re studying prepware, dauntless or airmantest and seeking to understand the stuff that you don’t. I had to do most of the learning on my own, I didn’t find my generals teachers all that helpful at actually teaching anything. For me the electrical stuff was a challenge and I would take free online electrical engineering courses with Kahn university to better understand how to read circuits and whatnot. I liked dauntless when I was trying to learn new concepts because it has better explanations than prepware, but I used prepware also for practice tests on my phone. I wound up getting a 95 on my written generals which I was pretty excited about. Airframe is a lot more hands on which is nice so hang in there with all of the death by powerpoint presentations you’re probably going through now!
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u/TurinTurambar_1776 6d ago
Sweet! Yeah my class on CFRs is killing me. I have no skill at all with computers and im having to learn how to use excel and make 337s and logbook entries
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u/UnrealBeing446 6d ago
What are your thoughts on school so far? Is it hard? I've been thinking about starting a program soon
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u/TurinTurambar_1776 6d ago
I only 10 weeks in my general right now but its super fun. It is extremely overwhelming if you let it be but i seem to be ok
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6d ago
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u/TurinTurambar_1776 6d ago
Prepware has been really helpful! Which one was more difficult for you? Airframe or Powerplant?
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u/Raynemoney 5d ago
You will not learn how to be a mechanic in the field in a lot of places. Choose wisely. You should hope to get a trainer that actually understands that you are coming out of school with no experience instead of a job that will let you go when you're asking all the questions and still aren't working with you.
A trainer that just tells you what to do is not training at all especially when they act like you reading the manual is a challenge to their authority. I have had multiple friends and myself all be let go within a couple short weeks of their training. And if a company tries to preach that we are like family nonsense Run For The Hills!
Also stay away from small shops where there is only two other mechanics. That didnt work out for me.
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u/TurinTurambar_1776 5d ago
Thanks! Ive got my eye on a company called Pratt and Whitney (engine manufacturer)
This is my biggest fear with jobs.
Its happened to me before in other fields2
u/Raynemoney 5d ago
Yes I have my eye on them as well. I need to keep checking textron as well.
Yeah definitely stay away from the small shops.
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u/20grae 6d ago
Save money now for your writtens it took me a yr after graduating to go do mine because I didn’t have the money at the time to test the I had to start studying all over again. If you have it saved up once your signed off schedule your exams and do it while it’s fresh in your mind.
Don’t put to much faith in the school you’ll learn how to be a mechanic in the feild. The school is there to get you signed off for your license.
If you get out of school feeling like you don’t feel ready and you don’t know enough that’s normal