PODCAST Aviation Maintenance Crisis! with James Spearman 

Hello! 26 year old CFI and A&P here; and It’s been a lot of work to be able to say that, believe me. (3+ years OJT) In my own opinion, the mechanic shortage is a greater issue than the pilot shortage. Unfortunately, we live in an age where a lot of folks that could otherwise make great mechanics, don’t want to use their hands for a living. Another problem we face is that there are not many organizations or schools offering scholarships or opportunities to the equivalent of flight training. I certainly don’t have the solutions, but do think that it needs more exposure and a the paths and resources spelled out better to those interested. Also, I don’t think it would hurt if the world slowed down a bit.. Pilots, take the time to learn how your airplane works, not just how to work it. A&P’s, take the time to teach owners/pilots about proper aircraft maintenance and mechanics.

KC135R crew chief here, as well as an A&P, and SEL PP.... Yea, It is very hard to find a good A&P that you can trust. They are out there, but when you find one, they are worth gold!! Thank you for touching on this topic!

I’ve had the pleasure of flying with James to ferry a customers plane to maintenance. He’s a great guy and awesome pilot. His insight as an aviator and service as a business owner are unmatched.

👍✅ 1,300 and counting down Christy ...... 😂

I regret my 40+ years as an A&P. Initially in the early 80s there were massive mechanic layoffs so I had to work at a powersports dealership with some spotty GA work. Finally got on with an airline but the next several years was all night shift surrounded by layoffs and getting bumped out of companies and positions. Yup, over 23 years of night shift working holidays and only a third of the weekends. I eventually went corporate to escape those things and more, but retired barely making 26/hr with massive experience and high standards. ALL of my friends in other trades made more than me, with weekends and holidays off. The rich corporate (and GA) customers are cheap and fight you for every penny. The shops bend too much, as those same customers don’t even blink to pay more for car repairs. Aircraft maintenance is not a good career, I regret it and should have gotten more pilot ratings and done that.

Blessed to have a great A&P/IA at my home airport who welcomes owner assist annuals and appreciates pilot/owners with more than a passing knowledge of their aircraft.

Great conversation 😊 thank you for sharing 👏

My father is a A&P/IA he left that field and went into hvac in the 90’s and made more money. I looked into getting my A&P for my own use cause the money in the field isn’t there. I’m a professional auto mechanic with many certs and I know guys who change oil all day that easily make more money than a A&P at some GA fields with minimal tools. Perhaps they need to split up the umbrella of the A&P cert.

Good pitch for Electroair system. I installed mine about a year ago(IO390A1B1). Relatively simple after you locate the mounting point for the coil pack. The switch and push button is an optional STC that eliminates the old style switch ADs. The system can be used with a traditional switch as well. Get the fine wire plugs, they are worth the money. T the manifold air pressure line into the controller and follow the instructions and you eliminate one mag, usually right. This will save your costs by half getting an IRAN on your mag every 500 hours. The engine will run so much smoother with the Electroair.

Been and A&P for 35 yrs. civilian fixed wing, and helio's, now retired. Still love wrenchin' and flying them. What got me stunned was when we were trying to hire some new guys, (we were a Bell Helicopter repair station), half the people didn't even show up after they said they would, and 3 came in, shook hands, all was good......and they never came back....what the crap. No work ethic I guess. Good luck ya'll.....it's a sad case for sure.

I recently did a career analysis going into A&P. It did not go well. While I am an instrument rated pilot and typical aviation nut....the financial numbers still need to make sense. The time and money cost of the 2 year certification coupled with marginal rates relative to sooooo many other things I could do with no certifications required just left me with little interest. The local shops and schools were all saying they REALLY needed good people, yet when we got to the conversation about money, the numbers were not good. I moved on and easily making more than most 20 yr A&P's but without any special certificates that took 2 years+ along with a pile of money (or student loans) to get. Seems ridiculous. The rates really need to be inline with the challenge and expense of becoming an A&P - it is difficult and time consuming.

Excellent podcast Dan and Christy. Great interview. Sounds like a great shop. Thank you for a great interview. Keep up the excellent work. Safe skies my friends 🇺🇸🛩️

Someone with the aptitude to be a mechanic can fix anything other then GA aircraft and make more money and have better benefits.

College was pushed so hard and trades jobs were considered lesser jobs for the “losers”. I remember people calling me a “grease monkey”. Now days the shortage has gotten pay up higher than a lot of college graduates. Unfortunately, mechanics at car dealerships are getting paid more than A&Ps with normal working hours and off on holidays and some weekends. Who wants to work nights, weekends, and holidays? Maybe not in GA but pay is comparable to some retail jobs.

Pay is definitely a factor for a&p especially when auto mechanics are making more working at Carmax

Put in a SureFly electronic ignition 1500 bucks plus labor you might need a new harness

With MOSAIC, aircraft that will be considered 'light sport' should require a 'light sport' mechanic for maintenance. In essence, if you go to A&P school you are able to work on any aircraft from a Cessna 150 to transport category aircraft with the airlines. Since the airlines pay much more that your local GA maintenance shop...there you have it...a shortage of technicians. How to solve it, make the A&P similar to the pilot ratings. A private pilot is different from an ATP. MOSAIC is the opportunity to fix this shortcoming. Thoughts?

I hear about so many crises in aviation, it's tough to tell what sensationalized and what's a legitimate concern. The pilot shortage! Controller shortage and fatigue! A&P shortage! CFI shortage! Aircraft and part unavailability! The only thing we seem to have enough of are aviation influencers and RU-vidrs!

9:00 until the actual topic

That’s true for plumbers, electricians , etc.

The part shortage ( atleast in the Cirrus world ) is huge problem.

I’m looking for a career change and would excel being an A&P but haven’t found any scholarships for people my age! And avionics would likely be my goal.

Nobody wants to be an A&P because the pay is low. Most trades have a union. I’m not aware of an A&P having that. When I got into the trades, I Started at $25/hr first day of learning, plus per diem. Now I’m at $75/hr. All overtime is double. As a pilot, I would love to get my A&P, but then I could’ve survive.

Raise the pay like they did for pilots. Problem solved.

I'd love to become an A&P and start a new career in the last 10-15 years of my working life. But I can't really afford the time it takes. I asked a local 2 year college about their program, and there's no shortcutting (testing out of certain aspects, or tailoring in general) for people who can self-teach and have existing mechanical and electrical skills. At the end of the day, who cares if you can pass the written and practical tests? BTW, I found an online practice written test and easily passed it on the first try. I just need some more experience in some of the hands-on areas. This reminds me of the teacher shortage. They tempt you by saying you can teach right away. But it's on a provisional license that costs $1000. So I'm not competent to teach until I pay that $1000? Got it. And it still comes with the expectation you still need to take the classes and pay the licensing fees within a certain period of time, usually a couple of years. So do they really need teachers that bad? They really didn't change the licensing requirements. They just shuffled them around as a stop-gap hoping they wouldn't have to make hard choices. If the industry needs more A&Ps, then something has to give like the FAA getting off its high horse about running everyone through the same A&P mill or maybe making further separations on the airframe side. So instead of A&P, you might have something like Airframe, Electrical/Electronics, Powerplant. If they offered an electrical-only license, I may do that.

Experimental category all day long with repairman's certificate if applicable. I don't trust some mechanics. It's my butt on the line. At the very least, I want to be there throughout the process. My local airport does not allow you to be there at all when they work on your airplane. Crazy.

The root problem is that American Culture undervalues maintenance as a profession. Poor pay and lack of respect. The general public connects maintenance to painting and floor sweeping! Have you ever heard of a PHD in Maintenance?

As long as airlines offer the handsome pay and benefits they offer most mechanics will shun GA in favor of airline work

I have to apologize. This A&P crisis is my fault. I got mine in 2000 and pretty much immediately started talking all of the knuckleheads that expressed interest OUT of this career field. I feverishly tried convincing them that there's more job security managing a Taco Bell and they should look into that instead. As a pilot and aircraft owner, I do find my self very handy and useful to myself! LOL Good luck to all the other's trying to find A&Ps.

I would like to be an A&P but I don’t have time to go to school for 3 years.

First view!

I walked away. The pay/verse responsibility isn't there!