Advice for a future A&P

[CCAS]

Last month I began the journey to become an A&P with the hope it'll make me a more well-rounded pilot, aircraft owner and future maintainer. I'm in an 18-month program offered by a local community college with some seasoned staff.  I know every topic is important but I want to dig deeper in some areas of aircraft maintenance that might benefit from a little more attention as it relates to the Mooney fleet...we've got at least one instructor who has Mooney experience. 

Are there any specific systems or topics that Mooney owners and mechanics would recommend I spend a few extra minutes/hours doing a deeper dive throughout the course? 

Thanks for any recommendations.

John 

[47U]

52 minutes ago, CCAS said:

Are there any specific systems or topics that Mooney owners and mechanics would recommend I spend a few extra minutes/hours doing a deeper dive throughout the course? 

 

Engines and electrical.  And develop the instinct that whenever you’re working on the airplane, look for chaffing.  Since you’re an owner, you can take the time to address those issues.  Come to terms with the limits of your mechanical abilities and when you need to, get some help.

[DXB]

1 hour ago, CCAS said:

Last month I began the journey to become an A&P with the hope it'll make me a more well-rounded pilot, aircraft owner and future maintainer. I'm in an 18-month program offered by a local community college with some seasoned staff.  I know every topic is important but I want to dig deeper in some areas of aircraft maintenance that might benefit from a little more attention as it relates to the Mooney fleet...we've got at least one instructor who has Mooney experience. 

Are there any specific systems or topics that Mooney owners and mechanics would recommend I spend a few extra minutes/hours doing a deeper dive throughout the course? 

Thanks for any recommendations.

John 

Shallow and/or antiquated views on engine maintenance seem pretty common among A&Ps.  It seems like many never go much beyond faa and manufacturer regulatory guidance in their understanding of what contributes to safe and reliable engine operation. I wonder how much is taught regarding borescope usage and engine monitor interpretation for instance in modern curricula.  

Mooneys as you know have some systems with idiosyncratic design relative to aircraft of  the same class - control surface linkages, trim, gear.  I'm not sure how much A&P curricula help here.

BTW what you're doing is great - owners with A&P background are highly valuable to the Mooney community.  I hope you stick around in the coming years....

[varlajo]

1 hour ago, CCAS said:

Last month I began the journey to become an A&P with the hope it'll make me a more well-rounded pilot, aircraft owner and future maintainer. I'm in an 18-month program offered by a local community college with some seasoned staff.  

I have been toying with this idea as well. Any opinions on whether a non-credit option, i.e. taking classes and graduating with a "vocational certificate" is of any use for potential FAA A&P certification? 

[CCAS]

46 minutes ago, varlajo said:

Any opinions on whether a non-credit option, i.e. taking classes and graduating with a "vocational certificate" is of any use for potential FAA A&P certification? 

Short answer is yes.  Longer answer: My program is a certificate program and the school is using an approved Part 147 syllabus.  At the end of the program a 'certificate' isn't really the goal. The basis of the program is simply to document the FAA-required courses/experiences and set you up to pass the licensing exams....as long as you attend the syllabus courses and make passing grades, you'll be eligible to take the written and practical FAA exams. Passing the exams though is all on how well you've studied and retained the knowledge expected by the FAA and DME.   

[EricJ]

3 hours ago, varlajo said:

I have been toying with this idea as well. Any opinions on whether a non-credit option, i.e. taking classes and graduating with a "vocational certificate" is of any use for potential FAA A&P certification? 

The certificates from the schools are just graduation certificates from the program and don't count toward anything with the FAA.   The schools do, however give you the authorization to take the written tests, which then enable you to take the practical tests.   Most proper A&P schools have a DME on staff to administer the practical tests, and if you're a student at the school the DME will likely already know you and have an idea of your skill set before you ever get to the practical tests.

The other way to get authorizeds to take the written tests is to present evidence the FSDO that you have completed enough hands-on work to qualify per the regs.   Sometimes this involves getting letters or evidence from previous employers or people who have supervised your work to attest that you meet the time requirements.

 

[EricJ]

5 hours ago, CCAS said:

Last month I began the journey to become an A&P with the hope it'll make me a more well-rounded pilot, aircraft owner and future maintainer. I'm in an 18-month program offered by a local community college with some seasoned staff.  I know every topic is important but I want to dig deeper in some areas of aircraft maintenance that might benefit from a little more attention as it relates to the Mooney fleet...we've got at least one instructor who has Mooney experience. 

Are there any specific systems or topics that Mooney owners and mechanics would recommend I spend a few extra minutes/hours doing a deeper dive throughout the course? 

Thanks for any recommendations.

John 

I finished A&P school, as a Mooney owner, about five years ago.   If you just pay attention you'll be fine.   The recip engine stuff is obviously important, and at most schools a lot of the practice work is done on GA airplanes, anyway, so it's all relevant.   If you have GA airplanes in the hangar/shop at your school, that's what you'll be spending time on.   The most complex recip we had at our school was a Cessna 340, so I tried to spend as much time working on that as I could.   Spending time on Lycoming engines will be most relevant for your airplane, but don't focus on that as other stuff is also important and good to know.   With an A&P you'll likely wind up touching/working on/advising people with everything else, too, so it's good to get experience with all of it, including the turbine stuff.

[wombat]

I'm strongly considering doing basically this same thing myself.  Go to a school, get the cert.

[EricJ]

16 minutes ago, wombat said:

I'm strongly considering doing basically this same thing myself.  Go to a school, get the cert.

I highly recommend it to any aircraft owner who wants to and is able to do so.  It's definitely a time commitment, but I found it fun and educational.   Not being dependent on somebody else's schedule is very nice, and it makes it a lot easier to deal with issues that may come up during travel.

[Hank]

16 minutes ago, EricJ said:

Not being dependent on somebody else's schedule is very nice, and it makes it a lot easier to deal with issues that may come up during travel.

Dealing with stuff away from home can be handy (if you have the right tools with you), but you still need to get on an IA's schedule for annual every year.

[CCAS]

Thanks very much everyone! The first portion of the program is the power plant curriculum so I’ll roll my sleeves up for those areas. Several Continentals in the hangar but hoping to find a Lycoming somewhere in the mix.