After a varied career in automotive, manufacturing and then laboratory testing, I’ve gone back to my hands-on busted knuckle mechanical roots. So, how do you combine a passion for aviation with a desire to work with your hands?

Become an aircraft mechanic of course!

Ok, but I’m married with children and have a mortgage how do I do that?

Well there’s a few options, all of which I talk about here:

Was it Easy to Do?

Absolutely not! After multiple failed attempts to go back to school for it, I gave up. Years later after earning my pilot’s license and being in the position to buy a cheap airplane, I bought a project Sonex that sat for a few years. I went through every nut and bolt addressing every issue making it airworthy again.

Last year, I attended the Light Sport Repairman Maintenance rating training at Rainbow Aviation in Kingsville, MO. This allows you to legally work on and inspect aircraft certified as S-LSA or E-LSA.

Both of these things helped set me apart when it came time to find an apprenticeship. There is a serious need for aircraft mechanics in the industry, but most shops are not willing to just bring in anyone off the street with no aviation experience.

You have to find ways to set yourself apart.

The best opportunity I could find was an hour commute away. Less than ideal for sure, but you have to go where opportunity is: