Here, in the Upper Midwest, there is plenty of work for IAs who inspect and work on GA aircraft. And not surprisingly their fees are outpacing inflation, their waiting lists are growing, or they are hiring more help (this is my involvement). Or, in many cases, a combination of all three. But, it is incredibly hard for me to measure what is happening in the Mountain West, West Coast, Gulf Coast, or East Coast.
I should read the final draft of MOSAIC.
It is always interesting to hear a different perspective and from someone in a different locality. We don't have many "new" GA airplanes around here. Maybe that will change with MOSAIC. There are several Experimentals, and there is a saying that everything costs the same, the only difference is how you pay for it. I have seen videos of some of the European LSAs, and for those who can afford it, having a nice new Rotax powered fiberglass airplane is certainly sexier than having a mid 60s 172 with scruffed paint, holes in the panel, remnant carpet squares, and generic seat covers.
If becoming an A&P is really what you want to do, you're sitting on a goldmine opportunity with this situation. Is your intent to work for this IA? See if the IA knows any of the local airworthiness ASIs at the FSDO and see what they will accept to issue your 8610s to take your mechanic certificate tests. Sometimes in "remote" areas they tend to be a bit more open to the process. In the meantime you can start studying aircraft maintenance guidance either free options or paid versions, etc., etc.
The eVTOLs and similar will probably follow the repairman route like LSA for various reasons. While A&Ps will still be needed and required for FAA and ICAO requirements, eventually in the distant future I think there will be a global rewrite of a lot of rules to include mx ones.
I think more specifically your concern is AP-IAs, annuals and wood spars.
The ability for owners to maintain aircraft is increasing, but I’d bet that the portion that do their own maintenance won’t increase much.
In my region that portion has been declining for the past 20 years. On average, only about 30-40% of owners perform any work with only a small portion that perform all work possible per prevent mx. While I think you may see an increase in owners performing their condition inspections on E/AB, I don't think there will be a marked difference overall. I also saw this in my owner assist group and how the interest started to taper off after 2008-09.
Yes, his offer was that I work with him, and stated that he could help me get my tests set up after the requisite 30-months of apprenticeship. Not surprisingly, he has a substantial library pertaining to his vocation. He suggested that I start by reading his copy of AC 43.13-1B.
There are a number of other reference items to study as well to include the all the handbooks to include the general, airframe, and powerplant below.
Inflation is ~3%
The amount of wood and fabric info is sparse. OP was asking about tube/wood/fabric. Back when the EAA was about building planes they made a lot of good wood and fabric books.
Not in GA.
Except the handbooks are written to provide the knowledge requirements per the Airmen Certification Standards (ACS) in order to take and pass the mechanic tests. And you'll find transistors and magnets are part of those standards so hardly a wild tangent.
Keep in mind that there are alternatives to employer-sponsored health coverage and retirement programs. They take a little more effort, but in our case we’ve been much happier after giving up my employer’s health insurance program.
In many areas of the Midwest, a single corporate healthcare entity owns all of the hospitals, clinics, and non-boutique practices in a geographic area. Making the co-pays the only difference between the different health plans available. And as stated, you can buy your own and take the tax-break that would otherwise go to an employer.
That is the situation here. My employer is booked solid for months and I am making appointment dates years out.
And to add, because this type of work is so labor intensive it can be very difficult to run it as a business. Same can be said for heavy sheet metal work. However, if one is an expert at with a solid backlog, you can make a good living at it. But those are now few and far between.
The sheet metal gurus at the top of their game can make a living as expensive metal planes get bent and then fully repaired. However, may need to live away from home for months at a time for some repairs.
No idea. But fabric work is not really a technical skill but more a craftman skill if that makes sense. So I've found a lot more people are very capable of performing that work on their own vs sheetmetal work. So unless one had a captured market I wouldnt think it could be self-supportive on its own. Now include it with other services under LSR-M ticket and maybe you could develop something.
True. But from my experience with both, to specialize in either requires some specific business financials otherwise you run out of operating captial due to the low volume of work through the shop. I've tried it but didnt have client infrastructure to make it work properly.
Its not. There are still many mechanics out there that still offer that and more. But people dont post or talk about those guys. They only post about the supposed "bad" mechanics. And in half of those posts its only one side of the story which may not have all the facts.
We participate in one of the Christian sharing plans…the differences are more significant.
