Toby
Cleared for Takeoff
Good morning, everyone,
Diana's thread about installing a hooker harness reminded me that I've been wondering how many people do their own maintenance and mechanical work on their aircraft, and how many send it out. It seems that the more I delve into possible ownership, or talk to people who already own airplanes, the more I hear of people doing a lot of their own work -- installing, repairing, changing the oil, whatever needs to be done. Some do the work on their own and get signed off at the end, and others assist at annuals and work under supervision of an A&P. Others stand by and learn by watching. A lot of people just bring the plane in and pick it up at the end.
I have some abilities, but engine know-how is not one of them. I was not lucky enough to grow up on a farm or in a family who took apart and repaired cars. My dad did carpentry and could take the vaccuum cleaner apart and put it together again, so I know how to use some tools, I can hang pictures, and I can figure out problems in small machines like vaccuum cleaners. Beyond that, I don't know much about engines other than what I've learned from flight training, heard about from other pilots, or helped out with when hanging out with my mechanic friend at the airport.
How many of you use a mechanic for all your work? Are you happy with that solution? What kind of airplane do you have?
How many of you do the work on your own? How did you learn what to do and how to do it? How closely are you supervised? What kind of airplane do you work on?
When you bought your plane, did it make a difference to you whether the previous owner(s) had done their own work or had had mechanics doing everything? I am finding, as I look, that certain types of airplanes seem to have a history of owner maintenance, and others have a history of A&P maintenance.
At my airport, I know people who do at least some of their own work, but most people here use a mechanic for just about everything. I don't know if this is true everywhere. I don't know if this comes from caution, over-caution, or is just because they can afford it. The mechanics, of course, are biased in favor of people using mechanics.
Thanks for any input.
Diana's thread about installing a hooker harness reminded me that I've been wondering how many people do their own maintenance and mechanical work on their aircraft, and how many send it out. It seems that the more I delve into possible ownership, or talk to people who already own airplanes, the more I hear of people doing a lot of their own work -- installing, repairing, changing the oil, whatever needs to be done. Some do the work on their own and get signed off at the end, and others assist at annuals and work under supervision of an A&P. Others stand by and learn by watching. A lot of people just bring the plane in and pick it up at the end.
I have some abilities, but engine know-how is not one of them. I was not lucky enough to grow up on a farm or in a family who took apart and repaired cars. My dad did carpentry and could take the vaccuum cleaner apart and put it together again, so I know how to use some tools, I can hang pictures, and I can figure out problems in small machines like vaccuum cleaners. Beyond that, I don't know much about engines other than what I've learned from flight training, heard about from other pilots, or helped out with when hanging out with my mechanic friend at the airport.
How many of you use a mechanic for all your work? Are you happy with that solution? What kind of airplane do you have?
How many of you do the work on your own? How did you learn what to do and how to do it? How closely are you supervised? What kind of airplane do you work on?
When you bought your plane, did it make a difference to you whether the previous owner(s) had done their own work or had had mechanics doing everything? I am finding, as I look, that certain types of airplanes seem to have a history of owner maintenance, and others have a history of A&P maintenance.
At my airport, I know people who do at least some of their own work, but most people here use a mechanic for just about everything. I don't know if this is true everywhere. I don't know if this comes from caution, over-caution, or is just because they can afford it. The mechanics, of course, are biased in favor of people using mechanics.
Thanks for any input.
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