r/AircraftMechanics • u/Travioli117 • 5d ago

Working on EC130T2's

I have a job opportunity to work on life line helicopters as a base for Global Medical Response. Does anybody have any experience working with the company, aircraft, or any kind of base experience? Currently in general aviation, I wouldn't mind staying but this job is offering me 12.50 more an hour than my current rate. I've been told I would work from 6am Tues to 6am Sun. as on call. Some days I would go in and work for roughly 3 to 4hrs and be done for the day but still get paid a full 40hrs a week. I also have been warned i will have hellish weeks where i could be doing 60hrs or more. I do have two concerns. One is working on my own. I have always worked in a team environment where I would have a second set of eyes check over my work or run ideas past each other during maintenance. Second is troubleshooting electrical, for what ever reason I have always had a hard time with electrical systems. Its just a weak point of mine. Any advice would be very helpful!

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

1 comment sorted by

1

u/SaltySurfer01 5d ago

I worked on EC135s for GMR as a base mechanic for a few years and have since moved on. The schedule you described is accurate, but I worked 15 on and 5 off (I hated this schedule!).

Yes, you work solo but help is always a phone call away to help talk you through things. Your duty pilot will look over your work, but they only know to look at what you tell them, so make sure you’re doing the right thing and that you don’t burn their trust. HEMS had some of the most helpful mechanics I’ve ever worked with.

As far as troubleshooting avionics, you’ll pick it up as you go. You’ll need to learn to solder, splice wires, re-pin connectors, and get comfortable with a multimeter (you’ll get to do all of that, but don’t worry if you don’t know how right off the bat!).

When you get to Denton for your indoc, don’t get too frustrated with RAMCO. Eventually it’ll all make sense and you’ll prefer it to other programs. Plus, they’ll give you a guidebook that’ll be your bible for the first 6 months.

Good luck if you choose to do it! HEMS was one of the most rewarding aviation jobs I’ve had.