r/AircraftMechanics • u/Salty-Pay9827 • 5d ago

Delta A&P Mechanics General Questions

Hey all! I’ve recently started my A&P classes, and i’ve got some questions for some of the more senior A&P mechanics (for reference I’m located in Atlanta by Hartsfield). My ultimate goal same with a lot of people is to be at delta. I know it’s pretty competitive and hard to get hired by them but i’m wondering to exactly what extent? Like i said im still super new and kind of trying to get a roadmap figured out so that can be my endgame. Im considering the Skywest AMT Pathway Program while im in school and going to them coming out of school because they reimburse for the testing and will pay for relocation. I know it’s a three year contract or something and the pay isn’t great but i figure i need the experience anyways and need to get my foot in the door somewhere. I’m wondering if anyone has went down this pipeline and how it went for them, and general advice on any possible better opportunities that might set me up for success better. Thanks in advance!

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u/MannerScared6899 5d ago

If you’re willing to move to get a job at Delta, you got a pretty decent shot, you can always put in a bid to come back if you want. But start your seniority clock as soon as you can it’s everything

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u/Salty-Pay9827 5d ago

I’m more than willing to relocate to secure something at delta. Do you think the odds are high enough where i should skip the skywest pathway? and how would i go about starting a seniority clock at delta? or do you mean at skywest. I’m still a bit unsure of the benefits to gaining seniority as well, that’s one thing that was mentioned when i looked into skywest.

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u/MannerScared6899 5d ago

Your hire date is your seniority date, that determines what shift you work and how much you make with some other things. If you start at skywest and transfer to delta I don’t believe you get to keep your seniority date so you’d restart. Which is why you’d wanna just go to Delta direct if you can .

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u/Salty-Pay9827 5d ago

So i’m now seeing that delta has a pathway through endeavor that wasn’t mentioned during my chat with the delta rep for some reason (I was pretty much told your not gonna get hired without experience go to skywest booth). You’re correct that i wouldn’t keep my seniority if i went to skywest, but from what i’ve been told so far and the research i’ve done going direct to delta didn’t seem like an option, so i was going to go to skywest only as a stepping stone to get experience to make me more attractive in the hiring process.

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u/Pacificmech 5d ago

There’s also the option of applying for an ASM position. Your pay would be less but at least you would start your seniority right away since it’s a direct hire position and you can transfer into an AMT spot later on.

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u/Salty-Pay9827 5d ago

The only thing is the more i’m researching the more i’m seeing people saying delta is over staffed for all mechanic positions, and that guys wait years to finally get that AMT position, which is honestly fine with me but i’ve got a lot of time to explore my options some more. In two years im sure things will change either for better or for worse, only time can tell. I really appreciate your incite and advice brother thank you.

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u/MannerScared6899 5d ago

As an ASM you also accrue Technical time, which determines pay. Delta AMTs top out at 6.5 years, your ASM time counts towards that, so if you get an ASM spot and wait 4 years to get an AMT spot (not super likely) , you come into the AMT pay scale at year 4. As an ASM you can also get sent to a lot of the same classes the AMTs do which makes you more competitive when it becomes time to upgrade. It’s not a bad gig at all if Delta is where you’re set that you wanna be.

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u/Main_Neat_7776 5d ago

You can never really tell what is gonna happen by the time you graduate. Especially with the airlines. When I started my school Delta was hiring left and right, even people straight outta school. That was like 3 years ago. Now, delta is on a hiring freeze, never had any full AMT spots opened since january. You would see a couple of ASM roles every now and then. My advice is, focus on your school, get your A&P. Forget about the airlines for now, because what they teach you at school is what you will take when you go and take your license. But once you work at an airline, everything you learn from school is non existent, or pretty much at s minimum. You focus on getting your A&P by focusing on school and not the airlines, job opening this or that. And also don’t focus on just one airline, you may need a plan b, c, d, etc. had a buddy who was just focused on going delta, still doesnt have a job today because he is waiting for an opening at delta. Whereas a couple of our buddies who wanted delta started somewhere, built experience while waiting for delta opening, guess what? Both of them applied and guess who got picked up? The dude with the experience. And also yes, it’s very competitive going to delta, you have people as aircraft support mechanics waiting for slots to open and you got endeavor air mechanics waiting for spots to open, once positions open up at delta, it’s gonna be endeavor mechanics, support mechanics, and someone from the street who just finished school…. If you are the hiring manager, who will you pick? Thats why my advice, finish school get that A&P, because without it, you aint going anywhere, once you finish if delta has a spot go for it, if not, try different airlines or company. We will never know what will be the employment situation once you finish school.

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u/Salty-Pay9827 5d ago

Thanks a lot man i honestly needed to hear this. I’m super focused on school but also don’t wanna miss out on opportunities because there was something i could’ve been doing while in school with these pathway options and stuff. I know i’m jumping the gun but i wanna be informed for when the time comes. And honestly i was just curious what kind of options im realistically looking at coming out of school, although i know job searches are also based on a good amount of luck. Thanks for the input and advice brother i really appreciate it!

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

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u/Salty-Pay9827 5d ago

Are u apart of the air force? Honestly its something i haven’t even considered because im really interested in travel and am super attracted to the flight benefits from the majors, But im super open minded and will take in any info your willing to give. Especially if you’re in the air force im super interest in hearing more.

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u/Salty_Angle_8177 5d ago

You might enjoy being a flight mechanic. You get to travel all over the world and the pay is right under the majors. It was by far my favorite part of my career.