A&P Job

poadeleted21

poadeleted21

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Messages
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Anybody know an A&P with general aviation experience, heli experience a plus who'd want to live in or around the Bitterroot Valley of Montana? Robinson R22, R44,Bell Jet Ranger, Cessna Turbo/RG/-182, 337, 210, 150, 172, King Air etc.. are the primary planes. Would need to be responsible person capable of running a small FBO during the winter and dedicated to work long hours during the summer.
 
Hmm one of my coworkers is "retiring" to Montana at the end of this year...will give him a holler. I don't remember exactly where he will be living, though.
 
bartmc said:
Would need to be responsible person capable of running a small FBO during the winter and dedicated to work long hours during the summer.
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Oh Hell no!! !! !!
 
Tom-D said:
Oh Hell no!! !! !!
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Small fleet of fire patrol and timber spotting planes, Seems like daily 100 hour inspections.
A couple of Turbo 182RGs, A 337, a couple of 210s, a 182 and a 172. Keeps a King Air going and a few helis. Does the annuals and MX for some of us spam can fliers. He owns a couple of 150s and leases back a 172RG.

I've been at the airport with the owner, I left at 12:30AM, he stayed 2 hours later. 8AM to midnight is the way of life right now, he needs some relief and wants to open up a flight school in Nevada for the winter, things are pretty slow in the winter but King Air needs pushed in/out, helis need work, general small piston Annuals that sort of thing. Someone he can drop the keys off with in the winter and not worry. No gas sales he just does MX and has a flight school but winter weather puts a cramp on the flight school.
 
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bartmc said:
Small fleet of fire patrol and timber spotting planes, Seems like daily 100 hour inspections.
A couple of Turbo 182RGs, A 337, a couple of 210s, a 182 and a 172. Keeps a King Air going and a few helis. Does the annuals and MX for some of us spam can fliers. He owns a couple of 150s and leases back a 172RG.

I've been at the airport with the owner, I left at 12:30AM, he stayed 2 hours later. 8AM to midnight is the way of life right now, he needs some relief and wants to open up a flight school in Nevada for the winter, things are pretty slow in the winter but King Air needs pushed in/out, helis need work, general small piston Annuals that sort of thing. Someone he can drop the keys off with in the winter and not worry. No gas sales he just does MX and has a flight school but winter weather puts a cramp on the flight school.
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the guy must be pretty smart.. he wants out of Mt in the winter.
 
Tom-D said:
the guy must be pretty smart.. he wants out of Mt in the winter.
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The valley here has mild winters in comparison to the rest of the state. It gets "get out of town" cold for about a week or two. Snow doesn't stick around long. We're at 3200' the average snow line is around 5,000'. We do keep an inversion cloud over the valley in winter more than i would like. Realistic IFR training in a Cherokee or 172 isn't very realistic here, winter or summer. And the population density isn't very good for rounding up tons of students.
 
It's a pretty area. I'd do it in a heartbeat. Familiar, long hours. Probably not enough pay, though.
 
DouglasBader said:
It's a pretty area. I'd do it in a heartbeat. Familiar, long hours. Probably not enough pay, though.
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He did talk to a guy who was the maintenance manager for a fleet of Gulfstreams or something who wanted $140,000/year I can tell you it probably won't be paying that.
 
That's too high by any stretch of the imagination, and not something a light airplane charter operation will sustain. Just because someone can make that doing something else, doesn't mean they should make that doing this.

It sounds like an interesting collection of aircraft that lends variety to the job, and it sounds like the right location. Sounds like someone is going to get a great job.
 
bartmc said:
The valley here has mild winters in comparison to the rest of the state. It gets "get out of town" cold for about a week or two. Snow doesn't stick around long. We're at 3200' the average snow line is around 5,000'. We do keep an inversion cloud over the valley in winter more than i would like. Realistic IFR training in a Cherokee or 172 isn't very realistic here, winter or summer. And the population density isn't very good for rounding up tons of students.
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Freeze your butt in the winter cook your butt in the summer, it got really cold here last winter 32 degrees 3 nights in a row, it was 74 here today.

and wide clear blue as it can get.
 
For the sake of argument, any idea on the pay?

Are they in need of any police officers?
 
It sounds better than Kansas! It's to bad that I still have a non compete,this sounds like an adventure to me. I installed a Mirage engine in Polson MT last Nov. It was cold but nice. We've had it here and we're looking for the next homestead now. My wife says I could start another shop someday, but she wont be involved with the day to day operations.

I'm going to NY in 2 weeks to check things out then over to the beautiful Pacific NW later in the summer.
 
kmead said:
I still have a non compete,this sounds like an adventure to me. My wife says I could start another shop someday, but she wont be involved with the day to day operations.
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Why do you have a non compete agreement if it was your own shop?
 
kmead said:
It sounds better than Kansas! It's to bad that I still have a non compete,this sounds like an adventure to me. I installed a Mirage engine in Polson MT last Nov. It was cold but nice. We've had it here and we're looking for the next homestead now. My wife says I could start another shop someday, but she wont be involved with the day to day operations.

I'm going to NY in 2 weeks to check things out then over to the beautiful Pacific NW later in the summer.
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Stop in for a visit if you're flying over MT.
 
flyer said:
Why do you have a non compete agreement if it was your own shop?
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Sorry for the delay. I was on the road again doing a couple Meridian pre-buys.

I sold my shop to a long time employee who is keeping the same PA46 focus.
Other than equipment and parts, the only thing left to sell was a customer base and a non-compete.

He did the same thing I would have done. They don't need me opening up another specialty shop to compete with them. The shop did very well for us, but I'm way to tired to start up something big for along while.

Montana is beautiful and I'll bet your not up to "106 degrees" like we are today. Who knows where we'll end up at, all I know is that I can't do another summer here!
 
kmead said:
Sorry for the delay. I was on the road again doing a couple Meridian pre-buys.

I sold my shop to a long time employee who is keeping the same PA46 focus.
Other than equipment and parts, the only thing left to sell was a customer base and a non-compete.

He did the same thing I would have done. They don't need me opening up another specialty shop to compete with them. The shop did very well for us, but I'm way to tired to start up something big for along while.

Montana is beautiful and I'll bet your not up to "106 degrees" like we are today. Who knows where we'll end up at, all I know is that I can't do another summer here!
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It got over 100 for 2 days, I doubt we see it that hot again... Sold my plane so haven't been down to the hangar in a week. If anyone is interested, I'll ask about $ or tell you who to call to ask about $
 
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