Color Me Annoyed

On Jan 31, 6:38 pm, "Steve" wrote:
The pilots I know are willing to pay fair value for services rendered.
I'm guessing you didn't spend multi-million on a facility, $250 grand in
shop equipment and diagnostic analyzers. If you did you are likely to have a
1st class facility that would draw plenty of aircraft repair business that
would pay you $90 an hour. Heck you could publish a reasonable fixed rate
for inspections and I'm sure you can get plenty of business that way also.
But you sound like you have an unreasonable expectation of what a mechanics
should earn. Keep you A&P/IA to yourself, the world doesn't need another
service provider with a chip on their shoulder.

A friend of mine did exactly that, and lost it all. It's not that
simple at all. Airplanes cost money, and most owners don't have a lot
of it. The few that do got their cash by being stingy with it, not by
showering it on mechanics.
So as long as a guy can earn way more fixing trucks, with less
liability and no hassles getting paid, we'll find fewer mechanics
willing to put up with the hassle.

Dan (pilot/mechanic)

Well, The Kid just called at 10:45 AM... The jugs are off and the
bottom end looks good... The cam is clean... Looks like a top
overhaul only (whoo hoo).. He brightened up when I said lets just do
a top, figuring he would have it buttoned up by Friday... I have the
new Lycoming cylinder kits out in the truck to deliver to him...
So, then I dropped on him that I also want fresh donuts on both motor
mounts and a new crank seal - that caused him to hesitate... He can
see his February schedule going to pot anyway... I'll wait until
tomorrow to bring up the new hydraulic hoses for the landing gear...

On Jan 30, 7:26*pm, "JGalban via AviationKB.com" u32749@uwe wrote:

* *Funny, I've always had the opposite problem. *I've had the same mechanic
for 18 yrs. and every time I show up to pick up my plane (checkbook in hand)
there is no bill ready, so I can't pay. *They've always been able to get the

We have the same problem with late billing. The year before
last, our A&P was so busy that he did not have the time to take care
of the billing. The next annual, we got a big bill for the two
annuals along with several big jobs that he did over the year
(installing a photo window, JPI engine monitor etc). It was nice that
he did not charge interest. However, in checking out the details, we
found that he had charged us labor for a recall item which was
supposedly to be paid by Lycoming. It took few phone calls to find out
that Lycoming had paid him but his secretary did not record it
properly so he corrected the bill.

Hai Longworth

wrote:
Ya see, if general aviation is in such trouble, and mechanics are
having to go to wrenching on trucks for a living, then why can't you
find a mechanic who will work on your airplane within a reasonable
time frame? (mutter, mumble)


Yep. The full time mechanic that has been working on my plane has
essentially quit the business, only performing annuals on the minimum
number of planes to keep his IA. (Fortunately mine is one of them.)
His main problem is getting paid. Owners either refuse to pay or make
him wait for the $$$. I don't understand this because they are just
shooting themselves (and others) in the foot.

And what is so hard about getting his money upfront? An inspection
should be a fixed fee, so get the money before he starts.

Matt

On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:41:18 -0800 (PST), wrote:


Ya see, if general aviation is in such trouble, and mechanics are
having to go to wrenching on trucks for a living, then why can't you
find a mechanic who will work on your airplane within a reasonable
time frame? (mutter, mumble)


Yep. The full time mechanic that has been working on my plane has
essentially quit the business, only performing annuals on the minimum
number of planes to keep his IA. (Fortunately mine is one of them.)
His main problem is getting paid. Owners either refuse to pay or make
him wait for the $$$. I don't understand this because they are just
shooting themselves (and others) in the foot.

In all the years I've been flying, in a partnership or outright
owning, I do not recall even once finding the bill ready when the
annual was finished. That is with a couple exceptions where it took a
week to catch a ride between storms to pick up the Deb. He even
delivered it a couple times (without charging for his time flying it
down), but even then the bill came in the mail at the end of the
month.

Avionics work has been the same. Get the work done and the bill comes
later.

Roger (K8RI)

Regards,
Jerry
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com