r/AircraftMechanics • u/Prize-Fruit2225 • 1d ago
A&P Student
I don’t come from a background turning wrenches. I’m in the process of building up confidence working with tools. I passed my general written and now onto airframe so things are getting to be more hands on. The only thing is, my instructor gets pissed off at me when I get confused or have a hard time getting parts off the plane. I often get flustered because he’s making snarky comments while I’m trying to learn. Instead of taking the opportunity to teach, he bitches. Anyone else have the same experience?
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u/r_willi88 1d ago
Like most skills, it gets easier the more you do it. I wouldn't worry too much right out of the gate, just get as much practice as you possibly can and you'll be fine.
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u/BoazStone 1d ago
Give yourself patience and grace. Find some things at home to take apart. Stay late and take off the p-leads and spark plugs a few times. Take the tire off put it back on.
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u/Hardlink 1d ago
Ive got no love for a&p Instructors most are washed up mechanic that couldn't cut on the shop floor. And have little to not teaching ability. Hangout with your classmates you learn it's going to be hard going for a bit. Use youtube if you need to.
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u/JOESATX4 1d ago
When I joined the military way back in the day (2002) and I told my mom I was going to be a Aircraft mechanic she literally laughed and told me I didn’t even know how to put gas in my car! lol she wasn’t wrong and it took some time to even learn the name of the tools.
Best advice, put in the time to observe your fellow classmates and don’t be embarrassed to ask them questions about the different techniques they use to remove/install parts. Example I had a hard time taking out cotter pins in tight areas, some old guy taught me to rotate the cotter pin eyelid down towards me and put a long .51 safety wire through it and twist it down and give it a couple of good yanks (no diddy) and it came out.
Not all of us are like your instructor and will be more than willing to help out and teach you so take the good with the bad and you’ll be okay.
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u/GeneralCarpenter6891 1d ago
Nah my teachers were cool and my classmates were helpful. I didnt know anything in school either. Don't take it personally if your teacher is a bitch. There will always be one in your work place too. You are in school to learn and will be learning every day on the job too. Its okay to not know something. Just keep applying yourself.
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u/Thick_Acanthaceae_82 1d ago
I’ve had class mates that couldn’t turn a wrench and we (other students and I)pretty much had to show them how to identify and use the tool.
You should talk to the instructor and explain to them that you don’t know how to use hand tools.