Aircraft Mechanic wanting to move from Memphis TN to somewhere in Alaska

[SknyBlt]

I appreciate all the info. Both positive and negative. I don't want to hear its gonna be an easy go moving to Alaska cause my wife and I know it's not. I want to hear the down sides so I know some of the obstacles I need to prepare for. I am also aware that being a " bush pilot" or pilot in AK in General is much different then most places in the lower states. I had considered maybe working a trade with a knowledgeable pilot up there. Maintenance work for trainning to fly in AK. I've just been considering it as an option. Mainly as a way to afford having a plane period. Not for living expenses. My plan is to buy a house with a few acres and a hanger to do maintenance on customer planes and my own if I buy one. Based on research I've done we should be able to afford the house w hanger option from money we get selling our current home and 100 acres of land.
As far as why I want to leave Memphis and "Fred's Plantation". Memphis is a very dangerous city. It's been rated in the top 5 worst places to live for 5 or more years. And is also in top 5 deadliest cities in America. IIRC it's rated 2nd most dangerous. One night, before our son was born and before I had my CCW permit, my wife and I were in town grocery shopping and decided to get a burger before heading home. 3 men came in behind us w shotguns to rob the place. One of them held a gun to my head during the robbery. Luckily no one was hurt and police eventually caught the dirt bags. My wife won't stay in this city much longer because of these issues. We don't want to continue to live in this environment and more importantly don't want our kids growing up in this city.
We have been considering cities in Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Alaska, or just moving to eastern Tennessee. We find Alaska to be the most interesting. A former coworker of mine works for Empire Airlines in Anchorage. He loves it in Alaska. Says Anchorage is like most other American cities except that once your out of town, your OUT OF TOWN. Down here there's fairly heavy population for about 45min. driving and scattered neighborhoods up to 1.5 hrs outside of the city. Although Wyoming and Montana are similar in that you can easily be in the middle of nowhere there are far fewer job opportunities in aviation in those states. Both general and commercial aviation. I will admitt the long harsh winter worries me a bit for my wife. She's a tough cookie but she's never had to deal with more than 3" of snow and 17* is as cold as she's experienced. I've worked in -30* many a times so I kinda know what to expect. By the way, my wife is a cardiovascular ultra sound specialist. We looked into it and seems to be a number of job opportunities for her in AK. She's new to the field and should make more then she is now as experience and trainning increase. Any of ya'll know if were correct in assuming she'll have job opportunities?

[stiffnecked]

You might want to look at temporarily moving to one of the summer tourist towns that hire extra pilots and mechanics for the season. I know that Taquan Air and ProMech Air in Ketchikan both hire seasonal mechanics and pilots. There are other places that do the same. That would get your foot in the door and give you a chance to network as well. Something you might want to think about before selling lock, stock and barrell and blindly moving to someplace.

[highlife2]

Originally Posted by SknyBlt

I appreciate all the info. Both positive and negative. I don't want to hear its gonna be an easy go moving to Alaska cause my wife and I know it's not. I want to hear the down sides so I know some of the obstacles I need to prepare for. I am also aware that being a " bush pilot" or pilot in AK in General is much different then most places in the lower states. I had considered maybe working a trade with a knowledgeable pilot up there. Maintenance work for trainning to fly in AK. I've just been considering it as an option. Mainly as a way to afford having a plane period. Not for living expenses. My plan is to buy a house with a few acres and a hanger to do maintenance on customer planes and my own if I buy one. Based on research I've done we should be able to afford the house w hanger option from money we get selling our current home and 100 acres of land.
As far as why I want to leave Memphis and "Fred's Plantation". Memphis is a very dangerous city. It's been rated in the top 5 worst places to live for 5 or more years. And is also in top 5 deadliest cities in America. IIRC it's rated 2nd most dangerous. One night, before our son was born and before I had my CCW permit, my wife and I were in town grocery shopping and decided to get a burger before heading home. 3 men came in behind us w shotguns to rob the place. One of them held a gun to my head during the robbery. Luckily no one was hurt and police eventually caught the dirt bags. My wife won't stay in this city much longer because of these issues. We don't want to continue to live in this environment and more importantly don't want our kids growing up in this city.
We have been considering cities in Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Alaska, or just moving to eastern Tennessee. We find Alaska to be the most interesting. A former coworker of mine works for Empire Airlines in Anchorage. He loves it in Alaska. Says Anchorage is like most other American cities except that once your out of town, your OUT OF TOWN. Down here there's fairly heavy population for about 45min. driving and scattered neighborhoods up to 1.5 hrs outside of the city. Although Wyoming and Montana are similar in that you can easily be in the middle of nowhere there are far fewer job opportunities in aviation in those states. Both general and commercial aviation. I will admitt the long harsh winter worries me a bit for my wife. She's a tough cookie but she's never had to deal with more than 3" of snow and 17* is as cold as she's experienced. I've worked in -30* many a times so I kinda know what to expect. By the way, my wife is a cardiovascular ultra sound specialist. We looked into it and seems to be a number of job opportunities for her in AK. She's new to the field and should make more then she is now as experience and trainning increase. Any of ya'll know if were correct in assuming she'll have job opportunities?

Do you have other non aviation skills? As far as owning a plane, I work in oil and gas to afford my flying habbit. Have you considered buyin a PA-18 or Aviat Husky down there and flying it up? Look into turtle pack bladders for fuel becuase there are places that dont sell fuel unless you bow down to them and beg for fuel and over pay.

Perhaps take a vacation up here to scope out some hangar homes and put a contingent offer in? then just fly your husky up and roll into your own hangar. Thats how I would do it. Do your own work on the plane and then you can minimize your run ins with people like rex, becuase there are alot of them up here. Keep everything self contained. The aircraft parts stores up here are great to work with so at least there is that.

Also be weary of wolf lake, its paved and long but its REALLY narrow, one screw up with the rudder or breaks and you could be off the run way. Im not sure how much of a grade change there is from teh asphalt to the grass/dirt but I did not want to find out.

[highlife2]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

You might want to look at temporarily moving to one of the summer tourist towns that hire extra pilots and mechanics for the season. I know that Taquan Air and ProMech Air in Ketchikan both hire seasonal mechanics and pilots. There are other places that do the same. That would get your foot in the door and give you a chance to network as well. Something you might want to think about before selling lock, stock and barrell and blindly moving to someplace.

Unless you plan on living in southeast dont take a vacation there thinking thats what south central is like. Southeast is like a totally different state and the weather is aweful .... AWEFUL. Its an even more captive market than south central and real estate is off the scale.

[mitgreb]

I have been working in Aviation here since 1979. If you want to work and know how with out having to have someone redo your work come on up; you will find a job! Its aviation don't expect to get rich! Don't expect to live off the land it don't taste so good! Yes it gets cold. Yes there are alot of mosquitoes. Anchorage is not part of Alaska.

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by highlife2

Unless you plan on living in southeast dont take a vacation there thinking thats what south central is like. Southeast is like a totally different state and the weather is aweful .... AWEFUL. Its an even more captive market than south central and real estate is off the scale.

Well, I lived in Ketchyikan for 7 years, worked for Alaska Airlines for 6 years and Taquan for two summers. I don't find the weather there any more aweful then the weather in Anchorage. In one you get rain and the other you get snow.

[highlife2]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

Well, I lived in Ketchyikan for 7 years, worked for Alaska Airlines for 6 years and Taquan for two summers. I don't find the weather there any more aweful then the weather in Anchorage. In one you get rain and the other you get snow.

LOL I guess I would take the snow over the rain anyday so perhaps its just a preference. I have not looked at the detailed weather data but im pretty sure that south east has significantly more IFR flying conditions than the bowl area and peninsula. Some people are into that kind of thing but I prefer sun shine even if its cold out.

[highlife2]

Originally Posted by mitgreb

I have been working in Aviation here since 1979. If you want to work and know how with out having to have someone redo your work come on up; you will find a job! Its aviation don't expect to get rich! Don't expect to live off the land it don't taste so good! Yes it gets cold. Yes there are alot of mosquitoes. Anchorage is not part of Alaska.

If you get hooked up with some good air craft owners that know their planes really well it can make things easier. Owners who have had their planes for years and know how to work on them already will make your job easier (and I mean for real work on them, not ductape and jerry rig). Just because an owner does not have the schedule to get their IA does not mean they are incompetent.

I am learning all I can from super experienced mechanics now so that when they retire I will just need an IA for a sign off. That's the way it should be, the owner is the one with their butt strapped in they ought to know every nut and bolt in their entire plane.

You might not get "rich" but you can get in the solid middle class or even the lower end of upper middle class if your a good mechanic.