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Gotta Tell My Story
My name is John, I am an FAA licensed A&P mechanic. This is my journey.
2-3 weeks before I got laid off I was notified that my licensing test I took almost 5 years ago was invalid and I would have to retest because the FAA testing representative was "giving" licenses away to people that aren't from USA and can't speak English (not being racist or anything like that). FAA states that an aircraft mechanic must be able to read, write, and understand English as a requirement for being a licensed mechanic. He was of course testing in Spanish (illegal move). SO I have to study over 3000 test questions and their parent materials and pass the testing all over again.
Who the hell really remembers stuff like that from 5 years ago in a stressful time. The good thing is we will not have to pay for the testing again. That was over $600 back then, well over $800 now.
So, then we (60 of us) got laid off Sept. 18, 2009. Must be the curse of the contract worker. Too many people and not enough work. We were told it would be 4-6 weeks 'til we heard anything about being re-hired. It's been almost 8 weeks now.
Luckily I can keep bills under wraps with the unemployment insurance payments. That just doesn't do the family justice though. Christmas is coming and 2 little girls a wife and myself are gonna' be S.O.L.
I am used to working hard all day from 6am to 3pm walking, sanding, carrying, sawing, grinding, thinking.....now I am depressed, bored and don't want to move.
The sad thing is that I have a brainchild of a byproduct from watching so much damn TV. I have this unrelenting urge to find a cheap donor car and convert it to an electric vehicle, fix my credit score, buy a house with a big garage and "greenify" it, fix my car, build random projects, learn how to weld.....the list goes on and on.
But the list involves LOTS of money.
I have wonderful talents, but can't use them without a workshop or garage or even my own business.
How frustrated do I need to be.....lol
Comments
Thanks for sharing, John
I can relate to so much of your story -- losing your job because of someone else's screw-up, the crummy feeling around the holidays, and especially the situation of having a head full of ideas and no capital to carry them out. There must be a million of us who have skills, ideas, drive... and no capital to make any of it happen.
Imagine how rich our country would be if we invested in people like you. Think of a million new businesses starting, mechanics and inventors bringing ideas to life, people creating things, creating wealth.
There would be so much opportunity if only the owners of capital would stop hoarding all the money for themselves.
Good luck, and I hope your family enjoys a warm and close holiday season if not a lot of toys and presents. In times like these, all we have is each other.
When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.
Hang in there John
I am not sure why you have to retest, unless it is mandatory refresher tests in FAA A&P technology. You have the benefit of the unemployment insurance as other like me could not qualify. It has been brutal just getting temp jobs, but the good news I passed my clearance and I start my IT job next Monday. In fact, I got two offer to start; still contract but better than nothing. One is actually part time after hours so I will hustle hard to make this schedule work. I need to do this as I got to catch up on late bills. It is damn competitive out there, as employers demand more skill set from you, but I have to swim with the sharks so to speak. I do wish my other mates in the same situation to keep pluging and applying and interview to your best. Don't give up too Chuck, I am pulling for you too buddy.