3DPlanes From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 167 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 8 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1565 times:
A bit of venting and a serious question: for those of you that are -true- insiders (I only work for a 147 school), do you find it difficult to track down industry info?
I mean things like who does maintenance at which airports? Which companies do painting? And where? Or, say you're a Mech and want to move up or switch companies, how would you find out if NW (for example) has a facility someplace you want to move to? And it seems even worse for the regionals...
For example, the airline's HQ won't give up any info, a look through the phone book and/or Google doesn't show that CO has not one, but two maintenance hangars at MCO... I only find out by driving (or flying) to the field.
If I pull the Dun & Bradstreet data, I get (pay for!) LOTS of listings for many airlines, but ALL of them are ticket counters...
So, how does a vendor - or in my case a school looking to place students or determine training needs - find out who is where?
EasternSon From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 650 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1438 times:
The WAD - World Aviation Directory.
It's completely priceless in my line of work. It'll tell you just about everything you need to know about every carrier across the world. In most cases, it breaks ailines down by departments as well, from head offices, to maintenance facilities to purchasing departments.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8937 posts, RR: 65 Reply 5, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1425 times:
EasternSon From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 650 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1412 times:
Yes, they are available, but even my Winter 2005 edition is out of date.
I would strongly urge you to buy the newest copy you can get a hold of. As we all know, too much changes too quickly in this industrywith regard to management, capabilities and business models. Not to mention the number of aircraft being parked and/or scrapped, and the number of airlines ceasing operatipons or merging with other airlines.
"The only people for me are the mad ones...." Jack Kerouac
SlamClick From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 10039 posts, RR: 75 Reply 7, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1411 times:
There are a number of 'starting point' types of resources.
One of the very best but, as has been said, changes in the industry rapidly make them out-of-date. Don't count too much on phone numbers etc. out of older ones.
AOPA publishes an airport directory. This document has been in the dispatch office of every airline I've ever visited. Lots of good skinny there, and published at least every year.
AFD - the green book for load-bearing and ARFF index.
The AOPA book has one great feature: The airport manager's phone number. This person can tell you if Owl Air Service is a fly-by-night. (bad joke but one of my favorites) The airport manager can tell you about noise, weight or wingspan restrictions faster than anyone else can. They can tell you who handles planes of your size etc. By all means call this office. I've had the airport manage narrow down my searchng so much...
Ask other operators where they get ___ done. Most are not stingy with this kind of information. Ask them for their client list and you'll get a different response but on things like this the competition has often been helpful to me.
good luck
Happiness is not seeing another trite Ste. Maarten photo all week long.
3DPlanes From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 167 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1388 times:
Thanks for all the tips. I've used word-of-mouth, but I tend to get started down a trail, only to have the leads dry-up...
We have some directories and belong to several organizations, but they don't have the contact data I'm usually looking for, or like D&B it is "sort-of accurate" - yes there is Ford dealer down the street, no they are not affiliated with Ford... The WAD is a new one though, and I think I can get $450 past purchasing.
The AOPA and AFD are things I hadn't considered, and I've got both sitting right here (well, my AFD is not -quite- current). And the airport managers are probably a great source. I've used contacts at FBOs to gather some info already. Its amazing how much a guy (or gal) who "just runs the pumps and the tow cart" can tell you about what's going and coming around an airfield. I just don't know someone at every FBO - I must need to fly more!
As for Google - it can be a blessing and a curse. Sure I can find all kinds of obscure stuff. But when its more general, I get tired of having to come up with 18 search words just trying to narrow my results down to avoid all of those "How the hell did you end up in my search results?" kind of listings.
Searching "airliner" and "painting" gives just under 9 million results!!! Even adding "737" and "A320" leaves you 160,000!
Anyhow, thanks again, and if anybody has any other ideas, keep 'em coming.
Mandala499 From Indonesia, joined Aug 2001, 5880 posts, RR: 74 Reply 10, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1336 times:
And don't forget... you can also chase contacts/leads you may have to point you where to look... and of course... a.net...
In aviation, there's a lot of rumours and little fact about things such as opportunities, openings, new routes, new types etc... at least in this part of the world.
Mandala499
When losing situational awareness, pray Cumulus Granitus isn't nearby !
Aogdesk From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 930 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1319 times:
Feel free to ask specific questions to people here too. You'd also be surprised who knows who or what...aviation is a huge community.
AeroWeanie From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1588 posts, RR: 54 Reply 13, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1268 times:
Quoting 3DPlanes (Thread starter): I mean things like who does maintenance at which airports?
Check through back issues of Flight International. Every year they publish a world-wide guide to MRO (Maintanence, Repair and Overhaul) facilities. The list has become so long that it now stretches over three issues, ordered by parts of the world.
Aogdesk From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 930 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1247 times:
Ask about a particular airport....betcha someone will know.
MX757 From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 593 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (5 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 1222 times:
Quoting 3DPlanes (Thread starter): CO has not one, but two maintenance hangars at MCO... I only find out by driving (or flying) to the field.
I work at those hangars for CO. What would you like to know?
3DPlanes From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 167 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1103 times:
Again, thanks for all the replies from everybody. Several good recommendations.
Avioniker From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 1106 posts, RR: 13 Reply 18, posted (5 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1056 times:
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