Every
day, thousands of planes, jets and helicopters are flown all
over the world; and the lives of the flight crew and passengers
depend on aircraft mechanics to ensure that aircrafts are safe
and have dependable performance. The outlook for future employment
in the Aircraft Maintenance field is outstanding. There is a
critical shortage of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians now, and
this shortage will increase in the next ten years as air travel
continues to expand and experienced technicians retire.
Note:
Throughout this document, the term “aircraft mechanic”
is used to refer to all aviation maintenance and service
technicians. |
The Aircraft
Mechanic channel is designed to help you learn more about
becoming an Aviation Maintenance Technician. The more you
know about your options in this career field; you will be
able to make an informed decision about your educational and
career goals. The topics below will help you learn about various
aspects of this career field and how to becoming an aircraft
mechanic. Select a topic to learn more.
•
Job
Description
• Type
of Aviation Maintenance Technicians
• Education
and Training
• Helpful
High School Courses
• Skills
and Other Requirements
• Career
Advancement
• Union
Memberships
• Working
Conditions
• Hours
and Benefits
• Pay/Salary
• Job
Outlook
• Employers
• How
to become an Aircraft Mechanic
• Frequently
Asked Questions
• Similar
Careers
• Sources
of Additional Information
• References
|
Job
Description
To keep aircraft in peak operating condition, aircraft mechanics
perform scheduled maintenance for each individual aircraft,
troubleshoot problems, make repairs, and complete inspections
required by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA is responsible
for certification, regulation and compliance in assuring aviation
safety. Any person involved in operating or maintaining an
aircraft must hold an FAA certificate.
Aircraft mechanics may work on one or many different types
of aircraft, such as jets, propeller-driven airplanes, and
helicopters. Some mechanics may specialize in one section
of a particular type of aircraft, such as the airframe, engine,
hydraulic, or electrical system. In small repair shops, mechanics
usually work on many types of aircraft. In larger shops, they
are more likely to specialize in a particular area. Avionics
systems are now an integral part of aircraft design and have
vastly increased aircraft capability. As technology advances,
mechanics (authorized to work on electronics and avionics)
spend an increasing amount of time repairing electronic systems,
such as computerized controls. Mechanics also may be required
to analyze and develop solutions to complex electronic problems.
Many aircraft mechanics, also called airframe, powerplant,
or avionics technicians, specialize in preventive maintenance.
They inspect engines (powerplants), landing gear, instruments,
brakes, valves, pumps, and other parts of the aircraft, and
perform the necessary maintenance and replacement of parts.
Inspections may occur after the aircraft has flown a certain
number of hours, a specific number of calendar days since
the last inspection, cycles of operation, or a combination
of these factors. Large, sophisticated planes are equipped
with aircraft monitoring systems, consisting of electronic
boxes and consoles that monitor the aircraft’s basic
operations and provide valuable diagnostic information to
the mechanic. To examine an engine, aircraft mechanics work
through specially designed openings while standing on ladders
or scaffolds, or use hoists or lifts to remove the entire
engine from the craft. After taking an engine apart, mechanics
use precision instruments to measure parts for wear and use
x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment to check for invisible
cracks. Worn or defective parts are repaired or replaced.
Mechanics may also repair sheet metal or composite surfaces,
measure the tension of control cables, and check for corrosion,
distortion, and cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail. After
completing all repairs, they must test the equipment to ensure
that it works properly.
Mechanics specializing in repairwork rely on the pilot’s
description of a problem to find and fix faulty equipment.
For example, during a preflight check, a pilot may discover
that the aircraft’s fuel gauge does not work. To solve
the problem, mechanics may troubleshoot the electrical system,
using electrical test equipment to make sure that no wires
are broken or shorted out, and replace any defective electrical
or electronic components.
Types
of Aviation Maintenance Technicians
The FAA certificates an aircraft mechanic as either a/an: |
• |
Powerplant
Mechanic - authorized to work on engines and do limited
work on propellers. |
• |
Airframe
Mechanic - authorized to test and repair any part
of the aircraft except the instruments, power plants,
and propellers. |
• |
Combination
Airframe-and-Powerplant Mechanic (A&P Mechanic)
- authorized to work on all parts of the plane except
instruments. The majority of mechanics working on civilian
aircraft today are A & P mechanics. |
• |
Avionics
Technician - authorized to check, repair, and maintain
electronic components used for aircraft navigation and
radio communications, weather radar systems, and other
instruments and computers that control flight, engine,
and other primary functions. Avionics technicians who
service transmitting equipment--radios or radar--must
also hold a radiotelephone license issued by the U.S.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Please Note:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses a
mechanic as a General Radiotelephone Operator and issues
appropriate license endorsements based on the individual's
knowledge of radio transmissions, basic electricity, and
radar. Avionics
technicians usually need other types of certifications
from one or more of these associations:
• The
National Association of Radio and Telecommunications
Engineers, Inc.
• The
International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians
• The
Electronics Technicians Association
|
Sources
by: Federal
Aviation Administration, US
Occupational Handbook, and U.S.
Department of Defense. |