Learn how to become an Aviation Maintenance Technician, Aircraft Mechanic, or Avionics Technician
Learn how to become an Aviation Maintenance Technician, Aircraft Mechanic, or Avionics Technician. There are over 100 aviation maintenance schools, and two- and four-year colleges offering aviation maintenance programs throughout the United States. Aviation maintenance schools and aviation colleges provide excellent learning and training environments for students to succeed and prepare for a career as an aviation maintenance technician. Many of the aviation maintenance programs will allow you to either earn an aviation diploma, certificate or rating, aviation degree, an Associate's and/or Bachelor's degree (which is dependent on the type of school and their aviation maintenance program).
Aviation maintenance programs offer similar courses, but none of the aviation maintenance programs are alike because each aviation school’s curriculum and courses are different. Provided below is a list of various aviation maintenance programs in which schools may offer:
Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
Aircraft Maintenance Management
Aerospace Maintenance Management
Aviation Electronic Systems
Powerplant & Airframe Technology
Aviation Electronics Technician
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Avionics Management
Types
of Aviation Maintenance Technicians
There are various types of aviation maintenance and service technicians which suits many interests, abilities, and career goals. The FAA certifies an aviation maintenance technician 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.
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 and aviation maintenance and
service technicians 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 Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance
Technicians now, and this shortage will increase in the next
ten years as
air travel
continues to expand and experienced technicians retire.
The Aircraft
Mechanic channel is designed to help you learn more about
becoming an Aircraft Mechanic and 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.
AvScholars.com: Aviation Maintenance is your one-stop source to information on aviation maintenance schools and how to become an aviation maintenance technician, aircraft mechanic, or avionics technician. Search MyAvScholars: Aviation Colleges Directory to find aviation maintenance schools and aviation colleges offering aviation maintenance programs.