Learn
how to become an aviation maintenance technician,
aircraft mechanic, or avionics technician.
Aviation maintenance technicians, aircraft
mechanics, and avionics technicians make sure that pilots
fly safe airplanes and helicopter. 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 Aviation 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.
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 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.
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.
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