Aircraft Mechanic

Become An Aircraft Mechanic

Do you enjoy solving mechanical problems? Are you bored with working on cars? If you are eager to cut your teeth on a bigger challenge—say, airplanes—you should consider a career as an aircraft mechanic.

Aircraft Mechanic in a Nutshell

To keep aircrafts flying in peak condition, aircraft mechanics perform maintenance checks, repairs and replacements, as well as execute safety inspections commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Primarily, aircraft mechanics specialize in preventative maintenance, which involves keeping precise records on the inspection of engines, landing gear, instruments and other parts of the aircraft, as well as gathering diagnostic information from electronic boxes that monitor the aircraft's basic operations.

While some mechanics perform general aircraft repair, others specialize in a specific maintenance area. For example:

• Airframe mechanics work on all parts of the aircraft except instruments, power plants and propellers.
• Powerplant mechanics primarily work on engines and propellers.
• Avionics technicians maintain aircraft navigation and radio communications components, along with weather radar systems and computers that control primary functions such as flight and engine response.

Education Requirements for Aircraft Mechanics

Employers generally look for candidates who are certified as an "airframe mechanic" or "powerplant mechanic" by the FAA, which accredits over 170 trade schools nationwide. Many of these schools offer 2-year and 4-year programs in avionics, aviation technology and aviation maintenance management.

However, some aircraft mechanics in the Armed Forces have enough on-the-job experience to satisfy the work requirements for an FAA certificate. The FAA also requires current work experience to keep certification valid. In addition, more employers are requiring mechanics to take ongoing training courses to hone their skills as aircraft design becomes more complex.

Day in the Life of an Aircraft Mechanic

Mechanics usually work 40-hour workweeks in hangars, although overtime is common, and full hangars can force mechanics outdoors to make repairs, regardless of weather conditions. Mechanical work is often time-sensitive in an effort to maintain elaborate flight schedules. At the same time, mechanics are responsible for upholding federal safety standards.

You've also got to keep in shape—lifting or pulling objects weighing in excess of 70 pounds is common, as are sometimes challenging work positions that require mechanics to stand, lie, kneel or work on precarious scaffolds or ladders for prolonged time periods. This is not a desk job!

Job Growth for Aircraft Mechanics

Employment opportunities for aviation mechanics are expected to be excellent for candidates who have completed an aircraft mechanic training program, due to a growing need to replace experienced mechanics that retire. Overall, aircraft mechanic positions are expected to keep pace with the national average for all occupations through 2014.

Become An Aircraft Mechanic Today!