Aircraft Mechanic
An aircraft mechanic is a skilled professional responsible for ensuring the safety and efficiency of various aircraft, including airplanes and helicopters. They perform essential tasks such as scheduled maintenance, FAA-mandated inspections, and repairs on diverse aircraft systems. Specialization exists within the field, with some mechanics focusing on specific areas like engines or avionics, while others at smaller airports may handle multiple roles, including airframe and powerplant maintenance.
The work environment can be busy, noisy, and physically demanding, as mechanics often work outside or in hangars while exposed to varying weather conditions. Their duties involve diagnosing mechanical issues, conducting routine inspections, and logging maintenance records to comply with regulatory requirements. Training typically includes completing FAA-approved courses and gaining practical experience under certified mechanics.
This career is suited for detail-oriented individuals who enjoy hands-on work and can thrive in fast-paced settings. Communication skills are also crucial, as mechanics often collaborate with pilots, crew members, and other technical staff.
Aircraft Mechanic
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Manufacturing, Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Interests: Aerodynamics, machinery, mechanics, mechanical Engineering, aircraft, large engine repair
Earnings (Yearly Median): $70,740 per year $34.01 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 4% (As fast as average)
Entry-Level EducationCertificate of completion of Part 147 FAA-approved aviation maintenance technician school.
Related Work ExperienceTransportation
On-the-job-Training Yes but under supervision
Overview
Sphere of Work.Aircraft mechanics work to ensure the safety and efficiency of private and commercial air travel. They perform scheduled maintenance, conduct Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)–mandated inspections, and make repairs on airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft. Some aircraft mechanics specialize in one particular area, such as engine repair, while at smaller airports, mechanics are typically expected to work on all aspects of the planes housed there. This includes testing and repairing brakes, ventilation and air conditioning systems, radios, landing gear, and instruments. When operating issues arise, aircraft mechanics determine the cause, select the proper tools and equipment, and repair or replace the malfunctioning systems while maintaining detailed logs of those repairs.
Work Environment. Aircraft mechanics work in airport hangars, repair areas, and flight lines. Airports, in general, are very busy environments, with planes and other vehicles, as well as people, constantly moving from place to place. Mechanics frequently work with heavy equipment and perform physically challenging work, often in potentially dangerous or uncomfortable locations, such as on an airplane’s wing or on top of its fuselage (the main body). The work areas can be extremely noisy, and when working outside of a hangar, aircraft mechanics are exposed to all types of weather. Aircraft mechanics generally work forty-hour weeks, but due to the essential nature of the work, some late night and holiday shifts may be required. There is pressure for this work to be done quickly and correctly, which adds an element of stress to the job.
Occupation Interest. A career as an aircraft mechanic appeals to detail-oriented people who enjoy working with their hands and repairing a variety of complex machines. Aircraft mechanics frequently have to solve mechanical problems under strict time constraints, so workers must excel in fast-paced environments.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Daily responsibilities for aircraft mechanics vary based on the type of aircraft in need of maintenance or the area of specialization in which they work. Airframe mechanics work on all parts of the aircraft aside from the instruments, engines, and propellers, while powerplant mechanics work with engines and some propeller systems. Avionics technicians specialize in navigation, radio, radar, and other flight control systems. Many mechanics who work at small regional airports or with private jets and smaller planes, are combined airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanics, fulfilling dual roles.
In general, aircraft mechanics conduct routine inspections of systems and equipment, make repairs when necessary, and handle any emergency mechanical problems that may occur. They check gauges and instruments for operating difficulties and perform routine preflight maintenance as needed. When issues arise, aircraft mechanics make repairs in a hangar or along the flight line, sometimes climbing on top of the fuselage or wings in order to fix or replace malfunctioning equipment.
In addition to mechanical work, aircraft mechanics are responsible for logging the results of their FAA-mandated equipment inspections, as well as keeping records of maintenance performed. They may also participate in the ordering and tracking of inventory.
Experimental Aircraft Mechanics (621.261-022). Experimental Aircraft Mechanics inspect, test and are responsible for the maintenance and servicing of experimental and prototype aircraft, engines and components, as specified by the government agency or customer requirements.
Reclamation Workers (621.684-014). Reclamation Workers dismantle wrecked and other decommissioned aircraft and salvage parts and equipment and retain any usable parts, cleaning them in solvents and preservative.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Aircraft mechanics work primarily at airports and airfields, working in hangars as well as outdoor repair areas and flight lines. The work environment is busy and often very loud, and mechanics are frequently expected to work in all types of weather conditions. Mechanics may perform maintenance and repairs while on top of an aircraft’s fuselage or wings or in tight spaces within the fuselage.
Human Environment. Aircraft mechanics frequently work in collaboration with their fellow mechanics, some of whom may specialize in particular areas. They may also interact with members of the airport staff, pilots and other flight crew members, and government officials.
Technological Environment. In addition to the hand-held tools used to maintain and replace equipment, aircraft mechanics use metal cutters, mechanical lifts and test stands, electrical test equipment, X-ray machines, and magnetic inspection equipment. They must also use mobile computers to log completed maintenance, manage inventory, and analyze engine performance, among other tasks.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students should study industrial arts, including welding and metalworking, engine repair, machine repair, and electronics. Math courses, such as trigonometry and geometry, are also highly useful. Classes in physics and chemistry provide aspiring aircraft mechanics with an understanding of the effects of environmental conditions on a plane’s external skin and internal systems.
Postsecondary. Aircraft mechanics must take and pass an FAA-approved aviation maintenance training course. Depending on the level of training sought or required, the program may last two to four years. Additionally, mechanics must receive practical training from a certified aircraft mechanic, who, in turn, must log the hours and systems on which the mechanic-in-training has worked.
Additional Requirements. Aircraft mechanics must be skilled in working with complex mechanical systems and equipment. Computer skills are also beneficial. Mechanics must be energetic, motivated, and able to quickly diagnose problems. Heavy lifting, climbing to high points on large aircraft, and working in tight spaces are often part of the job, so mechanics must be physically fit and possess a full range of motion. They must also be effective communicators, able to clearly explain maintenance issues to individuals from different professional backgrounds.
Related Occupations
− Heavy Equipment Service Technician
Bibliography
"Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/aircraft-and-avionics-equipment-mechanics-and-technicians.htm. Accessed 10 Sept. 2023.