About Aircraft Mechanics
To become an aircraft mechanic, it requires dedication and attention to detail. It is an excellent profession which offers excellent working conditions in the aircraft hangers which are extremely clean. It also offers a high income potential and vast opportunities for advancement as licenses are upgraded.
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Facts
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The first step is to go to an accredited aircraft maintenance school. Generally the first course of study is for an airframe and powerplant license (A&P). This license qualifies the mechanic to work on aircraft with a reciprocating or normal piston driven engine. This is generally a 2-year course for the endorsement. The next license is the air frame and engine license (A&E). With this rating the mechanic is qualified to work of turbine or jet aircraft. On top of these licenses there are a multitude of other qualifications to work on sheet metal and avionics (radios), flight instruments and so on. These are all well-paying positions.
Function
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The function of the aircraft mechanic is to maintain all of the aircraft maintenance logs, inspect all records and schedule maintenance to replace or check all time change components. Do all of the hourly inspections and maintenance in a timely and safe fashion. The aircraft mechanic delegates the maintenance for which he is not qualified to a certified facility. They are also responsible for all aircraft updates and notices from the FAA to be facilitate the procedure.
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Types
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The most common license is the A&P or aircraft and airframe. This qualifies the mechanic to work on most general aviation aircraft with a reciprocating engine. That means they repair from the smallest part to the largest parts of the airframe. They are just qualified to inspect the engine but they do not work on it. To get this license it takes a certified school on aviation maintenance and afterward 18 months on the job training with supervision and an endorsement from the employer to apply for the test for the license. This license can be continuously upgraded with more schooling and experience. There are many other categories also if the person wants to specialize in one area. A few of these categories are avionics, turbine engine, jet engine, propeller, sheet metal and many more.
Time Frame
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From the time that the student completes all the necessary courses at an accredited school they will need to acquire at least 18 months of supervised work at a similar facility prior to taking the test for the license.
Considerations:
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When an aircraft mechanic performs any work on an aircraft he is not the last word. The industry has a multitude of safety checks. After he works on the aircraft his supervisor will have to inspect the work done. After the supervisor inspects the work, a technical inspector (another license) inspects it once again and signs it off in the log that it is done correctly. After this the aircraft must be scheduled for a test flight, depending on what was done, and the test pilot must sign off on the repair before it gets back to the customer. Just goes to show the conscientious effort taken for the sake of safety.
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Comments
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littleener
Feb 07, 2010
Read my 3 below posts from the bottom up. -
littleener
Feb 07, 2010
Not every job requires so many checks. Also, the mechanic doing the work is still responsible for and must sign off the work performed. In the rest of the aviation world, the mechanic doing the work also signs the work off in the log book and is the final word. RE: A few more notes. The IA (Inspection Authorization) is an FAA authorization (as opposed to a rating, like the A&P and Pilots). This authorizes the holder to act on behalf of the FAA Administrator (who is required by law to every year inspect every aircraft registered in the US). The IA inspects an aircraft and certifies that it is airworthy by signing a logbook entry. The holder of an IA must maintain a current A&P license in order to perform IA duties, but the IA is not an extension of the A&P, it is a separate authorization.
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littleener
Feb 07, 2010
...Annual inspection on both the airframe and powerplant. The certification process is an either/or, not both. Certified schooling OR 18 mo. experience is required. The A&P CANNOT be "continuously upgraded." The mechanic's knowledge can be increased, but the A&P has no other ratings that can be added to it. "turbine engine, jet engine, propeller, sheet metal;" these can all be maintained by an A&P. Avionics work is the only thing that requires separate certification, and that is an FCC cert. having nothing to do with the FAA-issued A&P except that an avionics technician usually has an A&P anyway. The FAA likes to see those two together if someone is doing avionics work. RE: "TIME FRAME" See above. Either/or, not both. RE: "considerations" That is how airlines do it, and then only some of the time. Not every job requires so many checks. Also, the mechanic doing the work is st...
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littleener
Feb 07, 2010
I am an FAA certified A&P and IA. There are a few problems with this article. RE: FACTS The Airframe and Powerplant ratings can be earned separately. One allows work on the airframe (any part of the aircraft EXCEPT the engine) and the other allows work on the aircraft's engine. There is no engine-type restriction on the Powerplant license. The Powerplant mechanic can work on ANY aircraft powerplant, including turbines. The Engine license hasn't been issued since the 60s. The Powerplant license replaced the Engine license. There is no "sheet metal" rating. With the Airframe license any mechanic is allowed to do appropriate sheet metal repairs. RE: "TYPES" This entire section is mis-information. See above about what each rating is allowed to do. Some inspecting of the engine (and the airframe) is done by the mechanic, but an IA (Inspection Authorization) must perform the Ann...
