Iraq Aircraft Mechanic Jobs
Aircraft mechanics play a vital role in domestic and military flight operations around the world. They are the main component in keeping planes in top flight condition. For U.S.-based aircraft maintenance personnel seeking aircraft mechanic jobs in Iraq and other overseas locations, the job market, while not as open as it was at the peak of the Iraqi war, is still viable. However, as of 2009, the best possibilities were in specialty areas like sheet-metal mechanics, A&P mechanics, electronics, ordnance mechanics, flight line supervisors and others.
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Job Search
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Finding an available position as an aircraft mechanic in Iraq will involve some research, and the best opportunities will be found by contacting the people in a job seeker's personal and professional network. Online job search for overseas jobs in 2009 didn't return as many job vacancies as it did from 2003-2008, but specialty mechanics can still find some great pay and benefits for jobs in Iraq and other countries in the Middle East.
Salary
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According to salary.com, the U.S. national base salaries for aircraft mechanics as of December 2009, including those working as contractors in Iraq, range from $56,395 to $93,965. However, many contractors negotiate benefits packages that include paid housing while on assignment, along with extensive paid vacations and personal leave time and round-trip airfare to and from the United States at least once a year for vacation. Other benefits can include paid medical insurance, retirement plans and advanced training.
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Job Outlook
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Aircraft mechanics looking for jobs in Iraq should expect to have qualifications in specialty areas that make them more valuable than someone who is a generalist. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, jobs for aviation maintenance professionals between 2008 and 2018 were projected to grow by only 7 percent, and most vacancies will arise due to retirements. Many of these retirees will be returning from overseas contracts in Iraq, Iran, and other places in the Middle East where the United States has both military bases and supports the countries' military air forces, such as the Saudi Royal Air Force.
Specialties
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O*NET Center Online includes the following job titles in its description of aircraft mechanic jobs: "aircraft mechanic, aircraft maintenance technician, aircraft technician, aircraft maintenance director, aircraft maintenance supervisor, aircraft restorer, aviation maintenance technician, helicopter mechanic." Most of these specialties require combined education and on-the-job-experience, including apprenticeships, of at least two years (usually a minimum of five years) for overseas contract jobs in places like Iraq.
Additional Qualifications
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All aircraft mechanics must be certified in their specialties by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a prerequisite for contract positions in Iraq.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Phil Parker
