How to Become an Airplane Mechanic
When an aircraft is flying thousands of feet above the ground, you can’t just pull over to the side of the road if something breaks down. Reliability is absolutely vital and the airplane mechanic is the person who is responsible for making sure an aircraft is safe to fly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics opportunities are good for people who become airplane mechanics, especially with commuter and regional airlines. You may specialize in preventative maintenance or repair working on airframes, avionics or power plants. If the challenge and importance of this career appeal to you, there are several paths you can follow to become an airplane mechanic.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Be at lest 18 years of age
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- Have a high school diploma
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1
Take the necessary courses in high school to prepare to become an airplane mechanic. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which sets standards for aircraft mechanics, recommends at lest three years of college predatory mathematics plus physics and chemistry. Courses in electronics, mechanical drawing, and computer science are also helpful. If you are already out of high school and haven’t taken some of these courses you can attend a community college to fill in the gaps.
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2
Apply to an FAA-approved aircraft mechanics school (there are approximately 170 approved schools nationwide). The entrance requirements are comparable to what is required to be accepted by a good four-year university. In addition to the required high school courses (see step 1) schools generally require an SAT score of 1000 or higher (ACT equivalent score of 21) and a B (3.0) grade point average. If you don’t meet these requirements, you can go to a community college for one or two semesters since most schools will use this as a basis for considering your application if you have a good academic record at the college level. Once you are accepted the training lasts from 18 to 24 months.
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3
Consider military service as an alternative route to become n airplane mechanic. Every branch of the military relies on aircraft and provides high-quality training. You can earn a military AP (airframe and power plant) license. FAA regulations do require that you take the required certification exams once you return to civilian life, but you will have all the basic training you need.
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4
Learn on the job in a mechanic’s helper or similar position. This is not a common way to become an airplane mechanic nowadays, but you can qualify by doing so. The FAA requires at least 18 months of experience in either airframe or power plant maintenance and repair, or 30 months if you work in both areas. Once you have the required experience you will be eligible to take the FAA certification exams.
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Locate an FAA testing center once you have met the prerequisites for eligibility and take the certification examination. There are three phases to the FAA certification test: a written, oral, and practical exam. You can use the link below to go to the FAA webpage and use their search facility to locate testing centers, FAA approved schools, and get detailed information on how to become an airplane mechanic.
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Tips & Warnings
If you choose to become an airplane mechanic it means a commitment to continuing your education throughout your career. The aerospace industry is a high-technology area and innovations are constantly being introduced. Expect to keep taking training classes to keep up with the changing technology.
