Aviation Maintenance Technology

Aviation Maintenance Technicians

What Is An Aviation Maintenance Technician?

Definition

Aviation Maintenance Technician or A&P (Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic), is a highly trained, skilled professional capable of performing a variety of jobs in the aviation maintenance and aviation manufacturing industries. The Aviation Maintenance Technician or A&P is so named due to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Mechanic Certificate that is earned by the student. The Mechanic Certificate is composed of two ratings – Airframe and Powerplant.

Basic Job Description

The Aviation Maintenance Technician maintains the increasingly complex fleet of commercial, corporate, and general aviation aircraft.

Where does an Aviation Maintenance Technician work and what does this person do?

Commercial airlines

This is the largest single employer of Aviation Maintenance Technicians. Airlines operate large overhaul facilities where Aviation Maintenance Technicians perform airframe repairs and alterations, gas turbine engine overhaul and repairs, and a variety of other tasks involving the alteration, rebuilding, testing, and repair of aircraft, systems and components.

Regional and smaller airports

Airlines also operate a "line station" in which many Aviation Maintenance Technicians are commonly employed. Line servicing is particularly demanding, as it is often necessary for the "line technician" to service or repair an aircraft during a single work shift or even while the aircraft is on the ramp between flights.

Aircraft and engine manufacturers

A trend by the manufacturers of aircraft and powerplants is to provide for the performance of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance that is required to maintain the vehicle in an airworthy condition. The Aviation Maintenance Technician of tomorrow will be required to perform what is known as "on-condition" maintenance. Utilizing the advances in electronics and onboard-computerized maintenance systems, the Aviation Maintenance Technician will be better able to service the aircraft and engines of modern and future aircraft. Parts will be replaced less frequently while inspection and preventive maintenance will be enhanced to assure an increase in the life cycle of expensive aviation components.

What are the advantages of getting an Aviation Maintenance Technology certificate?

  1. The FAA A&P certificate is truly regarded as a professional in the field of aviation maintenance.
  2. The lives of the flying public as well as multimillion-dollar equipment depend on the competence, skill, and knowledge of the Aviation Maintenance Technician.
  3. Major and regional airlines, airframe and engine manufacturers, as well as maintenance facilities for a wide variety of aircraft seek to employ the graduates of the aviation maintenance programs.