What are the Types of Aircraft Mechanics?
Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008
by James Bunter
Aviation avionics
Understanding your employment options before starting any educational program is very important. For example, individuals who have majored in math will have to decide whether they want to become teachers, seek employment at NASA, enter the accounting profession, or do something else with their education. Similarly, a person desiring to be an aircraft mechanic must decide not only which types of aircraft they want to work on, but also which certifications and credentials the job market is demanding. It is a lot more involved becoming an aircraft mechanic than it is to start a career repairing automobiles. Here are some of the fundamentals you need to know about the different kinds of aircraft mechanics.
If you wish to earn both certifications, you will have to complete 30 months of work experience and then you will apply to take a different exam. You will qualify as an A&P mechanic, which allows you to work on every part of the aircraft with the exception of the instrument panel (this is also called avionics.) Most standard mechanics earn both certifications, and the majority of mechanics working in the industry have their A&P certification.
Avionics repair is an area of aircraft mechanics that is highly specialized and worth the extra work. Avionics is focused on the systems that most aircraft mechanics are not qualified to repair, like the electronic system and the instrument panel. Avionics technicians repair and maintain the parts that are used for the navigation, communications, and weather radar systems, as well as some of the other devices that help to control flight, operate the engine, and perform other functions of the aircraft. Additional licenses are required to be qualified for some of these duties.
The aviation industry, including general aviation, is leaning more and more in the direction of avionics, and experts anticipate that this will be reflected in future job opportunities for avionics experts. A qualification in both avionics and engines will make you more useful to potential employers. Avionics entails having knowledge of the most recent technology and the ability to use that technology as a mechanic.
Every aircraft mechanic can opt to specialize in a particular area. You can find employment in a number of settings; you could work for an aircraft manufacturer building new planes, on an airfield where you would work on a number of different aircraft, or you might work for the military, ensuring that our servicemen and women are flying in well-maintained aircraft. Although the majority of aircraft mechanics work on all parts of an aircraft, there are some who choose to specialize in one specific mechanical system.
Maintenance is a 24/7 career, so be very carefully when you choose your career path. According to the FAA certification standards, you will require continued training, especially if you are holding the A&P certification. You must log in at least 1,000 hours of mechanical work time every two years or you will be required to complete refresher classes.
The above information covers the fundamentals of becoming an aircraft mechanic. Your education and certification requirements will be determined by the area of study you select, as well as the types of aircraft you want to be able to work on. Give it heavy consideration before choosing, knowing in the end that you made an educated decision.
About the Author:
When James Bunter became a pilot, he learned quickly that it is important to have a mechanic you trust working on your plane. That's why he purchases all of his Garmin Aviation GPS at TGH, where he is sure to find expert mechanics for reconditioned avionics. From altimeters to airspeed indicators, James' avionics are in their hands.
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