The Time to Learn Airplane Maintenance is Now! |
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By Alex Russel
alex.russel@hqpublications.com
Technician Programs Coulmnist
Now is the time to learn airplane maintenance. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for the field should be excellent in the foreseeable future. Competition may exist for the best paying jobs, but airplane maintenance jobs are generally available in a number of specializations.
Some interesting earning facts:
- Airplane maintenance technicians who work on jets for the major airlines generally earn more than those working with other aircraft.
- A nice perk is that airplane maintenance technicians and their immediate families receive reduced-fare transportation on their own and most other airlines.
- 1 in 5 aircraft and airplane maintenance technicians are members of - or covered by - union agreements. The principal unions are the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Transport Workers Union of America.
Typical Duties of an Airplane Maintenance Technician
The overall duty of a mechanic is to keep aircraft in peak operating condition by performing scheduled maintenance, repairs, and completing inspections required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). An airplane maintenance technician generally learns the trade through an FAA approved Advanced Electronics Technology (Avionics) program, or through an Airframe and Powerplant. Both programs last approximately 1 1/2 years - more or less, depending on the chosen program and location.
Airplane maintenance technicians often work under time pressure to maintain flight schedules or - in general aviation - to keep from inconveniencing customers. At the same time, mechanics have a tremendous responsibility to maintain safety standards, and this can often be stressful.
Many airplane maintenance technicians specialize in preventive maintenance. They inspect engines, landing gear, instruments, pressurized sections, accessories, and other parts of the aircraft and complete necessary maintenance and replacement of parts as needed
Airplane maintenance technicians specializing in repairs rely on the pilot's description of a problem to find and fix faulty equipment. For example, during a preflight check, a pilot may discover that the aircraft's fuel gauge does not work. To solve the problem, airplane maintenance technicians may troubleshoot the electrical system, using electrical test equipment to make sure that no wires are broken or shorted out, and replace any defective electrical or electronic components. Airplane maintenance technicians work as fast as safety permits so that the aircraft can be put back into service quickly.
Also, technicians are increasingly expected to understand avionics systems, as they are now an integral part of aircraft design. Avionics technicians repair and maintain components used for aircraft navigation and radio communications, weather radar systems, and other instruments or computers that control flight, engine, and other primary functions. These duties may require additional licensing, such as a radiotelephone license issued by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Employers
- In 2002, nearly 40 percent of airplane maintenance technicians worked for air transportation companies and close to 20 percent worked for private maintenance and repair facilities.
- About 20 percent worked for the Federal Government, and about 13 percent worked for aerospace products and parts manufacturing firms.
- Most of the rest worked for companies that operate their own planes to transport executives and cargo.
Job Location
Most airline maintenance technicians work at major airports near large cities. Civilian airplane maintenance technicians employed by the U.S. Armed Forces work at military installations.
Large proportions of technicians who work for aerospace manufacturing firms are located in California or in Washington State. Others work for the FAA, many at the facilities in Oklahoma City, Atlantic City, Wichita, or Washington, DC.
Mechanics for independent repair shops work at airports in every part of the country.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos179.htm, 2004
- Ibid
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