Avionics Technicians
Special Requirements
General Requirements:
1. You must be:
- at least 18 years old;
- able to read, write, and understand English.
2. You must get 18 months of practical experience with either power plants or airframes, or 30 months of practical experience working on both at the same time. As an alternative to this experience requirement, you can graduate from an FAA - Approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School.
3. You must pass a written examination, an oral test, and a practical test for both power plants and airframes within any 24 month period.
Most aircraft mechanics have a certificate. However, if you don’t have a mechanic’s certificate from FAA, you can work only when supervised by someone who does have a certificate. You could not approve equipment for return to service. Without a certificate, you are less likely to advance to the top of the career field.
The FAA issues mechanics and repairman certificates. Mechanics can get either an airframe certificate or a power plant certificate -- most mechanics get both. Repairman get certificates to perform only one or two specific tasks, and they must be supervised by FAA-approved Repair Stations, commercial operators, or air carriers where these specific tasks are done daily.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
You can get the experience you need to become a certified power plant or airframe mechanic in one of three ways.
- You can attend one of the 170 FAR part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools nationwide. These schools offer training for one mechanic’s certificate or both. Many schools offer avionics courses that cover electronics and instrumentation.
- You can work an FAA Repair Station or FBO under the supervision of a certified mechanic for 18 months for each certificate, or 30 months for both. You must document your experience with pay receipts, a log book signed by your supervising mechanic, a notarized statement from your employer, or other proof you worked the required time.
- You can join one of the armed services and get training and experience in aircraft maintenance. Make sure you are in a military occupational specialty for which FAA gives credit. You can get a current list of acceptable specialties from the local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
EDUCATION REQUIRED:
- Most airlines require that mechanics have a high school diploma and an A & P certificate.
- Although a few people become mechanics through on-the-job training, most learn their job in 1 of about 200 trade schools certified by the FAA. About one - third of these schools award 2 - and 4-year degrees in avionics, aviation technology, or aviation maintenance management.
- FAA standards established by law require that certified mechanic schools offer students a minimum of 1,900 actual class hours. - Coursework in these trade schools normally lasts from 24 to 30 months and provides training with the tools and equipment used on the job. Aircraft trade schools are placing more emphasis on technologies such as turbine engines, composite materials—including graphite, fiberglass, and boron—and aviation electronics, which are increasingly being used in the construction of new aircraft. Additionally, employers prefer mechanics who can perform a variety of tasks.
CERTIFICATE RENEWAL:
FAA regulations require current experience to keep the A & P certificate valid. Applicants must have at least 1,000 hours of work experience in the previous 24 months or take a refresher course. As new and more complex aircraft are designed, more employers are requiring mechanics to take ongoing training to update their skills. Recent technological advances in aircraft maintenance necessitate a strong background in electronics, both for acquiring and retaining jobs in this field. FAA certification standards also make ongoing training mandatory.
- Every 24 months, mechanics are required to take at least 16 hours of training to keep their certificate. Many mechanics take courses offered by manufacturers or employers, usually through outside contractors.
EXAMS:
Applicants for all certificates also must pass written and oral tests and demonstrate that they can do the work authorized by the certificate. To obtain an inspector’s authorization, a mechanic must have held an A & P certificate for at least 3 years.
Testing Requirements to Become a Mechanic:
- You must take oral and practical tests as well as written tests. There is a fee for the test. A Designated Mechanic Examiner gives you the oral and practical test. You can get a list of these examiners at the local FAA office. The oral and practical tests cover 43 technical subjects. Typically tests for one certificate -- airframe or power plant -- takes about 8 hours.
To apply to take the written test, you must present your proof of experience to an FAA inspector at the local FAA office. There are separate tests for airframe and power plant mechanic certificates, as well as a general test covering both. If the inspector decides you meet the requirements to take one of the tests, you may make an appointment for testing at one of the many computer testing facilities worldwide. Contact the nearest FAA office for information about the nearest computer testing facility, or get a list at http://fedworld.ntis.gov/. You can get a list of sample general airframe and power plant test questions at the same internet site.
If you fail part of a test, you have to wait 30 days before you can take it again, unless you give a letter to the Examiner showing you’ve gotten additional training in the areas you failed. You must pass all the tests within a 24-month period. The FAA will then issue you a certificate.
HELPFUL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:
• Ability to work with precision and meet rigid standards
• Have above average strength for lifting heavy parts and tools
• Agility for reaching and climbing
• Should not be afraid of heights
For More Information, Contact:
Federal Aviation Administration
Room 810
800 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20591
http://www.faa.gov/
Department Of Professional & Occupational Regulation
Board For Contractors
3600 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230-4917
Phone: 804.367.8511
[email protected]
Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
717 Princess Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://www.pama.org/
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research. (Using onet291)
