Aviation Mechanic Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an aviation mechanic. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an aviation mechanic.
Who is an Aviation Mechanic?
An Aviation Mechanic is someone who handles aircraft maintenance, inspections, and repairs. They assure aircraft safety and airworthiness for passenger travel, air freight, commerce, and more.
While some mechanics are experts in certain areas, most are well-versed in all aspects of an airplane, including its engines, propellers, landing gear, hydraulics, radio and radar systems, and bodies. They also repair or replace parts of an aircraft engine that are faulty or damaged. They employ testing tools to discover and diagnose engine issues and to check that engine systems and components are operating well.
Aviation mechanics also handle the disassembly and examination of engine components, including turbine blades and cylinders, for wear, warping, cracks, and leaks. They ensure they maintain aircraft airframes and engines following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.
Aviation mechanics initially look for damage or flaws before undertaking maintenance or repairs. As part of inspection processes, they use their diagnostic equipment to test aircraft parts, review finished work to ensure it complies with performance criteria, and check replacement parts for flaws.
Mechanics might need to make repairs or unforeseen maintenance once they finish inspections. Mechanics frequently use hand tools, power tools, and other industry-specific equipment to fix wings, brakes, electrical systems, engines, the body, and other aircraft components.
Additionally, aviation mechanics regularly carry out planned maintenance, often known as preventative care. The number of hours flown, days since the previous inspection, flights, or a combination of these factors can all affect how long it takes between maintenance inspections.
An aviation mechanic’s job entails a lot of fieldwork, which includes going to an airport, a hangar, or a shop to fix things.
They often operate in shops or hangars while maintaining and overhauling airplanes regularly. They would do most maintenance work outside, in, or near the aircraft. They do some outside in all types of weather, sometimes in dangerous situations like heights or confined areas. The workplace might occasionally be noisy and unclean. They might have to work odd hours or shifts.
Aviation Mechanic Job Description
Below are the aviation mechanic job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an aviation mechanic job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Carry out routine maintenance on airplanes.
- Create and keep track of all reports relating to components or services and record maintenance, repairs, and inspections.
- Do further relevant tasks as required.
- Ensure that mechanical systems are in good operating order before takeoff.
- Identify proper operations and requirements for replacements or repairs by consulting maintenance manuals and standards.
- Lubricate joints and inspects hoses, replacing any that appear to require repair.
- Install new components to upgrade the aircraft performance, repair damaged or recalled parts, or replace defective components; complete these jobs quickly and accurately.
- Make necessary sheet metal repairs.
- Locate, and fix mechanical issues based on visual inspections or reports from the pilot or crew.
- Repair engines and non-instrumental parts work with airframe and power plant (A&P) mechanics or other qualified employees.
- Search for cracks, corrosion, or other flaws in the engines, wings, propellers, tails, and other components.
- Use several tests and techniques to ensure that operating systems and engines are functioning.
Qualifications
- GED certification or a high school diploma
- FAA certification from a technical school
- Familiarity with maintaining and repairing aircraft
- An Airframe and Powerplant mechanic certification
- Experience through apprenticeship
Essential Skills
As an aviation mechanic, it helps to have a wide range of abilities. Communication, cooperation, attention to detail, and problem-solving are some of the most relevant qualities you will acquire while enrolled in an aviation mechanic program. While working on actual airplanes, you will need these skills and others like;
- Communication
Communication is one of the most crucial abilities you can have. Whether you are working on servicing an aircraft or not, you will spend a lot of time dealing with clients, coworkers, and managers as an airplane mechanic. Your ability to communicate effectively is crucial since it may be the difference between life and death for someone. You should collaborate with your team and pay close attention to detail to keep the passengers safe while you work on an airplane.
An aviation mechanic must also be proficient in written communication. You must record anything that requires mending or potential maintenance after finishing a fix or going through a checklist. Any aviation mechanic has to be proficient in both oral and written communication.
- Competence
Competence in hands-on work constitutes a successful aviation mechanic. Mechanics use their hands a lot. But it goes beyond simply knowing how to utilize a tool properly.
It’s a bit of an oxymoron to describe an aviation mechanic as not being competent at doing hands-on work. In this industry, doing things by hand is essential to ensuring that planes are maintained, inspected, and repaired. Aircraft couldn’t fly without the capacity to produce high-quality maintenance work.
- Detail-oriented
An aviation mechanic needs it especially. Each airplane is made of tiny parts and a great engine. In the aviation sector, safety is of utmost importance. If even a little piece of a plane is loose, it might be disastrous. You will learn to be careful and spot even the slightest flaws in an airplane in an aviation mechanic program.
You must note every detail when reading and understanding manuals on the job to maintain, repair, or even check an aircraft.
Changes in how components function, move, or even sound can help identify issues.
- Endurance
As an aviation mechanic, you will frequently need to stand, stoop, or squat to access areas of the aircraft, so you need to exert lots of physical strength and mental toughness to scale through the job. Building up your endurance is essential if you want to accomplish any projects you start since mending airplanes might take a long time.
- Dexterity and Physical fitness
Another essential skill for an aviation mechanic is finger dexterity. You will use several kinds of tools and components, nuts, and bolts while you work in confined locations. Dexterity in the fingers and hands is necessary to grasp, squeeze, and twirl these instruments all day long.
Do not worry if you lack the strength and agility necessary to work as an aviation technician. In a curriculum for aviation mechanics, you will practice a lot. As you apply your theoretical knowledge and practical skills to fix an airplane in the hangar, you will gain strength and dexterity while working on various aircraft types.
- Hands-on
It is necessary to love hands-on work as aviation mechanics. Additionally, enjoying manual labor doesn’t hurt. Some folks like to disassemble things and put them back together. Such a fascination might ignite a love for directly servicing airplanes.
- Problem-solving
There are always issues to resolve, so the step to solving them is to think logically, follow procedures, and find the best answer. You can fix a malfunctioning aircraft in several ways, but it is crucial to go through a checklist and double-check everything to ensure everything is fine.
- Openness to Learning
The aviation sector is constantly evolving. The necessity for aviation mechanics to be open to learning about new technologies is necessary. Let’s face it that people may occasionally be rigid in their beliefs. In the long run, not being motivated to develop as an aviation mechanic might be detrimental to your career.
Aviation businesses are looking out for smart people who are eager to learn more and can adapt to change. A mechanic knowledgeable about modern aviation technology has more advantages.
- Reliability
Reliability is another trait of a great mechanic. In businesses, it makes a tremendous difference when an aviation technician can arrive on time and complete the task competently. It involves more than just being on time. For instance, being a trustworthy mechanic also entails obeying all corporate and safety policies. In essence, a skilled aviation mechanic never skimps on quality.
The ability to communicate goes hand in hand with this trait. Working as a team and having your coworkers’ respect is crucial in aircraft repair. Your ability to communicate with your team indicates your dependability. Your credibility may impact your career progress. Being dependable and trustworthy may go a long way toward helping you climb the corporate ladder.
- Teamwork
Effective cooperation involves communication, working toward a common objective, and developing trust with coworkers. At any given time, several people will work on fixing an aircraft. There are several tasks to accomplish and checklists to finish. When everyone contributes, they will fix the airplane more quickly, safely, and on schedule.
How to Become an Aviation Mechanic
Here are the stages to becoming an aviation mechanic, from prerequisites and education to specialized training and certifications.
Stage 1: Obtain a High School Diploma
The completion of high school is a prerequisite for aviation mechanics. Some schools also provide aviation-related extracurricular activities to help you develop your personality and get experience with planes. This phase gets you ready to start your official training productively.
Stage 2: Determine Your Educational Path
While a college degree is not necessary to work as an aviation mechanic, most training programs involve at least 18 months of technical instruction at an AMTS recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). An aviation mechanic program must include hands-on instruction, system-learning coursework, and successful test completion. There are programs leading to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees that can boost work possibilities and financial potential. The majority of aviation technicians and aircraft mechanics hold associate degrees.
Stage 3: Acquire Knowledge
Some aviation mechanics opt to earn experience through apprenticeships and on-the-job training despite having a high school education or GED. There are openings for entry-level positions as aviation mechanics with no experience. This enables you to learn from seasoned airplane technicians while performing routine maintenance, inspecting systems, and gaining experience. For an entry-level position to be successful, the candidate must possess communication skills, attention to detail, and the capacity to understand and follow complicated, precise, and thorough instructions. Employers may require an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate and further coursework for entry-level aviation mechanic positions.
Stage 4: Obtain an FAA certification
You must be 18 years old, have outstanding oral and written English communication skills, complete an AMTS authorized by the FAA, OR have 30 or more months of airframe and powerplant experience to become certified by the FAA. To finish your A&P Certification, you must also pass all necessary written, oral, and practical exams within 24 months.
Stage 5: Study Manuals for Aviation Mechanics
Different restrictions apply to flying, depending on the country you live in. To make sure you adhere to all regional requirements, thoroughly study the aviation market and laws before beginning your first job. You may utilize that information to respond to interview questions from your recruiting managers.
Stage 6: Apply For Jobs
Once you’ve completed enough on-the-job training, you could start applying for opportunities. The company where you are taking your internship or entry-level career may have internal openings. You might also do some research on the businesses you want. You may accomplish this by listing your favorite employers and sending them a customized resume and cover letter. You can add facts and verification from your certificates’ prior employment to make your CV stand out.
Where to Work as an Aviation Mechanic
Aviation mechanics possess highly transferable skills applicable across industries; career opportunities in the aviation industry include employment at airlines, manufacturers, repair facilities, aviation maintenance training centers, and in business or general aviation.
Most aviation mechanics also work in commercial airlines or organizations that maintain aircraft. Additionally, there are employment prospects for government agencies and in the armed forces, flying clubs, air taxi services, aircraft manufacturers, aircraft spare parts workshops, and organizations that offer agricultural, medical, and law enforcement aviation services.
Aviation Mechanic Salary
In the United States
Aviation mechanics earn an annual salary of $34,500 to $111,305. The average salary is $75,420.
In the United Kingdom
An aviation mechanic earns between £29,299 – £44,100. The average salary is £36,000.
Various factors can raise anticipated earnings when working as an aviation mechanic. Aviation mechanics at the managerial level earn high salaries. However, your education degree may also affect your salary. You will probably make less than someone who completed a formal aviation mechanic school and has an associate’s or bachelor’s degree if you acquired your training through an on-the-job program. Other factors that may affect one’s pay are location, company, etc.