Aircraft Mechanic & Service Technician

To keep aircraft in peak operating condition, aviation maintenance technicians and aircraft mechanics perform scheduled maintenance for each individual aircraft, troubleshoot problems, make repairs, and complete inspections required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA is responsible for certification, regulation and compliance in assuring aviation safety. Any person involved in operating or maintaining an aircraft must hold an FAA certificate.

Aircraft mechanics may work on one or many different types of aircraft, such as jets, propeller-driven airplanes, and helicopters. Some mechanics may specialize in one section of a particular type of aircraft, such as the airframe, engine, hydraulic, or electrical system. In small repair shops, mechanics usually work on many types of aircraft. In larger shops, they are more likely to specialize in a particular area. Avionics systems are now an integral part of aircraft design and have vastly increased aircraft capability. As technology advances, mechanics (authorized to work on electronics and avionics) spend an increasing amount of time repairing electronic systems, such as computerized controls. Mechanics also may be required to analyze and develop solutions to complex electronic problems.