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Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

What you’d do

  • Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
  • Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
  • Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
  • Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
  • Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
  • Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
  • Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
  • Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.

Skills that matter

  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Repairing
  • Troubleshooting
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Aircraft Maintenance Tech)
  • Aircraft Mechanic
  • Aircraft Technician (Aircraft Tech)
  • Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A and P Mechanic)
  • Aircraft Maintainer
  • Aircraft Restorer

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