Airframe and Powerplant Technicians

What is an A & P?

Aviation maintenance technicians including airframe and Powerplant technicians, avionics technicians, and instrument repairmen have an important responsibility of keeping airplanes operating safely and efficiently. To this end, they service, repair, and overhaul aircraft components and systems including airframes, engines, electrical and hydraulic systems, propellers, avionics equipment, and aircraft instruments. The work has changed greatly in recent years, and it will continue to change rapidly because of space age advances in computer technology, electronics, and fiber optic composite structural material.
Aircraft technicians may be licensed or un-licensed. FAA Mechanic Certificates are issued upon successful completion of written, oral, and practical examinations. An FAA certified mechanic may have an airframe rating, a Powerplant rating, or both (A & P). The mechanic can work only in the specific parts of the aircraft for which he or she is rated, qualified, and equipped to do so.

What is an Avionics Technician?

If you have an interest in electronics, you may choose to specialize in avionics. Avionics technicians work with aircraft navigation and communication radios, weather radar systems, autopilots, navigation, engine and other instruments, and computers. These responsibilities are becoming more interesting and challenging as the technology expands. In the past, avionics systems were added to an airplane almost as an afterthought. Today, however, they are an integral part of the design, including sophisticated digital aircraft and vastly increase their capability. These designs include equipment and systems which control flight, engine and other primary functions by digital computers, rather than by mechanical cables and hydraulics.
Avionics specialists are needed who can work shoulder to shoulder with airframe and Powerplant mechanics. Because of the complexity of modern aircraft and a shortage of technicians, the aviation industry needs more people who are cross-trained: A & Ps who can work on avionics, and avionics technicians who are qualified for airframe work. Thus, the A & P student should consider taking electronics training, and the avionics student should opt for an airframe license. Avionics technicians perform work at the same locations and on the same kinds of aircraft as the A & P mechanic, but larger numbers are employed in the repair shop.

Working Conditions

Depending upon the type of work they do, aircraft mechanics and repairmen work in hangars, on the flight line, or in repair shops. They use hand and power tools as well as sophisticated test equipment. Noise levels are high, and flight line mechanics often work outdoors in every type of weather. Sometimes the work requires climbing ladders or scaffolds, as well as the more routine stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, and fingering. The physical demands can be strenuous; frequent lifts or pulls up to 50 pounds are not uncommon. Aircraft maintenance technicians often work under pressure to maintain airline flight schedules or, in the case of general aviation, to minimize inconvenience to customers. But the aircraft maintenance technician must not sacrifice high standards of workmanship and public trust to speed up the job.

Wages and Benefits

Airline mechanics generally work 40 hours a week on eight-hour shifts around the clock, and overtime work is common. The major airlines pay entry-level wages of $11 to $16 an hour. A licensed Airframe and Powerplant or Avionics Technician with a major airline can earn between $35,000 and $45,000 or more within five years. Airlines historically have pay incentives for licenses such as A & P, FCC, and Avionics Repairman Certificates.
In the general aviation shops, the starting wage is $7 to $10 an hour for technicians with minimum qualifications. Although wages for general aviation mechanics are expected to increase over the next few years, they have generally remained lower overall than the salaries paid by the large airlines. This is not true, however, for higher qualified avionics technicians and mechanics who may command premium wages exceeding the wages of an airline technician or mechanic.
Paid holidays, vacations, insurance plans, retirement programs, and sick leave are some of the benefits offered by the airlines and general aviation employers. Airline employees enjoy free or reduced-fare transportation to destinations within the airline's route structure, as well as exchange travel privileges with other airlines. On the other hand, general aviation offers more local jobs than do the airlines.

Opportunities for Advancement

FAA certification is the key to advancement in this field since apprentice mechanics can work only under the supervision of a certified mechanic. An applicant who is a graduate of an approved aviation maintenance technician course, is eligible for the FAA Mechanic Certificate with an A & P rating. Apprentice mechanics with 18 months of airframe experience or Powerplant experience or 30 months of combined experience may take the airframe, Powerplant, or the airframe and Powerplant exams. Mechanics who attain these top ratings have a better opportunity to advance to higher paying jobs as lead mechanics, crew chiefs, inspectors, or shop fore men. Promotion to these higher grade jobs with the airlines is usually based on seniority within the company.

Requirements to Enter the Workforce

While a high school diploma is not required to become an apprentice aircraft mechanic, employers are more likely to hire applicants who are high school or vocational graduates. Mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry, English and aerospace education courses are suitable subjects to pursue while in high school because the aircraft mechanic and avionics technician must understand the physical principles involved in the operation of the aircraft and its systems. Educational requirements have expanded as the technology has become more advanced. Students today have the chance to qualify for higher salaries and more interesting jobs than ever before. Those who wish to succeed must have above-average mechanical ability and a desire to work with their hands as well as their minds. They should be aware of the importance of doing a job completely and thoroughly, and they must be willing to continue training throughout their career.

This Information Was Taken Directly From:
U.S. Department of Transportation + Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Careers Series Pamphlet
Aviation Maintenance and Avionics
#AHT-125-92 (Revised) U.S. Government Printing Office #1993-337-667

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