What does an aircraft mechanic do?

What is an Aircraft Mechanic?

Airlines, government, private companies, and the military hire aircraft mechanics to repair and perform scheduled maintenance on airplanes and helicopters.

They have an enormous amount of responsibility when it comes to maintaining and inspecting aircraft for service and for meeting safety standards, as it can affect people's lives.

What does an Aircraft Mechanic do?

Today’s airplanes are highly complex machines that require reliable parts and service to fly safely. To keep an airplane in peak operating condition, aircraft mechanics do scheduled maintenance, make repairs, and complete inspections.

An aircraft mechanic typically does the following:

• Examines aircraft frames and parts for defects
• Diagnoses mechanical or electrical problems
• Measures parts for wear, using precision instruments
• Reads maintenance manuals to identify methods of repair
• Repairs wings, brakes, electrical systems, and other aircraft components
• Replaces defective parts, using hand tools
• Tests aircraft parts with gauges and other diagnostic equipment
• Inspects completed work to ensure that it meets performance standards
• Keeps records of maintenance and repair work

Some aircraft mechanics work on many different types of aircraft, such as jets, propeller-driven airplanes, and helicopters. Others specialize in one section of a particular type of aircraft, such as the engine, hydraulics, or electrical system of a jet. In smaller independent repair shops, mechanics inspect and repair various types of aircraft.

Most aircraft mechanics who work on civilian aircraft have some sort of official certification. Mechanics that have this certification are authorized to work on any part of the aircraft except electronic flight instruments, which is the job of avionics technicians.

What is the workplace of an Aircraft Mechanic like?

Employment of aircraft mechanics is concentrated in a small number of industries. The majority work for private companies and about 15% work for the federal government. Aircraft mechanics work in hangars, in repair stations, or on airfields.

They must often meet strict deadlines to maintain flight schedules, yet still maintain safety standards. This is quite stressful at times.

Most aircraft mechanics work near major airports. They often work outside, on the airfield, while repair and corporate mechanics work in climate-controlled shops. Civilian aircraft mechanics employed by the armed forces work on military installations.

The work can be noisy from loud aircraft engines. Workers must often bend, stoop, and reach from ladders and scaffolds. Most aircraft mechanics work full time with some overtime. Weekend work is common.