Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Assisting with aircraft and aeronautical equipment maintenance, servicing, and cleaning provides a foundation for civilian aircraft maintenance work.
How to prepare: Gather records of your military maintenance duties and ask the FAA to evaluate them for mechanic certificate eligibility. Airlines often require certification even though it is not required for every mechanic job; applicants must be at least 18, meet English-language requirements, qualify through 18 months of appropriate experience for one rating or 30 months for both, an FAA-approved school, or the military certification course, and pass written, oral, and practical tests.
What the civilian work involves
- 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.