Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Organizational apprentice-level maintenance on E-2 aircraft provides directly relevant experience for entry-level civilian aircraft maintenance work.
How to prepare: Gather your military maintenance records for FAA review to determine whether your documented experience supports an Airframe or Powerplant rating. Certification requires age 18 or older, English proficiency, passing written, oral, and practical tests, and either 18 months of appropriate experience for one rating, 30 months concurrently covering both, or completion of an accepted training route; air carriers often require certification even though it is not required for every airline mechanic job.
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.