Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Organizational apprentice-level maintenance on F/A-18E/F aircraft provides directly related experience for entry-level civilian aircraft maintenance work.
How to prepare: Compile records of your military maintenance duties and experience for FAA review against Airframe and Powerplant rating requirements. FAA certification requires age 18 or older, English proficiency, appropriate practical experience of 18 months for one rating or 30 months concurrently for both, or completion of an accepted training route, plus knowledge, oral, and practical tests; airlines often require certification even where FAA regulations do not.
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.