Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Organizational apprentice-level maintenance on E-6 aircraft provides directly relevant experience for civilian aircraft maintenance work.
How to prepare: Gather records of your military maintenance duties and duration for FAA evaluation toward an Airframe or Powerplant rating. Certification requires age 18 or older, English proficiency, and passing knowledge, oral, and practical tests, plus either 18 months of appropriate experience for one rating, 30 months concurrently covering both, graduation from an FAA-approved maintenance school, or completion of the military JSAMTCC training course; airlines often require certification for hiring 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.
- Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.