How Do I Become An Aircraft Maintenance Technician?

by Barbara Bellesi & Robyn Tellefsen

If you've recently experienced a safe and pleasant flight, you have aircraft maintenance technicians to thank.

How do I become an aircraft maintenance technician?
In order to become an aircraft maintenance technician, you must be at least 18 years old. Although some technicians learn their craft on the job, most complete certificate, diploma, or degree programs. Those with formal training are the most desirable applicants; military experience in particular can be a great advantage for job seekers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accredited more than 170 programs that lead to aircraft maintenance technician certification. Aircraft maintenance technician schools offer associate and bachelor's degree programs in avionics, aviation technology, or aviation maintenance. FAA-approved general aviation programs are 400-hour programs that take about 18 to 24 months to complete.

FAA standards are stringent for certification; at least 18 months of work experience is required to achieve a certificate in aircraft maintenance technology. The completion of an FAA-certified aircraft maintenance technician program may be used in place of work experience. To earn FAA certification, you'll need to pass a knowledge test and a practical test. The general knowledge test is a two-hour, 60-question multiple-choice exam; the practical test covers general aviation mechanics.

Once you graduate and get certified, you'll need at least 16 hours of continuing education and training every two years to keep your certification, knowledge, and skills up to date. Employers require aircraft maintenance technicians to be agile, enthusiastic, hard working, self-motivated, and able to diagnose and solve complex mechanical problems. Technicians who can perform a variety of tasks continue to be in the greatest demand.

What will I learn in aircraft maintenance technician school?
According to FAA standards established by law, certified aircraft maintenance technician schools must offer a minimum of 1,900 class hours. Coursework provides training with the tools and equipment used on the job, enabling you to get a firm grasp on a wealth of required material and get plenty of practical experience servicing aircraft. Aircraft maintenance technician schools emphasize technologies such as aviation electronics, composite materials (including boron, fiberglass, and graphite), and turbine engines, which are increasingly used in the construction of new aircraft.

In an FAA-approved aircraft maintenance technician program, required general curriculum subjects include aircraft drawings, basic electricity, basic physics, cleaning and corrosion control, fluid lines and fittings, ground operation and servicing, maintenance forms and records, maintenance publications, materials and processes, mathematics, mechanic privileges and limitations, and weight and balance. Chemistry, computer science, electronics, math, mechanical drawing, and physics courses demonstrate the principles involved in the operation of aircraft that are necessary to make repairs. And courses that develop writing skills are essential for the reports you'll need to submit on the job.

Recent technological advances in aircraft maintenance require that technicians have a strong background in electronics to secure jobs in the industry. Computer technology, composite structural material, and solid state electronics have all advanced greatly in recent years, making formal aircraft maintenance technician training a must for staying current in the field.