According to the US Bureau of Labor, the airline industry will need 7% to 11% more mechanics by 2018.
 

Where the Jobs Are

Many mechanics compete for jobs at high-paying commercial airlines. However, there are other employment opportunities in this field. Commuter and regional airlines are expanding their service throughout the country and need help. Although the aviation mechanic salary offered here is lower, these small, expanding airlines are great places to get a job and gain valuable experience. FAA repair stations are contracted out to private operators; these individuals hire qualified help to handle the work load. There are approximately 4000 of these certified repair stations in the US. Air taxies, flight training schools and aircraft manufacturers also offer employment opportunities.

According to the US Department of Labor, the average aviation mechanic salary in May of 2010 was $25.62 an hour which is $53,270 a year. The Department of Labor updates their information every two years and will issue new findings in 2012. Other informational reports show a range from $14.50 to $31 an hour for aviation mechanic salary. A mechanic holding an A&P certificate with 10 years experience makes about $45 an hour or $73,000 a year. Although airplane mechanics are not required by law to have a FAA license, many employers require this certification of competency. These quoted salary averages include both licensed and unlicensed service technicians.

FAA Licenses

The Federal Aviation Administration issues four different mechanics licenses; they are:

• airframe mechanic for everything except engine, propellers and electronics
• powerplant mechanic for engine and propeller operations
• A&P mechanic for everything except electronics
• avionics repair specialist for sensitive and complicated electronic systems

The test has three parts:

• written
• oral
• repair

Applicants have up to 24 months to pass all three portions of this test. Each person taking the test must be 18 years of age or older and a citizen of the United States. Applicants are required to have 18 months of work experience or a certificate of graduation from one of the 173 FAA certified school for aviation mechanics. Classes at these institutions usually run 24 to 30 months and cover 1150 hours of education.

A&P License

Employers value people with this dual license. These technicians can work on anything in the plane except electronics. Because this technician needs more knowledge and experience, the hourly education requirements are increased to 1900 and qualified work experience is increased to three years. Continuing education and review courses are mandatory to keep the license in effect. Every two years, licensees take 16 hours of continuing education to learn about new developments in the industry. If the technician with the A&P License fails to work at the least 1000 hours in 24 months, the licensee must take a review course to keep his or her license.

Mechanical Training

Airplanes are very different from automobiles; the primary purpose of an airplane mechanic is to avoid a problem while an automotive mechanic fixes a problem. All mechanics are trained to read FAA regulations, publications and reports. Almost all the work done on these jumbo cargo and people carriers are scheduled maintenance. Airplanes are checked every so many hours of flight time, periodically and so many cycles of operation. Mechanical problems rarely occur.

In addition to learning how to do the inspections and repairs and the proper use of tools including magnetic inspection equipment and x-rays, students learn the theory of aerodynamics. Subjects like weights and balance, mathematics, chemistry, electronics, mechanical drawing, computer science and physics are part of the curriculum. The educational process covers forms and record-keeping because FAA maintenance rules are strict. Cleaning, corrosion control and checking for fatigue cracks or other signs of problems in airplanes require attention to detail and dedication. While airframe includes structures like wood, sheet metal and composites, cutting and welding, powerplant covers jets and turbo prop motors. Avionics keeps the complex instruments functioning.

These specialized repair technicians are rewarded for the 2 to 2 1/2 years they spend getting their education. If these enterprising people get a job with a large commercial airliner, they make great money. With average salaries over $25 an hour, students quickly pay for the cost of their training. The average aircraft mechanic salary is over $53,000 a year.

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