Aircraft Mechanic

Aircraft Mechanic

Fred Robel

27 Years Experience

Au Gres, MI

Male, 49

I'm a licensed Aircraft Mechanic & Inspector with twenty five-plus years in the field. I've had a varied career so far, with time spent in the sheetmetal, mechanic, and inspection specialties. Most of my time is on heavy Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft, of the passenger, cargo, and experimental type. This career isn't for everyone, but I enjoy it.

Please do NOT ask me to troubleshoot problems with your airplane, that is not what this Q&A is for.

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Last Answer on July 09, 2022

Best Rated

Is Aircraft mechanic - aircraft technician, aircraft engineer just one thing? Also, what do i need to study to be an aircraft mechanic? for example, avionics technology, structure aircraft technician or ame technology?

Asked by Lee over 5 years ago

Aircraft mechanic, technician, acft engineer, are all kind of generic terms for the same thing. Depending upon the country you are living in, a more descriptive one would be Airframe & Powerplant Technician (for those licensed in the USA); or an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (for those licensed in Canada).

If you embark on the path to being a licensed aircraft technician, you will study all of the disciplines: avionics, structures, powerplants, and general subjects (math, english, hardware identification, etc). A licensed school will put you through all of these subjects on the way to getting your own certification.

I am buying a Cessna 172M, there is a new Aircaft Weight & Balance revision showing Max Weight 2550 FWD CG 38.5 AFT 47.3, however the Empty CG is 51.60 (EW 1517 EM 78281.80). How can the Empty CG be beyond AFT. Is this plane safe. Thank you

Asked by Mike over 5 years ago

I highly recommend you find a competent aircraft mechanic, preferably with their IA, to thoroughly assess your aircraft before you purchase it.

Good luck to you, aviation is an adventure.

PART 6 - Thanks in advance for the answer and please if you can, make the question max caracters higher :) fly safe !!!

Asked by AeroPedro over 7 years ago

For liability reasons, this Q&A is limited to career oriented questions only. I don't troubleshoot aircraft issues over the internet.

So I'm going to point you towards your approved aircraft maintenance procedures, where there will be some sort of troubleshooting information regarding your pitot airspeed system.

There will probably be some kind of visual/physical inspection entailed; as well as a calibrated pressure performance check of the system, or individual components

It is always good practice to keep your pitot static system ports and probes covered when not in use. (Using approved covers, that will probably be brightly colored, with long streamers, so as not to be left on before a flight)

Never assume anything.

Good luck.

When I was 21 I was charged with a DUI i will have my A&P license by the time i am 27-28, how much will that past mistake hinder my employment?

Asked by CoryTrevor about 5 years ago

It really comes down to the particular employer, whether that DUI will effect your ability to get employed by them.

One fun fact to remember, now that you have a DUI, you probably won't be able to go into Canada. This is also an employment factor, if the prospective job has a travelling facet.

A lot would also depend on whether your DUI was classed as a misdemeanor or a felony, in a lot of cases it could be either.

Obviously, a felony version will impact you more.  

Regardless, a DUI will come up on a competent employer's background check; or any government clearance check (which we have to have for airport badging access).

It just depends on the employer, and their requirements.  

I don't think you will have trouble finding a job. Licensed aircraft mechanics are at a premium these days.  

If I take an Aircaft Maintenance Engineer Technology, and graduated, is it easy to find a job even though I dont have experience? And can i also take apprenticeship even though Im in grade 10 for some knowledge and experience? Thank you very much!

Asked by Lee over 5 years ago

There are lots of jobs out there for newly licensed aircraft mechanics. But you usually have to be willing to move to get them. There could be some in your immediate area; you should check with the career openings on company websites, such as UPS, FedEx, United Airlines, etc, etc. Also go on jsfirm.com and search for openings, you might be surprised at how many there are. Not all of them will be for new mechanics with no experience, but some will be.

I don't know of anything preventing you from working as an apprentice before you are 18. Just be sure to fill out a training logbook of some kind, and have whomever is supervising sign it every day as well, so as to document all of your training tasks.

What are some types of questions you wished people would stop asking

Asked by quesion to all over 4 years ago

Troubleshooting questions about their aircraft.

It’s not practical to do it; and there is potential liability issues for me as well.

So just no.

Is there any Flight Engine jobs left?

Asked by Ellie over 4 years ago

Do you mean “Flight Engineer”? If so, then yes. There are still some three person cockpit planes flying around.

Not that many. And fewer every year.