Aircraft Technician Job Description
Aircraft technicians carry out the repair and maintenance work on airplanes and helicopters. They are required to examine engines, landing gear, fuel, and control systems of an air vehicle to ensure there is no issue during the flight. Replacement and installing of the parts of an aircraft are also what technicians do. They also do the servicing work and make certain the air vehicle is mechanically fit for a flight. Identifying mechanical and electrical issues and fixing them is in the aircraft technician job description. Routine maintenance is assigned to the aviation technical team, they are asked to fix the damaged parts of an aircraft as well.
Aircraft Technician Job Responsibilities
The technicians working in the aviation industry are responsible for doing routine system inspections and using diagnostic tests for identifying any malfunctioning or broken parts of the aircraft. They are required to keep regular logs for the assigned repair and maintenance tasks and suggest replacement after meticulous examination of a worn-out part. The technicians have to make sure that safety standards are strictly adhered to while performing troubleshooting, replacement of parts, or installation. They have to coordinate with the team for efficient and quick completion of different tasks and must work safely with different tools and technical equipment.
Skills Required for Building an Aircraft Technician Career
Technicians working in the aviation industry need to have all the knowledge about different kinds of aircraft. They need strong mechanical and good verbal and written communication skills. Being attentive to detail is a quality that will help an aircraft technician to investigate a problem and provide solutions quickly. The mechanics have to analyse a situation and think critically most of the time so if you have analytical and creative thinking skills, you can excel in the technical field. Technicians working on airplanes must have agility and the ability to work for longer hours. Aviation Job Search has all the aircraft technician and other opportunities in airlines that can interest you!
Workplaces of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians
The working conditions of aircraft maintenance technicians are generally the same, but there might be slight variations depending on who they work for. Aircraft maintenance technicians can work for military or commercial airlines, government agencies, and independent repair sites. They also might be employed by aircraft manufacturers or specialty shops. Private aircraft owners may hire maintenance technicians to repair their planes and fleets. However, the most common workplaces for aircraft maintenance technicians are in aircraft hangars or outdoors, which can be at high altitudes or tight spaces. They might be required to work shifts in the daytime or at night, and sometimes even on weekends. To drown out the noises from aircraft engines, they often wear noise-reducing headphones and other gear and attire so that they can do their job efficiently.
Future Prospects for Aircraft Maintenance Technicians
Future prospects for aircraft maintenance technicians is good; however, to further elaborate on that according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 130,000 aviation mechanics were employed last year. According to the BLS, growth is expected to continue steadily until 2024. Air traffic is expected to increase over the next few decades. That will lead to more innovation in the design and manufacture of aircraft, which will need maintenance. Most of the work required for aircraft maintenance will be done abroad, but it is possible to find specialized skills in domestic shops. The important thing to take from this is that such opportunities are available to those who can acquire specialist skills and continue their education. As the population and economy grow, so does the demand for aircraft maintenance technicians. However, some experts say this field will experience limited growth as newer aircraft require less maintenance. Some airlines might also consider outsourcing maintenance to specialised companies to do the work of mechanics and technicians for their aircraft.
