If you get thrilled by the thought of airplanes, there are numerous jobs out there for you. Over the recent years, there’s been a rise in the number of private planes, a high growth in the drone industry and increased profits in the airline industry. As a result, the entire aviation industry faces a shortage in the number of aircraft maintenance technicians.
What Aviation Maintenance Technicians Do
As an aviation maintenance technician, your duties are to check and troubleshoot aircraft equipment regularly, repair and replace parts that need attention, such as various components like: wheels, brakes, electrical systems and wings. Technicians are required to use diagnostic procedures that are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Job Outlook
Almost 130,000 aviation mechanics were employed in 2016 alone, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS states that growth is expected to remain steady through to the year 2024. As air traffic is expected to rise over the next few years, more innovations are expected to take ground in the design and manufacturing of aircraft and that will require maintenance. Specialized work on aircraft is expected to be outsourced abroad and will be needed in domestic shops. This means that those who acquire specialized skills and keep honing their expertise can possible take advantage of these opportunities in the future.
Education Requirements
The minimum educational requirement for aircraft maintenance technicians is a certification from an FAA-approved aviation maintenance technician school, such as Aviation Institute of Maintenance. If you previously attained some informal on-the-job training or acquired your skills during a military training, you are eligible to apply to a course like Professional Aviation Maintenance Certification. This training is a review of information designed to prepare you to successfully pass the General, Airframe and Powerplant written, oral and practical exams.
Salary Expectations
The mean annual wage for aviation maintenance technicians was reported as $61,190 in the year 2016, according to BLS. The lowest 10% of aviation maintenance technicians earned a salary of less than $35,960, while the highest 10% earned more than $87,880 annually. Aviation maintenance technicians typically work for eight hours a day, although sometimes overtime is expected. Many workers are usually affiliated with a workers union.
It can be a beneficial choice to join the aviation industry as an aviation maintenance technician. Begin a career now by joining one of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance’s Aircraft Mechanic School Programs. Our school is committed to the education and personal enrichment of every student with a passion for the aviation maintenance profession.
