Aircraft Mechanic Job Responsibilities

The aircraft mechanic is a critical position in the field of aviation and aircraft maintenance and services. As air travel is increasing day-by-day and the frequency of fliers is gradually moving high, the demand for these mechanics is subsequently stepping up. These professionals are in charge of the maintenance of each airplane, be it commercial or military. They can work on all kinds of aircrafts; not to mention that there are laws for aircraft inspection which have to be followed strictly.

The mechanics are hired by private firms, airport bases, government organizations, and the military. Therefore, the opportunities for employment are plenty. Aircraft safety is one of the biggest modern-day concerns and hence, there are many strict laws which the aircraft manufacturers and operators have to adhere to. One such law expects a complete check of the aircraft which is done after it has flown for a certain number of hours.

These aircraft mechanical experts perform a thorough check of the aircrafts. They understand that the safety instruments are the most important parts of any aircraft and therefore, they first check these instruments stored inside the aircraft to know whether they are operational or not.

Then, they check all the other equipment present in the airplane. Only after these careful and complete examinations is an aircraft allowed to fly. Such strictness in airplane inspection or examination has ensured that air travel is one of the safest modes of travel.

Along with proper education, the mechanics are required to possess legal licenses from the states they are working in. The salary that these professionals receive is quite impressive. Some get monthly paychecks, while most of them are paid according to the hours of their services.

The job of an airplane mechanic can be, at times, quite tedious. The mechanic may require to spent more than 8 hours figuring out challenging repairs and completing effortful fabrication work of the aircrafts. The amount of work to be done largely depends on the condition of aircrafts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Maintain and repair aircrafts; from safety equipment to engines
Perform a safety check routine of the aircrafts by considering all the regulations and policies of aircraft inspection
Report to the management if anything is found out of the ordinary
Give clearance to the aircrafts for further flying if they are safe
Check the black box in the cockpit regularly as in case of disasters. (The black box recorder in the cockpit is the only evidence that can inform further on the accident)
Coordinate with the engineers to help them design better aircrafts
Prepare the maintenance reports in an orderly fashion and file them as they can be required in case of technical snags

Education Required for an Aircraft Mechanic

Bachelor's degree in aviation technology or aviation maintenance
Government and state certification
Further courses in aviation are an advantage
Should be great with calculations as the processing or operating of all the equipment in the aircraft requires mathematics

Career Advancement

The aircraft mechanics have opportunities to lead teams of mechanics and secure the position of Aircraft Maintenance Manager. They may also take up the job of a trainer for new mechanics or Head Mechanics. Some may even go on to become inspectors and investigators for the federal authorities.