Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics
and technicians maintain airplanes
and their components to keep flight travel
safe and on schedule.
Airframe and power plant mechanics
repair and maintain most parts of an aircraft,
including the engines, landing gear,
and brakes.
They use special equipment
to check for cracks and corrosion
in the plane’s exterior,
then repair and recheck
to ensure soundness.
Avionic technicians take care of
the plane’s electronic instruments
and systems,
such as testing navigation
and weather radar
to keep flights safely en route,
or fine-tuning radio communications
to keep pilots in touch with
the experts on the ground.
This is one of the highest paid
technical professions,
and it’s easy to see why.
These workers analyze complex problems
and develop safe, workable solutions
quickly to get aircraft back up in the air,
often in a matter of hours.
Exposure to noise and vibration
is part of every shift.
Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics
and technicians work in hangars,
repair stations, or on airfields.
Most work full time on rotating 8-hour shifts;
overtime and weekend work is common.
Typically, workers have a high school education
and obtain training at technical schools
certified by the Federal Aviation Administration,
although some learn on the job
or enter the field after military experience.
Certification by the FAA
increases job opportunities and wages,
and is required for some positions.
This is a job where safety
can never take a back seat to schedule.