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Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Occupation Detailed Description

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

The main tasks and work activities of Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians are to interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities, read technical information needed to perform maintenance or repairs, inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning, maintain repair or maintenance records. In general, for the Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, equipment Maintenance, repairing, operation Monitoring, troubleshooting and other 17 skills are required.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians jobs. 12.37% of Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 60.33% of Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
12.37%
Post-Secondary Certificate
60.33%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
24.80%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
2.50%

Tasks and Work Activities of Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

  • Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
  • Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
  • Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
  • Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
  • Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
  • Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
  • Maintain, repair, and rebuild aircraft structures, functional components, and parts, such as wings and fuselage, rigging, hydraulic units, oxygen systems, fuel systems, electrical systems, gaskets, or seals.
  • Measure the tension of control cables.
  • Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
  • Measure parts for wear, using precision instruments.
  • Assemble and install electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and accessories, using hand or power tools.
  • Test operation of engines and other systems, using test equipment, such as ignition analyzers, compression checkers, distributor timers, or ammeters.
  • Obtain fuel and oil samples and check them for contamination.
  • Reassemble engines following repair or inspection and reinstall engines in aircraft.
  • Read and interpret pilots' descriptions of problems to diagnose causes.
  • Modify aircraft structures, space vehicles, systems, or components, following drawings, schematics, charts, engineering orders, and technical publications.
  • Install and align repaired or replacement parts for subsequent riveting or welding, using clamps and wrenches.
  • Locate and mark dimensions and reference lines on defective or replacement parts, using templates, scribes, compasses, and steel rules.
  • Clean, strip, prime, and sand structural surfaces and materials to prepare them for bonding.
  • Service and maintain aircraft and related apparatus by performing activities such as flushing crankcases, cleaning screens, and or moving parts.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.
  • Read technical information needed to perform maintenance or repairs.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning.
  • Maintain repair or maintenance records.
  • Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
  • Inspect structural components of vehicles to identify problems.
  • Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
  • Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Install piping for installation or maintenance activities.
  • Install electrical components, equipment, or systems.
  • Assemble electrical components, subsystems, or systems.
  • Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
  • Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems.
  • Reassemble equipment after repair.
  • Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed.
  • Align equipment or machinery.
  • Install machine or equipment replacement parts.
  • Lay out work according to specifications.
  • Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.

Skills and Abilities for Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

  • Equipment MaintenancePerforming routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • RepairingRepairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Equipment SelectionDetermining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Hearing SensitivityThe ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatuse.g. Acetylene welding equipment
  • Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
  • Air compressorse.g. Air compressors
  • Pneumatic drille.g. Air drills
  • Jackse.g. Aircraft lifting jacks
  • Integrated maintenance information systemse.g. Aircraft maintenance management systems
  • Liftse.g. Aircraft test stands
  • Alignment jige.g. Aligning jigs
  • Hex keyse.g. Allen wrenches
  • Ammeterse.g. Ammeters
  • Socketse.g. Aviation spark plug sockets
  • Ball peen hammere.g. Ball peen hammers
  • Bastard cut filee.g. Bastard files
  • Borescope inspection equipmente.g. Borescopes
  • Manual press brakee.g. Brakes
  • Punches or nail sets or driftse.g. Brass punches
  • Welder torche.g. Brazing equipment
  • Rivet toolse.g. Bucking bars
  • Cable splicing kitse.g. Cable splicing knives
  • Caliperse.g. Calipers
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.