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Aircraft Mechanics
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Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Arizona:
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There are over 150 FAA approved
(FAR part 147) Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools nationwide.
The list of schools below offer training for one or both possible
mechanic's certificates (Airframe and/or Powerplant). Many schools
also offer avionics courses that cover electronics and instrumentation.
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Directory
of Airframe and Powerplant Schools in Arizona:
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Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs), listed on the FAA's aviation mechanic
website:
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What is a
mechanic job like?
You work in hangars, out on the field on the
"flight lines" where aircraft park,
or in repair stations. You use hand and power
tools as well as sophisticated test equipment.
Maintenance is performed around the clock, seven
days a week. New mechanics and technicians should
expect to work nights and weekends. The noise
level both indoors and on the flight line could
be very high. Sometimes your work requires physical
activity, from climbing ladders to crawling
under deadline to make sure an airplane was
ready to fly a scheduled flight.
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Do I need
a license to be an aircraft mechanic?
Not necessarily. However, if you don't have
a mechanic's certificate from FAA, you can work
only when supervised by someone who does have
a certificate. You could not approve equipment
for return to service. Without a certificate,
you are less likely to advance to the top of
the career field.
The FAA issues mechanics and
repairman certificates. Mechanics can get
either an airframe certificate or a power
plant certificate--most mechanics get both.
Repairman get certificates to perform only
one or two specific tasks, and they must be
supervised by FAA-approved Repair Stations,
commercial operators, or air carriers where
these specific tasks are done daily.
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Do I need
any experience to become a certified mechanic?
Yes. You can get the required experience through
civilian or military on-the-job training, or
by attending a special school for aircraft mechanics.
Learn More about Exerience
Requirements
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Do I have
to take any tests to become a certified mechanic?
Yes. You have to take both oral and practical
tests. There is a fee for the test. The oral
and practical tests cover 43 technical subjects.
Typically tests for one certificate--airframe
or power plant--takes about 8 hours.
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Do I need
any other certificate to work on avionics equipment?
If you have an airframe certificate you don't
need any other certificate, but you must be
properly trained and qualified and have the
proper tools and equipment. You can even work
on avionics equipment without a certificate
if you have avionics repair experience from
the military or from working for avionics manufacturers
and related industries.
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How do I get a repairman's
certificate?
To get a repairman's certificate, you must
be recommended by a repair station, commercial
operator, or air carrier. You must
be at least 18 years old;
be able to read, write, speak, and understand
English
be qualified to perform maintenance on aircraft
or components
be employed or a specific job requiring special
qualifications by an FAA-certified Repair
Station, commercial operator, or air carrier.
be recommended for the repairman certificate
by your employer
have either 18 months practical experience
in the specific job or complete a formal training
course acceptable to FAA.
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Where Do I Begin?
The first question you need to have answered
is am I eligible to take the Airframe & Powerplant oral and practical
exam. You can get the experience you need to become a certified power
plant or airframe mechanic in one of three ways.
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants pursuing an Airframe or Powerplant license must meet the
requirements within FAR 65.71-65.77
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You must be at least 18 years
of age;
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You must be able to read, write,
speak and understand the English language;
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You must have the required
experience from one of the three areas below;
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You can work
at an FAA Repair Station or FBO under the supervision
of a certified mechanic for 18 months for each
certificate, or 30 months combined for both
the Airframe and Powerplant certificates. You
must document your experience with pay receipts,
a log book signed by your supervising mechanic,
a notarized statement from your employer, or
other proof you worked the required time.
If you meet (or are close to) the above experience
requirements,
follow the steps below:
OR, you can learn about
FAA-Approved
Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools
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3 -
Graduate of an FAA approved Mechanic School:
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I have the
Civilian or Military experience Requirements, what do I do next?
To become an aircraft mechanic, you must
take oral and practical tests as well as written tests. With both
types of on-the-job training you should set aside additional study
time to prepare for the written and oral/practical tests. The FAA
will give you credit for your practical experience only after review
of your paperwork and an interview with an FAA Airworthiness inspector.
Follow the steps outlined below: |
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Have documentation proving your military
or civilian experience: |
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You will need documentation from past
and/or current Airframe and Powerplant mechanic(s) explaining the
type and duration of the maintenance that you performed. This should
state, in detail, what aircraft and/or powerplants you have worked
on, what tasks you performed and how long you did these tasks. These
must be signed by a shop supervisor or an A&P mechanic and submitted
to the FAA.
You may have multiple letters but they must total 30 months experience
for both Airframe and Powerplant OR 18 months for each.
International applicants must also obtain a letter or stamp from the
civil aviation authority within their country attesting for the letter
from their employers. |
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Obtain FAA approval: |
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Once you have the paperwork you need,
you must schedule an appointment with an FAA maintenance inspector
at your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). Locate
a FSDO After an inspector authorizes you to test, they will issue
you 2 copies of the 8610-2,
Airman Certification and/or Rating Application Form. |
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Pass the required FAA knowledge tests
- Airframe, Powerplant & General: |
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To apply to take the written test, you must present
your proof of experience to an FAA inspector at the local FAA office
(described above). There are separate tests for airframe and power
plant mechanic certificates, as well as a general test covering
both. If the inspector decides you meet the requirements to take
one of the tests, you may make an appointment for testing at one
of the many computer
testing facilities world-wide (PDF). Also, you can get a list
of sample general, airframe, and power plant test questions, and
copy of FAA
testing supplements.
Depending on whether you would like to obtain your
Airframe, Powerplant, or Airframe and Powerplant combined, you will
need to achieve a score of at least 70% on the General, Airframe,
and Powerplant knowledge tests.
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Schedule the required Oral and Practical
Exams: |
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After you have passed the required knowledge
tests, you must contact an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME),
and schedule your Oral & Practical exam. Your local
FSDO can help you obtain a list of Designated Mechanic Examiners.
The oral and practical tests cover 43 technical subjects. Typically
tests for one certificate--airframe or power plant--takes about 8
hours. If you fail part of a test, you have to wait 30 days before
you can take it again, unless you give a letter to the Examiner showing
you've gotten additional training in the areas you failed.
After you have successfully completed your oral and practical exam,
you will be issued a temporary license that is valid for 120 days,
while the FAA processes your paperwork.
List
of FAA Mechanic Examiners
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Non-US
citizens interested in becoming a mechanic:
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You must demonstrate
that you need a mechanic certificate to maintain
U.S.-registered civil aircraft and you are neither
a U.S. citizen nor a resident alien.
Show the examiner your passport.
Provide a detailed statement from your employer
saying what specific types of maintenance you
preformed on each aircraft, and how long you
performed it.
Provide a lette from the foreign airworthiness
authority of the country in which you got your
experience, or from an advisor of the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), validating
your maintenance experience.
Make sure all the documents you provide are
signed and dated originals.
Pay the fee for the document review.
What if I can't meet the English
language requirements?
We may waive the language requirement if you
live outside the United States. We would stamp
your certificate "Valid only outside
of the U.S."
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