How do I become an airplane mechanic?

Question

I've been a commercial pilot for the last two years, but I've come to the realization that I hate this lifestyle and I'm in despirate need of a change. That being said, I still love working at airports and I'm chaning jobs to ramp agent even while I type this. But that job doesn't always pay the best of wages so I'm going to need some real skill in a few years. So I'm considering becomeing an aircraft mechanic. I just don't know how to go about it.

Answer 1

Where do you live? In the US the way to go is probably via an A & P (airframe & Powerplant) training school. This will qualify you to certify work on aircraft given the right amount of experience and training courses from a suitable maintenance company etc.

If you live in Europe it is all a bit different (Much harder). You can become a mechanic by training with a local company if possible but the money will be c**p. To earn a decent wage you will need an EASA part 66 licence in a respective trade (B1 for mechanics & B2 for Avionics). The time taken to get a licence for a trained mechanic is approximately 2 to 3 years at best. In aviation experience counts for everything but you need qualifications to back it up. As for your lifestyle, you'll still end up working long hours, possible shift patterns and even night shifts and sometimes under enormous pressure. Be careful when you say the lifestyle doesn't suit, engineering aint that much better.

Answer 2

To answer your question you have to go the Code of Federal Rules (CFRs) Title 49 Part 65 for the requirement.  I have included them for you bottom line is you need 30-months of hands on training to meet the minimum requirements or attend a Part 147 aviation school and complete the entire course.

I have all of the information about how to obtain an A&P on my personal web site click on mechanic tool box the site is:  http://www.stacheair.com

If you need addition information there is a hyper link to my e-mail and I can assist you directly and answer any question regarding the process.

Some people cannot work under the CFRs and complain a lot, but I can tell you being a A&P mechanic has be a great career for me and I must admit I have done very well.  I would highly recommend the career field as it is challenging and is in demand.

CFR Rules:

Subpart D—Mechanics

§ 65.71 Eligibility requirements: General.

(a) To be eligible for a mechanic certificate and associated ratings, a person must— (

1. Be at least 18 years of age;

2. Be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language, or in the case of an applicant who does not meet this requirement and who is employed outside of the United States by a U.S. air carrier, have his certificate endorsed "Valid only outside the United States";

3. Have passed all of the prescribed tests within a period of 24 months; and

4. Comply with the sections of this subpart that apply to the rating he seeks.

(b) A certificated mechanic who applies for an additional rating must meet the requirements of §65.77 and, within a period of 24 months, pass the tests prescribed by §§65.75 and 65.79 for the additional rating sought.

65.73 Ratings.

(a) The following ratings are issued under this subpart:

1. Airframe.

2. Powerplant

65.75 Knowledge requirements.

(a) Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must, after meeting the applicable experience requirements of §65.77, pass a written test covering the construction and maintenance of aircraft appropriate to the rating he seeks, the regulations in this subpart, and the applicable provisions of parts 43 and 91 of this chapter. The basic principles covering the installation and maintenance of propellers are included in the powerplant test.

(b) The applicant must pass each section of the test before applying for the oral and practical tests prescribed by §65.79. A report of the written test is sent to the applicant.

§ 65.77 Experience requirements.

Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must present either an appropriate graduation certificate or certificate of completion from a certificated cated aviation maintenance technician school or documentary evidence, satisfactory to the Administrator, of—

(a) At least 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes, or powerplants appropriate to the rating sought; or

At least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both the airframe and powerplant ratings.

§ 65.79 Skill requirements.

Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must pass an oral and a practical test on the rating he seeks.  The tests cover the applicant's basic skill in performing practical projects on the subjects covered by the written test for that rating.  An applicant for a powerplant rating must show his ability to make satisfactory minor repairs to, and minor alterations of, propellers.

§ 65.80 Certificated aviation maintenance technician school students.

Whenever an aviation maintenance technician school certificated under part 147 of this chapter shows to an FAA inspector that any of its students has made satisfactory progress at the school and is prepared to take the oral and practical tests prescribed by §65.79, that student may take those tests during the final subjects of his training in the approved curriculum, before he meets the applicable experience requirements of §65.77 and before he passes each section of the written test prescribed by §65.75.

Answer 3

get a degree in Mechanical Engineering then work your way up.

Answer 4

Most pilots are surprised to learn that while they can become a commercial pilot with only 250 hours of flight training, an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A&P) requires more than 2000 (TWO THOUSAND) hours of certified hands-on training before they can receive their full license, and then several months more aircraft specific training before they are fully qualified to be abused by smart-assed rookie pilots who think they are God's gift to aviation.

If you want to invest 30-40 hours a week in training for the next year to 18 months, you too can become a licensed  aircraft mechanic and make the big bucks... $12-14 per hour starting pay... and that's If you can find a job, and keep it through the lay-offs, airline bankruptcies and put up with all the BS that comes with the position.

Bottom line... Forget it.  Either stay with your current job, or get out while you still can and find a real job!

Answer 5

go for aircraft maintainance engineering.it is a 3 years course.after the training you will get the liscense.

Answer 6

You should enroll in your local airframe & powerplant mechanic course.  They are run through technical schools and junior colleges.  I would look them up online, they aren't hard to find.  You can also just go down to a shop where the planes you fly are serviced and ask the mechanics where you should learn.  You can learn on the job and take an FAA test i believe after 3 years, and the offical course will take you close to 2 years.