Career: Aircraft and Avionics Technicians
The pilot is not the only person who keeps you safe during a flight. Aircraft and avionics technicians maintain and repair everything from radar to landing gear.
Avionics technicians specialize in navigation, radio, radar systems, and other electronic and computer instruments and controls. Aircraft technicians check for wear and tear, using x-ray or magnetic equipment to look for cracks and punctures invisible to the human eye.
Aircraft and avionics technicians inspect and repair airplanes and helicopters.
Did You Know?
- Most aircraft technicians are certified by the FAA as airframe-and-powerplant mechanics, or A&P mechanics. They can work on any part of a plane except the instruments.
Are You Ready To...?
- Inspect planes for wear and tear
- Use pilot descriptions and electronic data to decide what’s wrong with planes
- Replace broken parts
- Consult manuals to make sure repairs meet FAA standards
- Research new construction materials
It Helps to Be...
Very responsible, patient, and thorough. A lot is riding on that landing gear, and you’ll want your work to be the best it can be.
Make High School Count
- Take classes in electronics and computers. Since airplanes increasingly use computerized systems, your knowledge will come in useful.
- Sign up for shop classes. While a car is certainly different from an airplane, you will still get a sense of how engines and vehicles work.
- Build solid reading and writing skills. You will be using them to read regulations and write detailed reports on your repairs for the FAA.
“I am a craftsperson. Working on parts that sometimes cost hundreds of thousands of dollars justifies the time and care that it takes for me to be proud of my work.”
Eric, Aviation Maintenance Technician
Outlook
Government economists expect job growth for aircraft and avionics technicians to be as fast as the average for all careers through 2014.
The airline industry has been in a slump since the events of September 11, 2001. However, it should recover as the population grows and more people fly than ever before. Keep in mind, though, that there will be a lot of competition for jobs with major airlines, which pay the best. It will be easier to find work at small airlines, FAA repair stations, and private repair shops.
Compensation
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average salary of aircraft technicians in 2006 was $49,300. Avionics technicians earned $47,380.
Mechanics who work for the major airlines generally earn more than other mechanics; they also get a discount on flights for themselves and their families.
