Major: Aircraft Maintenance
Those rumors you’ve heard are true: you really are safer on an airplane than in a car. And it’s no surprise, because the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) enforces very strict standards for maintaining aircraft.
As an aircraft maintenance major, you’ll learn just how to live up to these standards. You’ll learn how to inspect, repair, and maintain aircraft from the inside out, working on everything from engines and electrical systems to landing gear.
Aircraft maintenance majors learn to maintain and repair aircraft both structurally and mechanically. Some specialize in either airframe (structural) or powerplant (engine) mechanics, while most study both.
“I do not believe in luck. The best mascot is a good mechanic.”
Record-setting aviator Amelia Earhart
Are You Ready To...?
- Lay out and fabricate sheet-metal parts
- Check airframes for wear and tear
- Inspect and repair engines
- Memorize FAA safety standards
- Prepare for the FAA exam
- Study avionics (aerospace electronics)
It Helps to Be...
A physically strong and mechanically inclined problem solver: Lifting heavy objects and kneeling in awkward positions is all in a day’s work.
College Checklist
- Is the program certified by the FAA?
- Does the school offer specializations in airframe, powerplant, and avionics, or does it combine the three?
- Which FAA certification exams will the program prepare you for?
- How much hands-on training will you get in labs and internships?
- What percentage of former grads are working in the field?
Did You Know?
- Though separate FAA certifications are available in airframe and powerplant mechanics, getting a combined “A & P” certificate will give you the competitive edge.
Course Spotlight
Pneumatics and other new words are par for the course in landing-gear systems. But listen up, because keeping landing gear safe is a critical part of an aircraft mechanic’s job. In this required course, you’ll learn how it’s done, from the art of de-icing to checking brakes, wheels and warning systems. To make the grade, you’ll have to demonstrate your new skills.
