Aircraft maintenance technology degree overview

Aircraft mechanics and avionics technicians keep airplanes in safe operating condition. Degree programs in aircraft maintenance technology teach students how to inspect, maintain, and repair aircraft.

The typical curriculum covers both the airframe (structural) and power plant (engine) components of aircraft. Students learn about aircraft metal structures, fuel systems, electronics, hydraulics and propulsion systems, landing gear systems, and maintenance and inspection regulations.

Many programs in aircraft maintenance technology are structured around the various specializations of airframe and power plant (A&P) mechanics.

These include:

• Avionics technicians – specialists in aircraft electronic instrumentation and computer systems
• Designated airworthiness representatives (DARs) – specialists who inspect aircraft for their suitability to fly safely
• Inspection authorized (IA) mechanics – mechanics who hold both airframe and power plant licenses and are therefore qualified to perform comprehensive inspections on aircraft
• Repairmen – maintenance personnel who are permitted to complete only very specific duties on specific jobs at specific repair centers

Certificate or Associate Degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology – Eighteen Month to Two Year Duration
The difference between certificate and associate degree programs in aircraft maintenance technology is often a difference in name only. The important thing is to choose a school that is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), because only graduates of FAA-approved programs qualify to sit for FAA airframe and power plant certification exams.

Here is a sample of the kind of coursework that these programs include:

• Introduction to Standard Aviation Practices – introduction to aviation manuals, drawings, and standard documentation procedures for completed work
• Aircraft Flight and Structures – flight theory, flight controls, basic electronics, testing and treatment of metal corrosion in aircraft
• Aircraft Reciprocating (Piston) Engines – operation, maintenance, and repair of piston engines, assembly and disassembly of engines
• Reciprocating (Piston) Engine Systems – testing, adjustment, and installation of internal combustion engine components
• Aircraft Hydraulics – maintenance and repair of aircraft hydraulic systems and components
• Landing Gear, Wheels, and Brakes – wheels, tires, brakes, anti-skid, gear extension and retraction
• Aircraft Structural Repairs – inspection, fabrication, and repair of metal, tube, and composite material structure
• Aircraft Electrical Circuits – electromagnetism, AC and DC electricity, power conversion, electronic devices, wiring, and batteries
• Power Generation and Distribution – electrical controls, monitoring circuits, electric motor systems, and single-engine and multi-engine electric systems
• Aircraft Propellers – inspection, installation, removal, repair, and overhaul of different kinds of propellers
• Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines – testing, inspection, disassembly, and reassembly of gas turbine engines
• Aircraft Gas Turbine Systems – inspection and servicing of engine instrumentation, ignition, fuel control, and lubrication systems
• Aircraft Rigging – flight controls and fixed surfaces (ailerons, elevator, rudder)
• Rotary Wing Aircraft – inspection, service, and repair of helicopters
• Aircraft Instrumentation – installation and removal of engine, flight, and system instruments
• Aircraft Electronics and Regulations – installation, inspection, and operation of electronic communication, navigation, flight control, and data recording systems
• Aircraft Systems – fire detection and suppression systems, ice and rain protection, pressurization and oxygen systems, fuel systems
• Technical Operations and Quality – quality assurance, operation of an Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO), aircraft handling, inspection, weight and balance, aircraft interiors
• Aircraft Maintenance Practices – hands-on experience in aircraft maintenance and troubleshooting

Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering degree programs teach the analytical, computational, and engineering and design skills needed to work in the aerospace industry. Students learn how to apply this knowledge to the manufacturing, testing, and monitoring of civil or commercial aircraft, military aircraft, missiles, rockets, spacecraft, lunar vehicles, and space stations.

Automotive Mechanics
Automotive mechanics training programs prepare students to work in the servicing and maintenance of cars. Coursework covers preventative maintenance, brake systems, suspension systems, steering systems, wheel alignment, drive lines and axles, and electrical fundamentals.

Electrician
This degree field prepares students to work as electricians – the tradespeople who install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring and systems, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, security, lighting, and computer networks. Programs may cover all types of electrical work, while others may focus on one of the four principal classifications of the electrical trade: residential, commercial, industrial, low voltage.

Graduates with an aircraft maintenance technology degree gain this valuable set of transferable skills:

• Ability to adapt to working with new systems
• Ability to identify and solve technical and sometimes complex problems
• Ability to understand technical information, follow guidelines, and conduct inspections
• Ability to read gauges, dials, and other instruments
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Attention to detail
• Critical and analytical thinking
• Focus / concentration
• Hand/eye coordination and manual dexterity
• Physical strength
• Safety awareness
• Spatial perception
• Verbal and written communication
• Visualization skills

The vast majority of aircraft maintenance technology grads go on to work directly in the aviation field. These are their most common employers:

• Scheduled and charter commercial airlines
• FAA certified aircraft repair stations and overhaul bases
• Aircraft manufacturing companies
• Aerospace parts manufacturers
• Flight training schools
• Corporations that own private aircraft
• US Armed Forces
• Fixed base operators (FBOs) – independent companies contracted by airports to provide aviation services like fuel, hangar space, air taxi, and repair and maintenance