An Overview of Aircraft Maintenance Career
Summary: Aircraft maintenance at regular intervals to ensure the proper function and safe operation of all aircraft, private and commercial. For rich and powerful jet set, that travel the globe in private planes the need for regular maintenance is just as important if not more so than it is for larger commercial carriers.
Aircraft
maintenance Florida engineers
and technicians are at the heart of aviation industry. They play the most
crucial role in keeping the planes flying safely and, as such, are in steady
demand in various airlines, air forces and with private jet owners. The
satisfaction of keeping people safe along with good earnings and the
challenging nature of the job makes it much sought after career among youth.
Key
Responsibilities
·
Aircraft
engineers' prime responsibility is to keep the aircraft in optimal condition
for safe and efficient operating. They work on all the mechanical aspects of
the aircraft including airframe, hydraulics, pneumatics, engine, fuel system,
control and communication system. They troubleshoot any malfunctioning of the
aircraft by testing various aircraft systems to identify the cause of
malfunction.
·
They
inspect aircraft parts for any damage or general wear and repair, replace, assemble
and install parts. They also make entries in technical records and certify
maintenance standards. They are also responsible for supervising aircraft
maintenance workers and for working with teams, suppliers, clients and managers
to finalize budgets, timescales and specifications or work undertaken.
·
Flight schools in
Florida are
less qualified and experienced than engineers, work in teams specializing in
various aircraft systems like airframes, hydraulics, engines, fuel, pneumatics
and avionics. They are skilled in mechanical, electrical or electronic field
and are involved in regular servicing and repair of aircraft.
·
Many
aircraft technicians specialize in preventive maintenance. They inspect landing
gear, engines, instruments, brakes, valves, pumps and other critical parts.
Others specialize in repairs. They find and fix problems identified by pilots
or inspectors.
Level of
Education Required
·
Aircraft
maintenance technicians are highly skilled personnel who maintain the aircraft
to standards set by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
·
Most
aircraft maintenance personnel receive training at one the technical schools
certified by the FAA. These schools award two-year and four-year degrees in
aircraft maintenance. Most mechanics who work on civilian aircraft are
certified by the FAA either as a power plant mechanic or and airframe mechanic.
FAA also offers A & P certification, which is a combined certificate for
both airframe and power plant mechanic.
·
Luxury flight training standards require certified
schools to offer a minimum of 1,900 class hours of instruction. Training is
provided with the tools and equipment used on the job. After the completion of
the course, the technicians must pass a certification exam and further take at
least 16 hours of training every year to keep their certificates current.
Career
Path
·
An
aircraft engineer or technician joins an airline, or air force, as a trainee or
as part of a team under a supervisor. Only after sufficiently long work
experience does he assume an independent charge of his work or aircraft. Work
is challenging and often takes place during odd hours, in shifts or on call.
Posting may be away from home in remote locations and work itself is physically
demanding. However, rewards are available including good earnings and a deep
satisfaction.
·
Routine
maintenance as mandated by the FAA reduced the number of problems an airplane
may have and increases the service life of the vehicle. Scheduled and
unscheduled aircraft maintenance accounts for fewer air tragedies as the strict
guidelines of the FAA require regular reporting and accountability of service
logs and mileage logs for every aircraft. It gives attention to detail actually
ensures well-tuned engines, fuselage and operating avionics aboard the aircraft
are functioning properly and are devoid of any defect that may affect
performance.
Know the costs
Maintenance of any aircraft
system is a highly expensive proposition. Not only are there routine cleaning
costs involved but also expenses for the overhead work, cleaning personnel as
well as host of other maintenance expenses. In order to ascertain if your
expenses are too high you need to take a reality check or a stock of the
situation at hand. Make sure you check your balance sheet thoroughly. See if
the cost of inspections and associated maintenance is extremely high. Talk to
the owners of other aircraft systems and see if they too have similar expenses.
If you find too much of a gap between your aircraft maintenance costs and
theirs it is time to rethink your objectives. Your aircraft maintenance costs
should ideally be within the same limit or bandwidth as other aircraft systems.
If they are too high and if there is a large difference, you should probably
look at other cleaning products or buying a new aircraft!
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