Aviation Mechanic

What do you do in a typical day?

When I arrive at work in the morning I meet with my supervisor to see what work needs to be done for the day. Customers call and make appointments to bring in their planes and helicopters for inspections and repairs. As a certified A&P (Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic) I spend my days performing safety checks and repairing airplanes and helicopters. I get pretty dirty while I figure out what,s wrong with things, find the problem, and then fix it. It feels good to get things fixed, and I like knowing that people will be safer because of my work.

What led you to your present career?

I used to hang out with my brother while he worked on cars, and I liked it.So while I was in high school, I told my School To Work Coordinator that I wanted to be a mechanic. During my last semester of high school participated in  School To Work Job. My job was  at Omni Aviation and I discovered it was challenging and enjoyable!

I found out about a course in Fairbanks where I could learn the things I needed to know to get my A&P certificate.The course was one year long, and we didn,t have many vacations, but I learned a lot!I learned about welding, painting, electricity, and sheet metal, just to name a few.I worked hard in my class, and then it was time to take my test. There were 3 parts to my test: a written section (like most tests), an oral section (where I was asked questions), and a practice section (where demonstrated things I had learned). Now that I,m a certified A&P, I can work in many different places!

What school subjects are the most important in your job?

I didn,t realize until I went to the class in Fairbanks how important math would be in my career. I also have to read a lot of manuals and books to get the information I need to fix things. In addition, I have to keep many records to document the repairs I make on airplanes and helicopters. 

What skills are needed in your job?

Since I,m responsible for the safety of airplanes and helicopters, it is really important that I pay close attention to details and not miss anything that could make whatever I,m working on unsafe. I use many different tools to figure out what,s wrong with something and then figure out how to fix it. I work with my hands all the time, but I also have to use my head to make good decisions and troubleshoot problems. I often have to read manuals for instructions or information to help me. Getting along with other people like my co-workers and customers is also very important.

What do you like best and what do you like least about your job?

The best thing about my job is working with my hands and getting dirty. It feels good to identify a problem and then be able to fix it, and know that my work is helping to keep people safe. Sometimes, after I fix something, we have to go test it out by going up with a pilot in the airplane or helicopter, and that,s pretty fun too.

The worst thing about my job is the paperwork. It also seemed like a long time and a lot of work when I did my class in Fairbanks before I took my A&P test because it was 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for a whole year, with only little weekend breaks and a break for Christmas. It was hard, but I,m really glad I stuck with it!

What could young people do to prepare themselves for this career?

If you think you might be interested in being an airplane or helicopter mechanic, you should start learning about how things work like engines and machines. You should look into getting a job or volunteering at a helicopter or airplane place so you can have some knowledge about the things you,d be working with, and know for sure that it,s something you,re really interested in. It,s important that you make sure you finish high school and graduate.   Staying in school, learning math, and being a good reader are all things for young people to focus on..