Aircraft maintenance technician
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Aircraft Maintenance Technician, as used in the United States, refers to an individual who holds a mechanic certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT's) perform or supervise maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration of aircraft and aircraft systems in accordance with the provisions of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's, which are Chapter 1 of Title 14 the Code of Federal Regulations). The Canadian equivalent of an AMT is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.
Certification
Certification of mechanics is regulated under 14 CFR Part 65[1]. Those who fulfill the necessary requirements are issued a Mechanic certificate with either an Airframe or Powerplant rating, or both. It is these ratings which together account for the common practice of referring to mechanics as "A&P's." Until the early 1950s, instead of the Powerplant rating, an Engine rating was issued, so the abbreviation "A&E" may appear in older documents.
The general requirements for eligibility for a mechanic certificate include the following:
- Be 18 or older;
- Be able to read, speak, and understand English; and
- Pass a set of required tests within a maximum of 24 months.
Eligibility for the mechanic tests depends on the applicant's ability to document her or his knowledge of required subject matter and ability to perform maintenance tasks. The FAA recognizes two ways of demonstrating the needed knowledge and skills: On-the-job experience or completion of a training program at a school certified under 14 CFR Part 147[2].
14 CFR Part 147 schools
These regulations specify each class and topic the applicant must become proficient in and how many hours each class must contain, for a total of 1900 hours of training. Completion of the program usually takes between 18 months and two years. The FAA requires that mechanics be taught all systems of the aircraft, such as:
- Airframe sheet metal structures
- Cabin pressurization and climate control systems
- Composite structures
- Deicing systems
- Dope-and-fabric
- Electrical and charging systems
- Flight controls
- Hydraulics
- Ignition systems
- Landing gear
- Propellers
- Reciprocating Engines
- Rigging (fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft)
- Turbine Engines
- Welding
Thorough knowledge of FAA rules and regulations (especially with regard to accepted repair/modification procedures) is also expected of A&P mechanics.
After a maintenance student completes the required academic and hands-on coursework, he/she is then required by the FAA to pass a written General test, an Airframe written test, and a Powerplant written test in order to proceed to the next phase of testing. After all written tests are satisfactorily completed, the candidate is now able to take an Oral & Practical exam given by a Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME), who will further test the knowledge of the prospective mechanic using a question and answer format, as well as requiring the candidate to perform several tasks using the correct methods. After successful completion of the Oral & Practical examination, the candidate will receive a temporary A&P certificate from the DME and will shortly receive a permanent license from the FAA. This certificate allows the A&P mechanic to perform all privileges granted to him/her by the FAA, including returning aircraft to service after maintenance.
Inspection Authorization
Some AMTs, after at least three years of working in their field, choose to acquire an Inspection Authorization. These individuals are allowed to perform annual inspections on aircraft and sign off for return to service on major repairs and alterations on the required block of the FAA form 337. Certification and limitations, including renewal requirements, of mechanics with Inspection Authorization is contained in 14 CFR Part 65.
The requirements for obtaining an Inspection Auhorization is that the AMT must be licensed for a minumum of three years and actively exercising the rights of an A&P for the two years prior to the date that the IA examination is to be taken.
Renewal of the IA certificate must be done every two years (on odd years) by submitting to the FAA a form showing a minimum of activity in which the IA exercised his or her authority. This activity comprises of either annual inspections, major repairs, major alterations, or a minimum of 8 hours of FAA approved training. This activity must be accomplished every 12 months even though the renewal period is every 24 months.
European authorities
Aircraft Maintenance Technicians in Europe must comply with AMC Part 66, Certifying Staff, issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
AMC Part 66 is based on Joint Aviation Regulations (JAR) promulgated by the Joint Aviation Authorities and on Air Transport Association (ATA) Specification 104. There are four levels of authorization:
- Level 1: General Familiarisation, Unlicensed
- Level 2: Ramp and Transit, Category A
- Level 3: Line and Base Maintenance, Category B1 (Mechanical) and/or B2(Avionics)
- Level 4: Release to Service, Category C
Aircraft Maintenance Organizations
There are several organizations that have been formed to support the profession of Aircraft Maintenance, including the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) and the National Center for Aircraft Technician Training (NCATT).