Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Aircraft Mechanic

🎯 Role Definition

An Aircraft Mechanic (A&P) performs scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, inspections, troubleshooting, repair, overhaul, and certification of aircraft systems and components in accordance with FAA, EASA or other regulatory standards and manufacturer technical data. This role ensures airworthiness, flight safety, regulatory compliance, accurate maintenance records, and timely aircraft return-to-service for line and base maintenance across fixed-wing and rotary platforms.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) school graduate or FAA-approved A&P program completer
Entry-level line mechanic or apprentice under supervision of licensed A&P mechanic
Military aviation technician transitioning to civilian maintenance roles

Advancement To:

Lead Aircraft Mechanic / Team Lead
Maintenance Supervisor or Shift Lead
Certified Inspector / DER (Designated Engineering Representative) liaison
Maintenance Operations Manager / Base Maintenance Manager

Lateral Moves:

Avionics Technician (with additional training/certification)
Structures/Sheet Metal Repair Specialist
Components Shop Technician (APU, landing gear, avionic components)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform detailed pre-flight, post-flight and scheduled maintenance inspections (A/B/C/D checks) according to the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM), inspection procedures and company maintenance programs to ensure compliance with airworthiness directives (ADs) and service bulletins.
Troubleshoot complex electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel, flight control and environmental control systems using test equipment, wiring diagrams, schematics, and fault isolation procedures to diagnose root causes and implement corrective actions.
Remove, repair, replace and reinstall engines, accessories, transmissions, landing gear, flight controls and structural components following manufacturer torque specifications and rigging procedures; perform engine borescope inspections and run-ups as required.
Perform corrosion inspection and structural repairs including sheet metal work, composite patching/repair and welding in accordance with structural repair manuals and approved repair schemes.
Complete heavy maintenance and overhaul tasks on airframe and powerplant components, including disassembly, cleaning, inspection, reassembly and functional testing of assemblies and systems.
Execute precision rigging and alignment of flight control surfaces and landing gear systems to ensure proper flight characteristics and to meet manufacturer overhaul limits and tolerances.
Conduct non-destructive testing (NDT) such as dye penetrant, eddy current, ultrasonic and magnetic particle inspections to detect cracks, fatigue or defects in structural components and report findings per NDT procedures.
Read, interpret and apply maintenance technical orders (MTOs), illustrated parts catalogs (IPC), structural repair manuals (SRM), wiring diagrams and service bulletins to perform safe and compliant maintenance work.
Maintain and update aircraft maintenance logs, digital repair records, logbooks and AMOS/AMOS-like or other maintenance tracking systems with accurate descriptions of work performed, parts used, and certification signatures for return-to-service.
Adhere to regulatory requirements (FAA Part 43/145, EASA Part-145 as applicable) when certifying work; sign maintenance release documents and logbooks in accordance with civil aviation authority rules.
Respond to Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations promptly, coordinate with parts and logistics teams to source rotable parts, and perform time-critical repairs to minimize aircraft downtime.
Perform functional tests, system operational checks and ground runs after maintenance actions and record test results, ensuring systems meet performance standards prior to release to service.
Coordinate with avionics engineers and technicians for troubleshooting and repair of integrated avionics systems, transponders, radios, TCAS, navigation and flight management systems when mechanical work affects electronic components.
Maintain tool control, calibration records and test equipment maintenance; ensure specialized tools and ground support equipment are in safe operating condition and properly calibrated per company quality procedures.
Manage inventory of consumable parts, replacement components and expendables; create parts requisitions, track rotable exchanges, and support procurement to ensure availability for scheduled maintenance events.
Support continuous improvement and lean maintenance initiatives by reporting reliability trends, participating in root cause analysis, and suggesting process improvements to reduce turnaround times and maintenance costs.
Mentor and train junior mechanics, apprentices and contractors on maintenance best practices, safety procedures, proper use of technical data and company policies to build a high-performing maintenance team.
Perform pre- and post-maintenance safety checks, lockout/tagout procedures, and ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to maintain a safe work environment in accordance with safety management systems (SMS).
Liaise with quality assurance and regulatory inspectors during scheduled audits and unscheduled inspections; provide records, demonstrate maintenance tasks and implement corrective actions for any findings.
Install, remove and test aircraft components such as auxiliary power units (APUs), environmental control units (ECUs), fuel pumps and valves, ensuring proper sealing, leak tests and operational verification.
Execute engine and component trend monitoring by collecting performance data from inspections and tests, identifying out-of-tolerance conditions, and recommending corrective maintenance or shop-level repair.
Ensure compliance with hazardous materials handling, waste disposal, and chemical use protocols during maintenance operations, maintaining SDS records and minimizing environmental impact.

Secondary Functions

Participate in on-call rotations and shift work to provide 24/7 support for flight operations and AOG responses.
Assist maintenance planning and reliability teams with job card estimation, labor forecasting and turnaround time optimization for heavy checks and line maintenance.
Help maintain the hangar and worksite organization, cleanliness and documentation to meet company housekeeping and safety standards.
Support quality assurance by preparing materials for audits, assisting with corrective action plans and participating in continuous improvement projects.
Contribute to safety meetings, toolbox talks and SMS reporting by documenting incidents, near misses and suggestions to improve operational safety.
Provide technical input during aircraft modifications, STC installations and retrofits; coordinate with vendors and engineering for approvals and documentation.
Perform administrative tasks such as timekeeping for maintenance activities, parts reconciliation and preparing material disposition reports for surplus or scrap items.
Serve as a subject matter expert for specific aircraft types or systems, providing recommendations for troubleshooting, spares provisioning and maintenance planning.
Participate in supplier and vendor evaluations for component repair and overhaul to ensure parts quality and conformity with manufacturer specifications.
Assist in developing training materials, SOPs and job aids for recurring maintenance tasks and regulatory compliance topics.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certification or equivalent civil aviation license (EASA Part-66 Category B1/B2) — essential for certifying maintenance and release-to-service.
Strong knowledge of aircraft maintenance manuals (AMM), illustrated parts catalogs (IPC), structural repair manuals (SRM), service bulletins (SBs) and airworthiness directives (ADs).
Proven experience troubleshooting and repairing hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel, electrical, environmental control and flight control systems on fixed-wing and/or rotary aircraft.
Hands-on experience with turbine (jet) and/or piston engine maintenance including borescope inspections, engine removal/installation, accessory overhaul and engine run procedures.
Proficiency with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods: dye penetrant, eddy current, ultrasonic and magnetic particle inspection.
Ability to perform structural repairs including sheet metal fabrication, riveting, composite repairs and basic welding (TIG/MIG) as required by repair schemes.
Familiarity with maintenance tracking and enterprise maintenance systems (e.g., AMOS, TRAX, Ramco, CAMP, TRAXONICS) and digital logbook procedures.
Competence with avionics interfaces and basic avionics troubleshooting when mechanical maintenance interfaces with electronic systems (GPS, ADS-B, TCAS).
Skilled in the safe operation and maintenance of ground support equipment (GSE), test benches, torque wrenches, multimeters, borescopes and other specialty test equipment.
Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, wiring diagrams, schematics, tolerances and torque/rigging specifications.
Experience with corrosion control programs, paint stripping/inspection techniques and application of protective coatings.
Knowledge of regulatory compliance, quality assurance processes, and ability to interact with civil aviation authority inspectors during audits.

Soft Skills

Detail-oriented with a strong safety-first mindset and commitment to regulatory compliance and record accuracy.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills to diagnose intermittent and complex system failures under time pressure.
Strong verbal and written communication skills for clear maintenance records, shift handovers and cross-functional coordination.
Team player with the ability to mentor junior technicians and coordinate work with engineers, planners and avionics teams.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance scheduled checks, unscheduled repairs and AOG responses.
Adaptability and resilience to work shifts, weekend schedules and travel for line/base maintenance requirements.
Customer-focused attitude when interacting with pilots, operations staff and external stakeholders during maintenance events.
Good organizational and documentation skills to maintain traceability of parts, tools and certification records.
Continuous learning orientation to keep current with new aircraft systems, manufacturer updates and regulatory changes.
Conflict resolution and situational awareness to maintain safety and efficiency in high-pressure hangar environments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with completion of an FAA-certified A&P program or equivalent military aviation maintenance training.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Aerospace Maintenance, or related technical field.
Additional certifications such as FAA Inspection Authorization (IA), EASA Part-66, NDT certification, or manufacturer-specific type ratings.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Aviation Maintenance Technology
Aerospace Engineering Technology
Mechanical or Industrial Maintenance Technology
Electronics / Avionics Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–8 years of documented aircraft maintenance experience (line and/or base maintenance).

Preferred:

5+ years experience on specific aircraft types or fleets (e.g., Boeing 737/Airbus A320 family, regional jets, business jets, turboprops).
Experience in Part-145 or airline maintenance environments, familiarity with heavy checks, overhaul processes and maintenance planning.