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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Hangar Supervisor

💰 $ - $

AviationMaintenanceSupervision

🎯 Role Definition

The Jet Hangar Supervisor leads and coordinates all hangar-based maintenance, repair and overhaul activities for business jets and commercial aircraft. This role combines technical leadership with operational management: supervising licensed mechanics and technicians, enforcing regulatory compliance (FAA, EASA or local RA), ensuring on-time maintenance execution, and maintaining strict safety, quality and documentation standards. The ideal candidate is an experienced A&P or Part-66 certified technician with proven supervisory experience, strong process discipline, and the ability to communicate clearly with flight crews, maintenance planners and customers.

Primary objectives include optimizing hangar throughput, minimizing AOG downtime, maintaining accurate aircraft records, and continuously improving maintenance workflows and hangar safety culture. This position interfaces daily with Flight Operations, Quality Assurance, Materials Management, and external vendors to deliver safe, compliant, and cost-effective maintenance outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Aircraft Mechanic / Licensed Technician (A&P or Part-66)
  • Line Maintenance Supervisor / Lead Technician
  • Aircraft Maintenance Planner / Scheduler

Advancement To:

  • Hangar or Base Maintenance Manager
  • Director of Maintenance / Chief Engineer
  • Operations Manager (Fixed Base Operator or MRO)

Lateral Moves:

  • Quality Assurance Manager / Inspector
  • Safety & Compliance Manager
  • Materials / Inventory Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Supervise day-to-day hangar operations including scheduled heavy maintenance, line checks, unscheduled repairs and AOG recovery for business and commercial jets, ensuring work is completed safely, on-time and to regulatory standards.
  • Assign, prioritize and monitor technician workloads and job cards; ensure correct manpower allocation across airframe, powerplant, avionics and composite repair tasks to meet maintenance schedules and minimize aircraft downtime.
  • Ensure full compliance with FAA (14 CFR), EASA (Part-145/Part-M), or applicable civil aviation authority regulations; maintain up-to-date knowledge of airworthiness directives (ADs), service bulletins (SBs) and OEM maintenance requirements.
  • Review and approve maintenance work packages, task cards and technical data prior to release; verify that all steps are performed and properly documented in aircraft logbooks and the maintenance tracking system.
  • Lead pre- and post-maintenance shift briefings and debriefs to communicate priorities, safety issues, and quality expectations; promote a strong safety culture and adherence to PPE and lockout/tagout procedures.
  • Conduct daily hangar walkthroughs to monitor work progress, identify technical or logistical bottlenecks, and take corrective action to maintain throughput and compliance.
  • Mentor, coach and develop licensed technicians and support staff; manage performance conversations, training plans, certifications and workforce scheduling.
  • Coordinate with maintenance planners and production control to sequence tasks, book test runs, secure GSE (ground support equipment) and plan engine runs and functional checks.
  • Oversee tooling and equipment control program: ensure GSE, calibration, special tools and test equipment are maintained, calibrated and records are current.
  • Serve as the primary on-site liaison for customer representatives, pilots and external vendors during maintenance events; manage expectations and communicate progress and technical findings.
  • Implement and enforce Quality Control processes, including in-process inspections, sign-offs, parts traceability and non-conformance handling in partnership with QA/CM.
  • Manage parts consumption and material requisitions for hangar jobs; work with inventory and purchasing to prevent delays due to missing or unserviceable parts.
  • Approve and monitor overtime, shift coverage and subcontractor usage to meet aircraft return-to-service deadlines while controlling labor costs.
  • Investigate and resolve technical discrepancies, squawks and repeat defects; lead root cause analysis for significant failures and track corrective actions through closure.
  • Supervise engine/auxiliary power unit (APU) removals, installations and ground runs in accordance with OEM instructions and safety plans, ensuring proper isolation and hazard control.
  • Ensure all maintenance documentation is uploaded and reconciled in the maintenance tracking system (e.g., AMOS, Ramco, CAMP, Trax) and that digital and paper records meet regulatory audit standards.
  • Manage hangar security, access control and preservation procedures for out-of-service aircraft; ensure hazardous materials are handled and disposed of per environmental and OSHA guidelines.
  • Prepare operational metrics and KPIs (on-time performance, maintenance turnaround time, deferred defects, man-hours per visit) and present weekly/monthly reports to management.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives: standardize work, reduce rework, improve first-time-fix rates, and implement lean maintenance best practices across the hangar.
  • Lead emergency response for hangar incidents (fuel spills, fire, accidental damage), coordinating with Safety, QA and local emergency services and completing incident reports and corrective actions.
  • Maintain licensing and certification records for all mechanics and ensure regulatory training (human factors, safety, dangerous goods) is current.
  • Conduct competency assessments, apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs to build bench strength and succession candidates for supervisory roles.
  • Coordinate with flight operations for aircraft acceptance and release procedures; ensure all required airworthiness releases, logbook entries and CDAs are complete before return to service.
  • Oversee contract and vendor performance for outsourced work scopes (NDT, paint, specialized repairs) including statement of work, safety plans and final inspection coordination.
  • Develop and manage hangar-level budgets, including labor forecasting, tool procurement and minor capital investments to support maintenance reliability and productivity.

Secondary Functions

  • Participate in cross-functional maintenance planning meetings and aid in long-term capacity planning to balance hangar workload with seasonal demand.
  • Support internal audits and regulatory inspections; provide records and evidence as requested by QA and the regulatory authority.
  • Help implement digital transformation projects that improve maintenance data capture, predictive maintenance and knowledge management.
  • Assist in creating and updating maintenance manuals, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and local work instructions relevant to hangar tasks.
  • Contribute to safety committee meetings and investigations; recommend procedural changes to reduce hazards and improve ergonomics in the hangar.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • FAA A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) certificate or EASA Part-66 Category B1/B2 license (or equivalent regulatory certification).
  • Proficiency in aircraft maintenance tracking and ERP systems (e.g., AMOS, Ramco, CAMP, TRAX, IFS) for job assignment and records management.
  • Deep knowledge of aircraft systems: airframe structures, powerplant/engine systems, fuel systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, environmental control systems (ECS) and avionics basics.
  • Experience with OEM maintenance data and structural repair manuals (SRMs), illustrated parts catalogs (IPC) and service bulletins.
  • Strong tooling and GSE management skills, including calibration program oversight and special tooling control.
  • Familiarity with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods and coordination of NDT providers (eddy current, ultrasound, dye penetrant).
  • Proven ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams, schematics and maintenance task cards.
  • Solid understanding of regulatory compliance and documentation: AD compliance, maintenance release processes, logbook entries and certificates of release to service.
  • Competence in conducting engine/APU ground runs, bleed air tests and system functional checks safely and according to procedure.
  • Working knowledge of hazardous materials handling, fuel safety, environmental regulations and OSHA standards.
  • Skilled in developing and monitoring KPIs, maintenance cost control and labor productivity metrics.
  • Experience supervising subcontractors and vendor scopes; managing SOWs and vendor quality acceptance.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and team-building skills with experience coaching technicians and creating high-performance maintenance teams.
  • Excellent written and oral communication: able to explain technical issues to pilots, customers and management clearly and diplomatically.
  • Superior organizational skills and attention to detail: able to manage multiple aircraft and tasks in a dynamic environment.
  • Decisive problem-solving and root-cause analysis capabilities under time pressure (AOG recovery mindset).
  • Customer-focused mindset: professional interface with aircraft owners, operators and flight crews to maintain high satisfaction.
  • Conflict resolution and personnel management: handling scheduling disputes, disciplinary actions and staffing shortages.
  • Time management and prioritization skills: driving on-time aircraft returns while maintaining safety and quality.
  • Continuous improvement orientation: experience leading lean maintenance, 5S or Kaizen initiatives.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, 24/7 operational environments.
  • Coaching and mentorship skills for cross-training and succession development.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School diploma or GED plus FAA A&P certificate or equivalent national aircraft maintenance license (Part-66 / A1-A8) required.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Aerospace Engineering or related technical field.
  • Additional management training or certifications (e.g., supervisory leadership, safety management system courses) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aviation Maintenance Technology
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5 to 12 years of direct aircraft maintenance experience, including at least 2–4 years in a lead or supervisory role in a hangar or base maintenance environment.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years of progressive experience with business jets or narrow/wide-body commercial aircraft and demonstrated experience managing hangar teams, scheduling heavy checks, and interfacing with QA and regulatory authorities.
  • Experience with maintenance tracking software (AMOS, CAMP, Ramco, TRAX), vendor management, and budget oversight.

If you would like, I can tailor this profile to a specific fleet (e.g., Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer, Boeing, Airbus) or region to match FAA or EASA regulatory language and local salary benchmarking.

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