Becoming An A&P Mechanic
If you feel you have:
- Good teamwork skills
- Strong communication skills
- A keen eye for detail
- A willingness to keep learning
- A knack for solving problems
- A desire to work with technology
- An ability to handle the responsibility
Then you could become a great Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic and this could be your calling and career…
Aviation Heros
Major Marisol A. Chalas, decorated pilot with nearly 26 years of service, was born in Bani, Dominican Republic and at age nine, moved with her family to the U.S. to reside in Massachusetts. Chalas’s parents were her greatest role models, often working two jobs each to take care of their children. She says, “We learned very young that in order to be successful you have to work hard at it, nothing is handed to you.”
Major Chalas began her military career as an enlisted soldier in the Army in July 1990. She was among the top graduates at Fort Rucker Army Aviation School and in 2001 received her commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Aviation branch from the Georgia Military Institute Officer Candidate School.
“Hispanic Americans make up the blueprint of a diverse and unique culture,” said Chalas. “They have often made gut-wrenching sacrifices, faced isolation, experienced persecution, and dealt with discrimination, all to make a new life for themselves and their families.” Said Chalas. Source: LatinTrends
How to Become An A&P Mechanic
There are three basic paths a person can follow to qualify for the FAA certification tests.
Starting with the basic FAA requirements to qualify for test certification, YOU
- Option 1 – Practical Experience
- 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machines, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering an airframe or power plant, appropriate to the rating sought
- Or, 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both the airframe and powerplant ratings. You have to pass three types of tests:
- Option 2 – FAA School
- By graduating from an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS)
- The typical program takes anywhere from 12-24 months to complete, possibly longer if attending part-time
- Option 3 – Military
- By completing the Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council (JSAMTCC) training course for military personnel.
- Contact the local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) to confirm acceptable specialties.
With the required practical experience or successful completion of an approved school program, which typically takes between 18 – 24 months to complete, there are three FAA tests that will need to be successfully passed –
The Good News
Here’s the good news. With the growing shortage of qualified A&P Mechanics worldwide, there are ample financial aid and assistance programs available today from student loans to grants to scholarships.
With the good salaries offered today, the aspiring A&P mechanic can not only tap into the various student loan programs but should also be able to comfortably repay. In some cases, repayment even can start with sign on bonuses.
Keep in Mind
Keep in mind that many FAR part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools offer financial aid in the form of scholarships and student loans. If you find a school to your liking, consider reviewing their financial aid and scholarships programs as well.
I Want To Be An A&P Mechanic, Now What?
That’s great! You want to be an A&P Mechanic and are wondering what to do next. Use this checklist of tasks and activities to help you with your planning. Get excited – be excited! It’s time to dream big!
Career Takeoff Checklist ✔
Click to open and read more about each step on your takeoff checklist.
Explore this website to learn more about career options and use this resource and others to help you understand what a career in aviation could mean to you.
Start a dialog with your friends and family or your school guidance counselor. Explain your desire to pursue a career in aviation and seek their input to help guide you through the process.
There is nothing like piloting a real airplane. Flying high above your neighborhood or the countryside where you live is an experience that will excite and motivate you to be a pilot and make aviation and flying airplanes your career. Reach out to a flying school. If you have not already, click here to more information to help you find an opportunity to take flight near you.
If you decide to further explore or pursue an aviation career, then you need a training plan. Use this website to help you understand the training and experience requirements, but then talk to flight schools, other pilots or mechanics, your friends and family and your school guidance counselor. They are resources that can help develop a training plan specific to your situation and needs.
There’s almost nothing better than learning from those with aviation experience. Your local flight school would be a great place to reach out to help connect you with pilots or A&P mechanic.
With a good training and experience development plan in hand, you can start pulling together a budget that supports your training and experience development plan. Evaluate the cost of each element of your training plan. Including opportunities to generate income while gaining valuable experience, such as becoming a flight instructor to accumulate flight hours or working as an A&P apprentice to achieve certification experience. Then use this website and other resources to explore financial aid options to support your plan as needed.
Once you have a clear plan to complete the necessary training and flight time experience or A&P mechanic apprenticeship requirements, develop your career path. Where do you want to start your professional career? Use this website, talk to other aviation professionals and use other resources to explore a career path that meets your needs and desires.
As with any career development journey, there will be hits and misses along the way. Just remember, celebrate the hits and learn from the misses, but stay focused and make it happen for yourself. Your success is all about you!
