Flight Technician Resource Guide
Most airplanes are filled with complicated, expensive pieces of equipment that need to be serviced and inspected regularly. The people who have the skills and experience to look after these systems are flight technicians. This guide will provide you with a valuable list of resources for aspiring flight technicians, including an in-depth description of what they do and where you can find work as one.
You might not know exactly what a Flight Technician does, but you’ve probably come across their work before; they make sure the systems on airplanes function properly so passengers can fly safely. They make sure the engines run at peak efficiency and react to the limits of their design. They work with pilots to maximize their performance and keep them safe. They optimize airplane systems for maximum efficiency, safety and reliability.
Flight technicians are vital to ensuring that everyone on an airplane has a comfortable, enjoyable flight. They keep aircraft in operation during busy times and make sure that crew members are rewarded for a job well done by having access to the best seats during takeoff and landing. Most importantly, flight technicians ensure that travelers have a safe trip every time they fly.
Flight technicians make sure that airplane systems function properly, including checking and maintaining sensitive airplane equipment like the engines, sensors and the control systems for the flaps, rudder and landing gear. This work is done in hangars where flight crews do their regular maintenance work during pre-flight checks or between flights.
Flight technicians also help with maintenance on other types of aircraft as well. They inspect and replace airplane tires, landing gear, brakes and other parts. They also liaise with ground crew helping to ensure that pilots are ready to start their engines at the right time during takeoff and to get them stopped safely during landings.
Flight technicians are typically employed at airlines, air traffic controllers, repair facilities and maintenance organizations. They may also be employed in other aviation related industries such as aerospace engineering or aviation finance.
Becoming a flight technician requires special training. Most airlines will hire for this role on the basis of their skills as mechanics which are usually acquired through their work with customers of their airframe construction facility or private flying school. Flight technicians are also a member of the aircraft maintenance professionals (AMP) union which automatically gives them some rights within the industry such as representation by AMP local 47 within the United States and Canada and AMP 46 in the United Kingdom.
While the aircraft maintenance workforce is a globally distributed, skilled and highly trained profession, that all changes with the introduction of low cost airlines, which require less qualified personnel to perform the same tasks as their more expensive peers. The impact of these airlines can be seen in many countries where there is a flight technician shortage and attrition rates are higher than normal. In addition to this, new technologies like satellite communications have increased the need for skilled mechanics while also leading to a reassessment of how pilots will interact with technicians when not using a traditional cockpit.
In 2014 and 2015 Flight technicians were in high demand due to an increase in air travel and low cost carriers operating internationally. This led to a shortage of personnel in all areas. There was a 42.3% increase in qualified flight technicians between 2012 to 2014 and between 2015 and 2016, the number of qualified flight technician applicants increased by 11.5%. This demand has yet to subside as low cost carriers continue to increase international service and there is still not enough qualified personnel.
To become a flight technician, you’ll need to be educated to at least a high school level and preferably have some college or specialised courses as well. After completing coursework, you can then enrol in several different flight technician training programs that most airlines offer. A technician training program will cover everything from ground school instruction to practical on the job training and even classroom or online lessons.
Airlines are business enterprises, too, and they need skilled workers. Flight technicians need knowledge of how an engine functions before they are able to work with them on an airplane in the real world. This typically entails learning the different systems that make up an aircraft engine and how they work together. Once they have this knowledge, they need to learn how to inspect and maintain these systems. Practical training is also very important because you won’t be expected to be able to perform tasks that you have never done before. It’s best if you can work on airplanes as a mechanic during your training period so that you can really get the most out of it.
In order for someone to become a flight technician, he or she must pass a competency test set by the airline where they would like to work. You can also become a flight technician at your local aviation related business or aircraft maintenance facility. Many airplane manufacturers will hire technicians that are already employed by the company to perform job functions with their product. This allows the company to maintain a high level of quality while they train new employees on the job.
If you want to learn more information on what flight technicians do, check out this article on Flight Technician jobs. If you think you are ready for a career as a flight technician, then watch our Aviation careers video below:
Reposted from Aerotask’s website (http://www.aerotask.com/) with permission of Aerotask, Inc. (www.aerotaskinc.com).
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Conclusion
If you’re interested in working as a flight technician, it is important to understand the job’s responsibilities and qualifications. Because hiring of flight technicians is relatively new, there aren’t many career fairs or other job fairs that are specific to this field. However, since this industry is still relatively new, it may take some time before there are more opportunities available. Your best option is to check out your local airport or airport news group and see what types of flight technician jobs are currently being offered by different companies. In addition, it can pay to go back online and search for flights technicians jobs online. That way you can learn about a variety of companies that may have the opportunity for you.