Aviation Maintenance Careers

Do you know who Charlie Taylor was?  Probably not.  He, like thousands others today, is the unsung hero of powered flight.  It was Kitty Hawk, NC in 1903, and Charlie Taylor was busy in the shop as the engine he built and tested lifted the first airplane pilot in history toward the clouds.  The story of the Wright brothers' first flight is famous, but little credit is given to the hard work and brilliant mind of their mechanic, Charles E. Taylor. 

Today, as millions of passengers hop from city-to-city or continent-to-continent, little thought is given to the countless hours spent ensuring the safety and reliability of the aircraft they will board.  The famous safety record of air travel is attributable mostly to the men and women walking in Mr. Taylor's footsteps - Aviation Maintenance Technicians.

Today the aircraft in our skies are immensely more complex and, likewise, the skills needed to maintain them must reach higher and further than ever.  Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) often begin their careers in aviation by attending a FAA approved Aviation Maintenance school.  Training in these schools includes the development of skills in repairing, maintaining, inspecting or building every major system and component of an aircraft.   At the end of their training, prospective AMTs will need to take FAA Exams to earn an Airframe & Powerplant Certificate (A&P).  Nearly all employers in the aviation industry will require their technicians to earn this certification.  Commonly employers place a premium on candidates who hold an Associates Degree or higher as well.

There are approximately 200 schools in the U.S. which offer FAA approved AMT training programs.  These can be found at four-year universities, two-year community colleges, technical colleges and vocational schools.  Most programs range in duration from 18 to 24 months.  When considering which school to attend the student should ask about tuition costs, financial aid availability, job placement statistics for graduates and program completion rates. It is also important to consider certification exam pass rates, daily instructor interaction (one-on-one time availability), school accreditation, school history and request a listing of subjects in the curriculum.

After completing training, AMTs will begin using their specialized skills in a career in the multi-billion dollar aviation industry.  The industry includes commercial passenger and cargo transport, aircraft construction and design, helicopter maintenance and overhaul, historical aircraft restoration, leading edge aerospace development, General aviation maintenance, corporate aircraft maintenance and many more specialized areas of expertise. 

The aviation industry is growing everyday.  New technology and ever-expanding fleets of aircraft require more AMTs all the time.  Consistently safe and reliable services provided by this industry are vital to our nation's economy.  The highly skilled men and women maintaining those standards get little applause, but the rewards are great: high pay, great benefits, free travel, and the knowledge that everyday they make a real difference.  Just like Charlie, today's Aviation Maintenance Technicians are, from behind the scenes, ensuring that air travel is safe, ready, and available to those who need it.

Article provided by Scott Hopper, Director of Admissions, Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Indianapolis; campuses also located in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Manassas, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Orlando  and Norfolk.