Many employers of avionics technicians strongly recommend that you also hold an aviation mechanic certificate with a fuselage rating. You need a high school diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED) to enter most schools. Schooling lasts 12 months and 24 months, usually less than required by the FAA for on-the-job training. When you graduate, you will be qualified to take the FAA exams.
Graduates often earn higher starting salaries than people who gained the required experience in one of two other ways. Yes, the manuals for aviation maintenance technicians used for the subject areas General, Airframe and Power Plant can be viewed and downloaded, free of charge, on the Aircraft Manuals & FAA Manuals page. Yes, your experience will qualify, as long as you have done the work on a fuselage, a powerplant, or both. For example, the engine (and the propeller, if any), cylinders, pistons and fans are part of the powerplant of an aircraft.
This course introduces students to aircraft propeller systems, fire detection and suppression systems, reciprocating and turbine engines, troubleshooting power plant inspections. Course topics include the review of each type of powerplant, inspection technique, induction systems, cooling systems, exhaust systems and turbocharging systems. If you have a fuselage certificate, you do not need any other certificates, but you must be properly trained and qualified and have the the right tools and equipment. In addition, power plant mechanics can use diagnostic equipment such as ignition analyzers, compression testers or ammeters.
If you maintain or alter, or perform preventive maintenance, you must perform that work in such a way and use materials of such quality, that the condition of the aircraft, fuselage, aircraft engine, propeller or apparatus in which you worked is at least equal to its original condition or properly altered. To qualify for the licensing process, mechanics must be at least 18 years of age and 18 months of experience working in power plants or aircraft structures, or 30 months of experience working in both. Los Angeles Area College Catalog Supplemental Program Brochure BPPE State Performance Fact Sheet - Airframe & Power Plant BPPE State Performance Fact Sheet - Aviation Maintenance Technology BPPE State Annual Report - DiplomABPPE State Annual Report - BPPE Partner Website. FAA issues a single certificate with Airframe (A), Powerplant (P) or both (A&P) qualifications.
Airframe and powerplant licenses (A&P), the certifications required by the FAA, are different in that each can be obtained by passing the exams. Airframe technicians perform thorough inspections of aircraft frames, mechanical components and electrical systems to locate wear, defects and other problems. Upon completion of projects, students learn the correct procedures to inspect, test, review, & troubleshoot power plant systems & related components. You are allowed up to two hours each to complete the aviation maintenance technician's knowledge tests (general, fuselage and powerplant).
If you do not have an aviation mechanic certificate or an aviation mechanic certificate with appropriate privileges and limitations, you can only perform aviation related work when supervised by a person with a valid aviation mechanic certificate with a fuselage qualification, a plant qualification motor or both. .
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