Aviation maintenance technology: Everything You Need to Know

1. What is the work of aircraft maintenance technology?

In the US, an aircraft maintenance technician is a tradesperson and also refers to a licensed technical qualification for carrying out aircraft maintenance. AMTs inspect and perform or supervise maintenance, preventive maintenance, repairs and alteration of aircraft and aircraft systems.

2. Is aviation maintenance a good career?

A job as an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) is an excellent alternative for anyone who wants to work in the aviation industry. Positions in the aviation business are highly visible and offer significant potential for advancement, making it a fantastic career choice.

One such opportunity is the position of AME. The AME is in charge of an aircraft's overall safety, security, and maintenance. As a result, experts with expertise in aviation maintenance are in high demand.

3. How many years is aircraft maintenance technology?

The Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Maintenance Technology (BSAMT) is a four-year laddered degree program that prepares students to work as avionics technicians. The curriculum teaches students aviation maintenance skills such as building, inspecting, operating, maintaining, and repairing structures, systems, and power plants for aircraft and other aerospace vehicles.

4. What are the types of maintenance in aviation?

Light or Line Maintenance

This would typically include Pre-flight checks, daily checks (before first flight) fluids, failure rectification as well as minor, scheduled maintenance tasks as follows. According to EASA Part 145, AMC 145.A.10, line maintenance should be understood as “any maintenance that is carried out before flight to ensure that the aircraft is fit for the intended flight.” This may include:

• Troubleshooting.
• Defect rectification.
• Component replacement, up to and including engines and propellers, with the use of external test equipment if required.
• Scheduled maintenance and/or checks, including visual inspections will detect obvious failures but do not require extensive in-depth inspection. It may also include internal structure, systems and powerplant items which are visible through quick-opening access panels/doors.
• Minor repairs and modifications do not require extensive disassembly and can be accomplished by simple means.
• EASA Part 145, AMC 145.A.10 also explains that “for temporary or occasional cases (ADs, SBs) the Quality Manager may accept base maintenance tasks to be performed by a line maintenance organisation provided all requirements are fulfilled as defined by the competent authority”. It is also noted that “Maintenance tasks falling outside these criteria are considered to be Base Maintenance”.

Base or Heavy Maintenance

Base maintenance may be referred to as heavy (or depth) maintenance and consists of tasks that are generally more in-depth and long-lasting than those above, but are performed less frequently. An MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) company will have to have large facilities and specialized equipment and staff to undertake base maintenance, and many operators contract out this function. The different activities may include:

• C and D Checks (block checks see Maintenance Programme) which will check for deterioration of the airframe, engines and systems, e.g. corrosion, and fatigue.
• Removal of defects – implementation of Service Bulletins (SB) and Airworthiness Directives (AD), although this can also be done during Line maintenance.
• Technology upgrade – fitting of Terrain Avoidance and Warning System (TAWS), Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) etc.
• Cabin reconfiguration, painting etc.

Shop or Component Maintenance

The third type of maintenance is known as "Workshop" or simply "Shop maintenance." This includes maintenance on components removed from aircraft, such as engines, APUs, and seats. This is sometimes done within the same organization as Base Maintenance, while other times it is done by a distinct company.

Maintenance Intervals

The intervals of maintenance are parameters set within the Approved Maintenance Schedule (AMS), which is in turn based on the Maintenance Planning Document (MPD). These will be set according to different criteria, mostly depending on how well damage can be detected and failure predicted [CAA, 2017].

Hard time

• Preventative process in which known deterioration of an Item is limited to an acceptable level by the maintenance actions.
• Carried out at periods related to time in service (e.g. calendar time, number of cycles, number of landings).

On-condition

• Preventative process in which Item are inspected or tested, at specified periods, to an appropriate standard to determine whether it can continue in service.
• Such an inspection/test may reveal a need for maintenance action.
• The fundamental purpose of On-Condition is to remove an Item before its failure in service.

Condition monitoring

• Information on Items gained from monitoring is collected, analysed and interpreted on a continuing basis as a means of deciding whether or not to implement corrective procedures.
• This process is normally automated and may form part of the aircraft’s onboard health management system.
• Units for Maintenance Intervals
• Flight Hours (FH), for items that are in constant operation e.g. Fuel Pumps, Electric Generators
• Flight Cycles (FC), for items operated once or twice per flight e.g. Landing gear, air starter, brakes, hull pressurization.
• Calendar Time (Cal), for items exposed, whether operated or not e.g. Fire Extinguishers, Corrosion to Structure
• Operating hours, for items not operated every flight, or otherwise independent of FH or FC e.g. APU operation.

5. What are the 3 types of aircraft mechanics?

Aircraft maintenance mechanics are classified into three types: 

• Airframe and powerplant mechanics (A&P) or routine aircraft maintenance, includes: examining engines, conducting 100-hour inspections, replacing and repairing defective parts, repairing minor structural damage, and keeping corrosion under control.
• Inspection authorization approved mechanics (IA). An IA is an FAA-licensed A&P mechanic with the additional endorsement of “inspection authority” issued on a FAA Form 8310-5 (IA card). As such, IAs are authorized to do progressive and annual aircraft inspections, in addition to a variety of maintenance and alterations, than non-authorized A&Ps.
• FAA-certificated repair station. A good service with trained, experienced mechanics will have the specific equipment and authorizations required for difficult repairs, including avionics and electronics overhauls, mechanical actuators, fuel systems, and carburetors.

6. Can aircraft mechanics become pilots?

Aircraft mechanics are not licensed to fly aircraft unless they obtain the same private pilot's license (PPL) that an aircraft pilot is required to have to fly an aircraft.

7. Do you need to be good at math to be an aircraft mechanic?

Mathematics and logic are vital in this position since this personnel must be able to test and articulate faults in all aspects of the aircraft's engineering. Furthermore, an aviation technician must have exceptional hand-eye coordination as well as finger dexterity.

Take your choice!

That’s all there is when it comes to learning about Aviation maintenance technology. It is helpful to know exactly what you will do when you learn aviation maintenance technology or choose aviation maintenance services.

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