Airframe Technology Training and Education Program Overviews
Airframe technicians and mechanics inspect, repair and maintain aircrafts. Airframe technicians should hold a mechanic certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. To qualify for the certificate, individuals must first meet the minimum educational prerequisites, which can be provided within an Associate of Applied Science in Airframe Technology degree program.
Associate of Applied Science in Airframe Technology
Aspiring airframe technicians who are looking to enroll in an associate's degree program must first find one that is accredited by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Approved 2-year degree programs provide students with an educational foundation in aircraft technology that teaches them the practical and technical skills necessary to work as a technician in the field.
The curriculum included within a 2-year associate degree program in aircraft technology covers basic mechanic processes such as welding, rigging, assembling and finishing. Students learn how to apply these skills to aircrafts in order to maintain, repair and calibrate aircraft electrical systems, navigational systems, hydraulic systems, landing gear systems, positioning systems and control systems.
Education Prerequisites
Community, technical and vocational colleges are the schools most likely to offer approved associate degree programs in airframe technology. Such schools only admit students who have proof of a high school education or its equivalent. Some schools also require students to complete mathematics and English language placement tests before they can begin core classes.
Program Coursework
Associate degree programs in airframe technology are comprised of both classroom lectures and practical laboratory sessions. Some specific examples include:
- Ground operation
- Ground service and cleaning
- Materials and processes
- Maintenance forms and regulations
- Aviation physics
- Aircraft electrical systems
- Welding
- Airframe inspection
- Airframe repair
Employment Outlook and Salary Info
Air transportation industries were the largest employers of airframe technicians and mechanics in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). In that year, airframe technicians held a total of more than 112,000 jobs and earned a median annual salary topping $52,000.
Certification Options
The FAA must certify all airframe technicians and mechanics before they are allowed to work on aircrafts. Those who are not certified must work under the direct supervision of a certified mechanic at all times. Individuals must have at least 18 months of professional experience before they can apply for an airframe mechanic certificate from the FAA. In many cases, the completion of an associate degree program can be substituted for those work months.
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