Ask any pilot who the most important part of the trust sequence of the aircraft is, and many will answer it’s the mechanics that provide a safe and airworthy aircraft.
While the pilot shortage is widely publicized, the sourcing of qualified FAA-certified mechanics is not, and this is hurting many Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) operators, airlines, and commercial operators who desperately need these skilled technicians.
In general, the FAA designates mechanics in terms of an airframe certification and a powerplant certification based on a certified school or equivalent work experience. A fully certified mechanic is called an Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT), which some refer to as an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic. Additional certifications exist for avionics technicians who are further schooled in diagnosing and repairing complex aircraft radios and electrical equipment. FAA-certified 14 CFR 147 Airframe and Powerplant mechanic schools are required to give a student nearly 1,900 hours of hands-on instruction and a number of written, oral, and skill tests to qualify.
Challenges to hiring
Once a mechanic is certificated by the FAA, they are hired into a hands-on technical career at an airline or aircraft service center. The problem is that the lack of mechanical certifications in other businesses such as heavy equipment maintenance and auto service networks is hiring away the talent into significantly higher pay plans and into more modern, air-conditioned facilities. Unless the graduate is in love with aircraft, they tend to drift away from the industry that they have trained so hard for. Another place that is putting demands for certified mechanics is aerospace manufacturers. The aircraft assembly or overhaul process requires specialized skills in order to meet FAA quality requirements for aircraft certification.
This has created a dilemma for the airlines and commercial operators, and, like the pilots, the price they are willing to pay for qualified mechanics to address the shortage is rapidly rising. Once again, the university aeronautical programs are answering the call by offering Aviation Management degrees that feature the A&P certification as part of the two- or four-year package. The waiting time for the FAA to certify a new school can be up to two years as the workload backlog of FAA inspectors required to determine if a school meets standards is also in high demand.
For a young person considering a technical career with or without a college degree, there has never been a better time for a technical-minded young person to enter a technical or vocational program to become certified as an FAA mechanic. They will find their options will allow them to travel anywhere and pick a company that offers the best compensation package and benefits.
