A jet mechanic is a type of aircraft mechanic who works on planes powered gasoline turbine jet engines. Commercial airlines, the government, and private companies hire jet mechanics to maintain their aircraft. They’re in charge of performing preventative maintenance like inspections and fluid changes, as well as repairing faulty equipment that they’ve noticed or that the flight crew has reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration requires all jet mechanics to be certified (FAA). An FAA license is known as an Airframe and Power Plant license (A&P). Despite the fact that the Airframe and Power Plant licenses can be obtained separately, most jet mechanics will obtain both. The FAA administers a series of oral, written, and practical exams to obtain the licenses. Specialization in areas such as engines, hydraulics, or electrical systems is also an option for licensees.
Mechanics who graduate from an FAA-certified A&P school are eligible to take the tests immediately, while those who do not choose to attend an FAA-certified A&P school must first complete 18 months of practical experience. Although an FAA license can be obtained through hands-on experience, most employers prefer to hire an A&P jet mechanic who already has his license, so attending a structured program through an FAA-certified school is often the better option. Jet mechanics who aren’t licensed can only work under the supervision of an A&P certified mechanic and can’t sign off on repairs or inspections.
The jet mechanic is ultimately responsible for keeping the plane in perfect flying condition, even though the captain is the pilot-in-command and has complete authority over the plane he is flying. Engines, landing gear, brakes, valves, and pumps are among the items that must be inspected and repaired. Because additional FAA licenses are required to become an avionics technician certified to repair aircraft instruments, the instruments are the only items that a jet mechanic cannot repair.
A jet mechanic must keep all of an airplane’s maintenance records in addition to inspecting and repairing it. The FAA has strict inspection requirements based on the number of hours and calendar days an airplane has been in the air. Mechanics keep track of how many hours an airplane has flown and must sign off on any repairs or inspections they have completed.