Mon, Oct 4th, 2010 @ 12:00 am

The long-term job outlook for aviation maintenance is good. In the near future, many aircraft mechanics will either be retiring or going into related fields, such as automotive or heavy equipment mechanic. Qualified people are less likely to enter technical schools than they were several years ago, and many who are qualified are going into computer technology instead. This shift in enrollment will aggravate a shortage of aircraft maintenance personnel.

Anyone interested in joining the field must have at least a high school diploma and mechanical aptitude to obtain training for Aviation Maintenance Technician at an FAA approved school like SJVC. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to take exams leading to Airframe and Powerplant certification.

Regional Employment Opportunities

The fastest growing segment for aircraft maintenance workers will be the many small regional airlines which feed traffic into major airports. Aircraft maintenance at regional airlines usually pays lower than working for major airlines, thus may offer the most vacancies. Aircraft maintenance work for major airlines are concentrated at a few major airports such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and are the most sought after as they offer better pay and benefits. Airlines will continue replacing older aircraft with new models offering lower fuel consumption, a major airline expense.

The growing fleet of upscale private and corporate aircraft will employ more aircraft maintenance workers throughout the country, and a lot of maintenance work will still be available with government agencies, either civilian or military. One new military technology is the unmanned aircraft, which is increasingly being used in war zones and could be adapted to a variety of work.

The recent unveiling of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, made mostly of composite materials instead of metal, may require the retraining and recruiting of more maintenance workers as new procedures are developed to maintain this new aircraft. Another new development on the horizon is hybrid and electric aircraft, including a jet electric hybrid airliner within two to three decades.

Aviation Maintenance Aptitude

Those wanting to enter the aircraft maintenance field must have manual dexterity, patience, and an ability to follow strict maintenance procedures mandated by aircraft manufacturers and the Federal Aviation Administration.

If you are interested in learning more SJVC's aviation program at our Fresno location, please contact us today through the form on the right hand side of the page. We look forward to hearing from you.