If you've got a knack for mechanics, a strong desire to work with your hands, and a fascination with aviation, enroll in airframe and powerplant schools to become an airframe and powerplant technician.

What does an airframe and powerplant technician do?
An airframe and powerplant technician keeps airplanes and their equipment working safely and efficiently. More specifically, aircraft maintenance technicians service, repair, and overhaul aircraft components and systems including airframes, engines, electrical and hydraulic systems, propellers, avionics equipment, and aircraft instruments. Technicians perform either line maintenance work or major repairs and periodic inspections.

Earning Your FAA Certification
If you want to become an airframe and powerplant technician, you may choose to pursue Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification. To earn an FAA aviation maintenance technician certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings, you'll need to pass three knowledge tests and three practical tests.

The general knowledge test is a two-hour, 60-question multiple-choice exam. The airframe and powerplant knowledge tests are each two-hour, 100-question multiple-choice exams. The airframe practical test covers airframe structures as well as airframe systems and components. The powerplant practical test covers powerplant theory and maintenance as well as powerplant systems and components. The general test covers general aviation mechanics.

Keep It Running at Airframe and Powerplant Schools
Airframe and powerplant schools offer training programs that prepare you for FAA certification testing. An FAA-approved general program is a 400-hour program; airframe and powerplant ratings each add 750 hours to the program for a total of 1,900 hours.

Completion of an airframe and powerplant program usually takes 18 to 24 months and leads to a certificate or degree in aviation maintenance technology. Upon graduation from FAA-approved airframe and powerplant schools, you become eligible to take the FAA certification exams.

In an FAA-approved airframe and powerplant program, required general curriculum subjects include basic electricity, aircraft drawings, weight and balance, fluid lines and fittings, materials and processes, ground operation and servicing, cleaning and corrosion control, mathematics, maintenance forms and records, basic physics, maintenance publications, and mechanic privileges and limitations.

Required airframe curriculum subjects include airframe structures (wood structures, aircraft covering, aircraft finishes, sheet metal and nonmetallic structures, welding, assembling and rigging, and airframe inspection) and airframe systems and components (aircraft landing gear systems, hydraulic and pneumatic power systems, cabin atmosphere control systems, aircraft instrument systems, communication and navigation systems, aircraft fuel systems, aircraft electrical systems, position and warning systems, ice and rain control systems, and fire protection systems).

Required powerplant curriculum subjects include powerplant theory and maintenance (reciprocating engines, turbine engines, and engine inspection) and powerplant systems and components (engine instrument systems, engine fire protection systems, engine electrical systems, lubrication systems, ignition and starting systems, fuel metering systems, engine fuel systems, induction and engine airflow systems, engine cooling systems, engine exhaust and reverser systems, propellers, unducted fans, and auxiliary power units).

Why Formal Airframe and Powerplant Training Is Important
Aside from preparing you for your certification exams, airframe and powerplant schools provide top-of-the-line training in the latest technological tools. Computer technology, solid state electronics, and composite structural material have all advanced greatly in recent years, making formal training a must for staying up-to-date in the field.

And after graduation, airframe and powerplant schools remain key to your success, as you may take advantage of their continuing education courses to keep your knowledge and skills current.

Airframe and powerplant schools enable you to get a firm grasp on a wealth of required material and get plenty of practical experience servicing aircraft. That's the kind of training that will send your aviation career soaring.