The aviation industry involves many roles besides the glamour job of piloting an aircraft. Many other routes can lead to a job in the aviation industry, including getting your hands dirty while working under the hood, wings and the flaps of an actual airplane.

If you’ve been considering a job in the aviation field, then you are probably familiar with one popular career path: aircraft mechanic (also referred to as an aviation mechanic or aviation technician.) These are the professionals who work to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair airplane engines, systems and technology.

As a matter of fact, if you’ve been around the airline industry, you may have seen some of these individuals at work and know how important their work is – especially to passengers and crew.

But is aircraft mechanic a good career? How do you know if it’s a field that is growing and will be there to support the needs of you and your family years down the line?

Five reasons why aircraft mechanic is a good career

The multi-billion dollar airline industry is going to offer quality aircraft mechanic jobs for years to come, no matter how technologically advanced aircraft become. Here are five reasons why aircraft mechanic is a good career:

• Being paid like a professional – Let’s start with salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median wage for aviation mechanic salary in 2004 was around $57,000. Even the lowest 10 percent in the field were paid about $35,000. The highest paid topped $85,000. These are impressive numbers for a hands-on career path.

• Solid growth projections – Aviation careers in general, including the airplane mechanic role, are increasing in regard to prospects and pay. In fact, the BLS reports that mechanics earning their certification as Airframe and Power Plant mechanics have the best job prospects.

• Specializations and focus – Creating career options for yourself in this field can be as simple as pursuing various licenses or specializations. Many aircraft mechanics take the general skills they’ve learned that fit most aircrafts and become specialists in certain areas of a plan. To become a specialized mechanic, you must earn higher qualifications in order to focus on the engine, hydraulic or electrical systems on a given aircraft.

• Regular maintenance – If you’ve ever seen an airplane engine or all the gauges in a cockpit, then you know airplanes are complicate machines. In order to continually function properly, airplane mechanics must carry out frequent maintenance, conduct repairs and lead inspections before a plane is ready to take off. This is mandated by the Federal Air Administration (FAA) and is good news for mechanics because it solidifies ongoing work.

• Pursue certifications – By acquiring Airframe and Power plant (A&P) certifications, you can assure yourself of future work and take your career in different directions. An A&P mechanic carries out maintenance and alteration jobs on airplanes, which typically involves the engines, landing gear, brakes and air-conditioning system. Various certifications can authorize you to take on these different areas of the plane, which means you can shift your career to where the work is so you’ll never be short on A&P mechanic jobs.

Let it fly!

This is your way into the aviation field that doesn’t involving sitting in the cockpit or walking the aisles serving passengers. A career as an aircraft mechanic is a solid path with great prospects ahead for your burgeoning career. With your passion for flight and hands-on learning, you can achieve the necessary certifications and join the leading mechanics in the industry!

1. Aircraft Technicians in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. Aircraft Technicians in San Francisco, California
3. Aircraft Technicians in Orlando, Florida
4. Aircraft Technicians in Atlanta, Georgia