Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

• Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
• Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
• Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
• Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
• Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
• Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.
• Measure parts for wear, using precision instruments.
• Modify aircraft structures, space vehicles, systems, or components, following drawings, schematics, charts, engineering orders, and technical publications.
• Maintain, repair, and rebuild aircraft structures, functional components, and parts, such as wings and fuselage, rigging, hydraulic units, oxygen systems, fuel systems, electrical systems, gaskets, or seals.
• Obtain fuel and oil samples and check them for contamination.
• Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment.
• Read and interpret pilots’ descriptions of problems to diagnose causes.
• Test operation of engines and other systems, using test equipment, such as ignition analyzers, compression checkers, distributor timers, or ammeters.
• Measure the tension of control cables.
• Spread plastic film over areas to be repaired to prevent damage to surrounding areas.
• Assemble and install electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and accessories, using hand or power tools.
• Remove or install aircraft engines, using hoists or forklift trucks.
• Locate and mark dimensions and reference lines on defective or replacement parts, using templates, scribes, compasses, and steel rules.
• Fabricate defective sections or parts, using metal fabricating machines, saws, brakes, shears, and grinders.
• Reassemble engines following repair or inspection and reinstall engines in aircraft.
• Service and maintain aircraft and related apparatus by performing activities such as flushing crankcases, cleaning screens, and or moving parts.
• Clean, refuel, and change oil in line service aircraft.
• Trim and shape replacement body sections to specified sizes and fits and secure sections in place, using adhesives, hand tools, and power tools.
• Install and align repaired or replacement parts for subsequent riveting or welding, using clamps and wrenches.
• Remove or cut out defective parts or drill holes to gain access to internal defects or damage, using drills and punches.
• Accompany aircraft on flights to make in-flight adjustments and corrections.
• Inventory and requisition or order supplies, parts, materials, and equipment.
• Clean, strip, prime, and sand structural surfaces and materials to prepare them for bonding.
• Communicate with other workers to coordinate fitting and alignment of heavy parts, or to facilitate processing of repair parts.

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry- or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education. They are essential in many industries and occupations.