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How can I gain hands-on experience across multiple areas in aviation maintenance, such as avionics and sheet metal, when workplaces tend to compartmentalize roles?
I currently have a job lined up at a local airport for when I graduate this October with my associate degree and A&P license. While working, I’ll also be continuing toward a bachelor’s degree online. I’ll be entering the field with limited experience—about a year as an assistant mechanic—and I want to explore different specialties and gain as much knowledge as possible before settling into the path that fits me best.
The challenge is that my current job is very small, with only a few workers. I’m grateful for the opportunity and enjoy working with my coworkers, but the scope is limited. All of the work is on small fixed-wing aircraft, and they never handle larger repairs or composite type works. I’d like to expand beyond that and gain experience in other areas of aviation maintenance.
I understand that it’s difficult to get exposure to everything, especially since many workplaces prioritize efficiency over well-rounded training. Still, I believe that building a broad foundation early on will help me better understand aircraft systems, troubleshoot more effectively, and ultimately choose the specialty that fits me best.
Any advice on how to gain that kind of broad experience early in my career would be greatly appreciated!
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Justin’s Answer
Hi Isabel,
Great question! I spent the first 5 years of my A&P career jumping around trying to answer this exact question for myself so please let me share some insight. My career trajectory: a regional part 121 carrier, a major 121 carrier, a 145 MRO, then a flight school working on piston aircraft, then a major manufacturer, a corporate 135/145 carrier, AOG mechanic, corporate RON/Line maintenance, and finally corporate heavy MRO.
I figured out that I love the corporate world the most, because advancement is mostly a meritocracy, rather than seniority based. There is also a bit more opportunity to work on interesting and challenging tasks, because typically the corporate MROs are smaller operations with less techs, meaning there's more chances for you to step up and take on more responsibility. The road to figuring out what you want from your own career is going to require several stops, and it is subject to constant change as your personal life dictates. Early on, I was motivated by money, but now I am making enough that I don't necessarily need more, I just want consistency. Consistent work, consistent challenges, consistent opportunity to learn and grow. Figure out what is important to you and act upon that need to make positive steps towards it.
When I started, I had very little hands on experience turning wrenches, but I was incredibly driven to learn and improve. I asked a lot of questions and I always volunteered to help on higher level tasks (like engine changes, landing gear, etc). For my first job, I moved from SoCal to SLC to work for a regional part 121 carrier, and I chose them specifically because I knew I would have the opportunity to work on the whole aircraft. I think regional carriers and corporate MROs are the best places to start off because you'll get the broadest array of tasks, starting from the simplest servicing tasks, changing light bulbs, and changing tires, to more complex tasks like engine changes and rigging flight controls. As you learn how the aircraft systems work, where everything is located, and get comfortable with changing out components, you'll gradually gain confidence and trustworthiness to be able to handle more and more.
My recommendation to you would be that if you sense that you're outgrowing your current place, don't be afraid to start applying elsewhere. This will make you aware of what possibilities are available as well as the going pay rate for mechanics of your experience. Don't be afraid to move and don't be afraid to demand what you are worth! Aviation is an amazing industry because there are jobs for A&Ps literally everywhere. In 8 years, I have held jobs in 8 different cities in 3 different states and fixed airplanes in airports all over the country. One of my favorite parts of being in the industry is how much more of the country I have been able to see and experience. If you want the broadest of experience, then don't preclude any opportunity. Find reasons to get excited about a new opportunity rather than convincing yourself that it is impossible. During COVID, I went from working at LAX to a contract opportunity doing heavy maintenance in West Virginia. It was a huge leap, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
For specialty skills such as troubleshooting, avionics, and sheet metal/composite repairs, you kind of need to find a mentor that is willing to work with you and pass down their skills to you. To get troubleshooting experience, I got my break at my first job at a corporate, part 135 carrier. I took on the challenge of troubleshooting an APU fail squawk with an expired MEL, meaning it was not going to fly until the APU was fixed. It was certainly a lot of pressure but I had someone helping me every step of the way. He guided me and taught me how to read wiring diagrams and by the time we had fixed the issue, I had an excellent foundation. From there, whenever the shop got a squawk to work on, I took it upon myself to look at that system's wiring diagram so that I could keep improving my ability to read. For sheet metal, I had a coworker at the flight school that was a master sheet metal technician and I learned a lot from watching him and asking him questions.
It's incredible that you've already realized how big the world of aviation maintenance is, and that there are so many opportunities to carve out a niche for yourself. Most people never realize that and so you're already several steps ahead of them! Keep bringing a positive attitude to work every day and stay hungry to learn and improve your skills. If you feel you're outgrowing where you're at or you're not being supported like you would want, then don't be afraid to find a new place to work that you feel can better suit your wants and needs.
Feel free to reach out to me in LinkedIn, and I'll be happy to answer any more specific questions you might have!
Great question! I spent the first 5 years of my A&P career jumping around trying to answer this exact question for myself so please let me share some insight. My career trajectory: a regional part 121 carrier, a major 121 carrier, a 145 MRO, then a flight school working on piston aircraft, then a major manufacturer, a corporate 135/145 carrier, AOG mechanic, corporate RON/Line maintenance, and finally corporate heavy MRO.
I figured out that I love the corporate world the most, because advancement is mostly a meritocracy, rather than seniority based. There is also a bit more opportunity to work on interesting and challenging tasks, because typically the corporate MROs are smaller operations with less techs, meaning there's more chances for you to step up and take on more responsibility. The road to figuring out what you want from your own career is going to require several stops, and it is subject to constant change as your personal life dictates. Early on, I was motivated by money, but now I am making enough that I don't necessarily need more, I just want consistency. Consistent work, consistent challenges, consistent opportunity to learn and grow. Figure out what is important to you and act upon that need to make positive steps towards it.
When I started, I had very little hands on experience turning wrenches, but I was incredibly driven to learn and improve. I asked a lot of questions and I always volunteered to help on higher level tasks (like engine changes, landing gear, etc). For my first job, I moved from SoCal to SLC to work for a regional part 121 carrier, and I chose them specifically because I knew I would have the opportunity to work on the whole aircraft. I think regional carriers and corporate MROs are the best places to start off because you'll get the broadest array of tasks, starting from the simplest servicing tasks, changing light bulbs, and changing tires, to more complex tasks like engine changes and rigging flight controls. As you learn how the aircraft systems work, where everything is located, and get comfortable with changing out components, you'll gradually gain confidence and trustworthiness to be able to handle more and more.
My recommendation to you would be that if you sense that you're outgrowing your current place, don't be afraid to start applying elsewhere. This will make you aware of what possibilities are available as well as the going pay rate for mechanics of your experience. Don't be afraid to move and don't be afraid to demand what you are worth! Aviation is an amazing industry because there are jobs for A&Ps literally everywhere. In 8 years, I have held jobs in 8 different cities in 3 different states and fixed airplanes in airports all over the country. One of my favorite parts of being in the industry is how much more of the country I have been able to see and experience. If you want the broadest of experience, then don't preclude any opportunity. Find reasons to get excited about a new opportunity rather than convincing yourself that it is impossible. During COVID, I went from working at LAX to a contract opportunity doing heavy maintenance in West Virginia. It was a huge leap, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
For specialty skills such as troubleshooting, avionics, and sheet metal/composite repairs, you kind of need to find a mentor that is willing to work with you and pass down their skills to you. To get troubleshooting experience, I got my break at my first job at a corporate, part 135 carrier. I took on the challenge of troubleshooting an APU fail squawk with an expired MEL, meaning it was not going to fly until the APU was fixed. It was certainly a lot of pressure but I had someone helping me every step of the way. He guided me and taught me how to read wiring diagrams and by the time we had fixed the issue, I had an excellent foundation. From there, whenever the shop got a squawk to work on, I took it upon myself to look at that system's wiring diagram so that I could keep improving my ability to read. For sheet metal, I had a coworker at the flight school that was a master sheet metal technician and I learned a lot from watching him and asking him questions.
It's incredible that you've already realized how big the world of aviation maintenance is, and that there are so many opportunities to carve out a niche for yourself. Most people never realize that and so you're already several steps ahead of them! Keep bringing a positive attitude to work every day and stay hungry to learn and improve your skills. If you feel you're outgrowing where you're at or you're not being supported like you would want, then don't be afraid to find a new place to work that you feel can better suit your wants and needs.
Feel free to reach out to me in LinkedIn, and I'll be happy to answer any more specific questions you might have!
Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to give such an in depth response. It helps a lot hearing your path and how you figured things out. Based on your experience, what would you recommend focusing on in the first year or two to build the strongest foundation and keep as many opportunities open as possible?
Isabel
What I tell all of my apprentices and newer technicians, the most important skill you can develop is the ability to find the information that you need in the manuals. I learned that every manufacturer organizes their information differently. Some will put Ch20 and Ch51 into a separate manual called the SPM. Some components are considered a part of the airframe and procedures for them are found in the AMM, while some are a part of the Interior and are in the IMM or the Completions Manual. The ability to quickly find all the information to properly execute a repair is key a strong foundation.
Justin Ko
Thank you, I’ll make sure to put more of a focus on learning the manual!
Isabel
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Focus first on becoming a technician others trust with both routine and problem-solving tasks by consistently doing quality work, showing initiative, and working safely with little supervision. Once you have earned their trust, feel free to ask if you can observe, assist, or shadow other technicians. Get involved during downtime and inspections, especially annual ones, to learn more about systems, sheet metal, and troubleshooting.
To expand your experience, seek seasonal or short-term work during school breaks at larger MROs or avionics shops. Consider volunteering or working part-time at flight schools, aviation museums, or utility aviation organizations. Take advantage of FAAST events, manufacturer courses, repair-station programs, and specific training or certifications like avionics familiarization, NDT awareness, or basic composites courses when available. Focus on industries like Part 145 repair stations, airline MROs, avionics shops, and rotorcraft operations. Over time, combining shadowing, volunteering, certifications, and diverse hands-on experience will help you gain a broad understanding of systems, enhance your troubleshooting skills, and find the specialty that suits your long-term goals.
To expand your experience, seek seasonal or short-term work during school breaks at larger MROs or avionics shops. Consider volunteering or working part-time at flight schools, aviation museums, or utility aviation organizations. Take advantage of FAAST events, manufacturer courses, repair-station programs, and specific training or certifications like avionics familiarization, NDT awareness, or basic composites courses when available. Focus on industries like Part 145 repair stations, airline MROs, avionics shops, and rotorcraft operations. Over time, combining shadowing, volunteering, certifications, and diverse hands-on experience will help you gain a broad understanding of systems, enhance your troubleshooting skills, and find the specialty that suits your long-term goals.
Thank you for the advice! I’m hoping my workplace gets their Part 145 back up to standard so I can get more experience. Everyone’s been great about letting me shadow them, so I’m trying to make the most of it.
Isabel
My pleasure!
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Updated
Larry’s Answer
Hi Isabel.
First of all, congratulations on pursuing your A&P license and taking the initiative to gain experience by working in a shop where you have exposure to an array of different mechanical repairs. Unfortunately, as an A&P mechanic you are not allowed to open up any avionics equipment to even attempt a repair. The only thing you can do is remove and replace entire units. There are a couple of ways to pursue getting certified as an avionics tech; one is to go to a school and be formally trained or second is to go and work at an avionics repair shop and be trained on-the-job.
So you know where I'm coming from; I have an A&P license with an IA rating. All of my work experience is on composite propeller driven piston engine aircraft (specifically Cirrus SR20's, SR22's, and SR22T's. My shop now has 5 mechanics working in it where 4 have IA's as well.
Working in a small shop there are many limitations. Certain mechanics are stronger at performing certain repairs and others have other strong attributes. When the shop is small, they can't afford to specialize in things like paint work (paint booth & skills required), engine overhauling (lots of specialized equipment & operators needed), and avionics (no time for a busy shop to send you away to train-takes too long).
I think the best opportunities for you to gain exposure to many specialties is to go and work at an aircraft manufacturing plant. While having already attained your A&P license which isn't necessary to have to work at the manufacturers' your resume will look more attractive to somebody looking to employ you. A manufacturing environment can be just the place that will invest in your schooling (much of it will be in-house training).
I hope this helps. Best of luck and good wishes,
Larry A.
First of all, congratulations on pursuing your A&P license and taking the initiative to gain experience by working in a shop where you have exposure to an array of different mechanical repairs. Unfortunately, as an A&P mechanic you are not allowed to open up any avionics equipment to even attempt a repair. The only thing you can do is remove and replace entire units. There are a couple of ways to pursue getting certified as an avionics tech; one is to go to a school and be formally trained or second is to go and work at an avionics repair shop and be trained on-the-job.
So you know where I'm coming from; I have an A&P license with an IA rating. All of my work experience is on composite propeller driven piston engine aircraft (specifically Cirrus SR20's, SR22's, and SR22T's. My shop now has 5 mechanics working in it where 4 have IA's as well.
Working in a small shop there are many limitations. Certain mechanics are stronger at performing certain repairs and others have other strong attributes. When the shop is small, they can't afford to specialize in things like paint work (paint booth & skills required), engine overhauling (lots of specialized equipment & operators needed), and avionics (no time for a busy shop to send you away to train-takes too long).
I think the best opportunities for you to gain exposure to many specialties is to go and work at an aircraft manufacturing plant. While having already attained your A&P license which isn't necessary to have to work at the manufacturers' your resume will look more attractive to somebody looking to employ you. A manufacturing environment can be just the place that will invest in your schooling (much of it will be in-house training).
I hope this helps. Best of luck and good wishes,
Larry A.
Thank you, I really appreciate the advice. I hadn’t thought much about manufacturing, do you think that’s something I should try to get into early on, or after I’ve spent some time in a smaller shop?
Isabel
It can work well either way you go. If you work in a shop for a while, your experience will look good on your resume and you'll probably get a better starting pay. If you go directly from school to a manufacturer, you'll begin to accrue time-in-service right away (accumulate time toward getting health care insurance, 401K, and vacation time). The downside is the starting pay will be less because you won't have any experience. I don't know which is a better deal for you; sounds like a win-win either way you decide.
Larry Apfel
I see, thank you so much!
Isabel