Skills needed to be an A&P

[no1pilot2000]

I am interested in becoming an A&P mechanic. What kinds of math, English, or science skills does a person need to become an aircraft mechanic?

 

[cherry20's]

Mechanical skills would be important, some common sense, a little bit of math. Thats what calculators are for though.

 

[GravityHater]

need to be able to read well, as in: interpret manuals and things like ADs written by attorneys. Being competant with triple inverse negatives is a plus.
"...does NOT apply in the case of xxxx EXCEPT WHEN abcde, in which case is OTHERWISE is excluded...."

need to be able to foresee outcomes for each choice made especially with regard to liability.

 

[Gatorman]

COMMON SENSE
I have worked with some exceptionally smart people over the years that turn into complete retards when they have a wrench in their hand because they have no common sense. Most of those people have quickly advanced into management or sales.

SKILLS
Most of them are learned, but you must be able to look at a situation and not only see it as a problem but know how to fix where it will not happen again.

LOVE
You have got to love aviation. It will be something that will consume your life. You will not be able to get away from it. Throught the good times and the bad times. The hours are long and the pay is low.

AIDS
Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome
If you are married or become married - Aivation may cause problems in the marriage.

 

[IFIxUmUBrakeUm]

Dont do it!!! fix a car it pays better!!

 

[Weasel Keeper]

Go ahead and do it!!!

Someday soon these folks who hate their jobs will quit or retire and it will all be yours!

A good skill to learn is reading a schematic and blueprints. A little electical background definately helps.

Math skills help, but like said above, we all have calculators.

ENGLISH! helps a lot! Reading comprehension and being able to understand maintenance manuals...even a monkey could work on planes.

If you go to an A&P school, all of this will be taught. Like Gator said...biggest thing is common sence and a mechanical aptitude.

And when you do get your A&P, please don't come on here and whine. Either you like working on aircraft...or you don't.

Good luck!

 

[PreRVSM]

get a real job... a non-aviation job... maybe work on a motor home
Just find a job with a that will last till you get old.

 

[avbug]

In my opinion, the most important skillset is being serious about your job. That trumps every other aspect of what you do. I've seen far too many mechanics who consistantly violated regulations, took shortcuts, or believed that what isn't seen can't hurt. It can. Recent high-profile events such as the Alaska Airlines crash or the Sabretech/Valuejet debacle go to show that it goes on at all levels in the industry.

Attention to detail, constantly and with great vigilence, the ability to go slowly and to repeat things that need the extra attention, the patience to not rush, and the firm understanding that you put not only ink on papwer when you sign something off, but your reputation, your livliehood, and your life's work. Taking your job seriously means refusing to compromise, refusing to bend to pressure, and holding approved standards as paramount in your priorities, is very, very important.

 

[SpoilerFault]

Once again, Avbug sums it up perfect!

 

[g4800xp]

The ability to do something many A&Ps can not, under stand that the pilot is not an A&P and while he may sound like an idiot he may have a few things on his or her mind relating to flight/safety of flight, customer service etc..
So when you say "did it do this?" and I say I did not notice the SAT/TAS between FL390 and 360 and compare it to the bla bla bla, it might mean I simply did not know the bla bla bla was connected to the bla bla bla. Some of the questions I have been asked, a test pilot would not know.I am not knocking all A&Ps, just the ones with a myopic view of the Big Picture. I wanted to be an A&P to tie in with antique auto restorations I was doing, somehow ended up flying instead. Good Luck