AMT Day Honors Aircraft Mechanics

Education is pricey, tools are expensive, and it takes years to earn a living wage as an aircraft mechanic.

Richard Scarbrough

Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 03:47 PM ET

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A&P mechanics often work in the elements. [Credit: Richard Scarbrough]

Key Takeaways:

The aviation maintenance profession is highly rigorous, demanding strict adherence to regulations and a commitment to perfection from its extensively trained professionals.
Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) are not unskilled laborers but critical problem-solvers with analytical skills, requiring significant time, cost, and mentorship to achieve proficiency.
AMTs operate under a strict professional creed, emphasizing precision and integrity, as there is no room for error or guesswork when ensuring aircraft safety.
The article advocates for increased recognition of AMTs, celebrating their vital, often overlooked, contributions to aviation safety on AMT Day (May 24th).

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I have been an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic for 30 years. My first rating was powerplant, which was odd because I was a structures mechanic in the Navy. Nevertheless, it was just how the classes fell, and I finished the powerplants first. It is also embarrassing to admit that I had that license confiscated by the FAA about a week after I received it. Allow me to explain.

I was in class when our director unceremoniously strode into the classroom and bellowed, “Scarbrough! Do you have your powerplant license on you?”