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 career of an Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) demands significant training, investment, and dedication, often involving long hours and years to achieve a living wage.
AMTs are highly skilled and analytical professionals who strictly adhere to their professional creed, ensuring precision and integrity in maintenance rather than relying on guesswork or quick fixes.
Their work is paramount to aviation safety, requiring absolute perfection as there's no room for error when an aircraft is at 25,000 feet.
AMT Day, celebrated on May 24th, honors the vital, often-overlooked contributions of maintenance professionals like Charles Taylor, the Wright Brothers' mechanic.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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?”