Pilot and A&P: The Dual-Certificated Edge

Expanded knowledge and career paths open up when you combine maintenance expertise with time in the cockpit.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Corey Sampson firmly believes that A&Ps who hold a PPL have a better all-around understanding of aircraft. [Credit: Corey Sampson]

Key Takeaways:

Holding both an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate and a pilot certificate significantly enhances employability in aviation and provides a deeper, more integrated understanding of aircraft systems and operations.
Pilots with A&P certification can better interpret pilot write-ups, troubleshoot issues, and effectively bridge communication gaps between maintenance crews and flight teams due to their dual perspective.
While pilots are legally allowed to perform certain preventative maintenance on their own aircraft, the article strongly advises caution, recommending sufficient experience or professional guidance due to the inherent safety risks in aviation compared to other forms of maintenance.
Dual certification opens diverse career opportunities, from technical services and sales to test piloting, by offering a comprehensive view of aviation needs and challenges.

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One of the adages of aviation is the more certificates you hold, the more employable you become. This is particularly true if you hold one for Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) in addition to being a pilot. At the FBO level, the A&P who holds a pilot certificate and maintains currency is always in demand.

Sometimes, that person didn’t intend to become a pilot but after taking flight in a small airplane decided it is something they’d like to do. It was that way for Corey Sampson, who holds an A&P/IA (inspection authority) and works for Delta Air Lines as a senior specialist for technical services.