Within the world of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul, there are many different career paths. Two jobs typically of interest to beginners are aircraft mechanics and avionics technicians.
These two jobs have many similarities and some differences.
Both involve working on flying machines, so they’re both pretty cool as careers go. But they involve working on planes and choppers in very different ways.
Here’s a look at the two paths to give you an idea of which is better: avionics technician or aircraft mechanic.
Differences: Avionics Technicians vs Aircraft Mechanics
The first obvious difference between avionics technicians and aircraft mechanics is what they spend their days working on.
Avionics technicians focus on the instruments, radios, and other electronic components of the plane, usually in and around the cockpit. Their work is generally smaller and more intricate, involving small electrical components or computerized black boxes.
Depending on where the technician works, they may be removing equipment and testing or repairing it for reinstallation or reinstalling brand-new avionics systems in older planes. The things they work on are the instruments in the cockpit that help the pilot navigate or communicate.
Aircraft mechanics, otherwise known as A&Ps, spend their day focusing on the mechanical and structural elements of the airframe and powerplant.
They do everything from repairing damaged landing gear or replacing engines to regular maintenance like oil changes and new brake pads. Airframe and powerplant mechanics are more like automotive technicians; they do all the work — the inspecting, maintaining, and repairing — that keeps the whole machine airworthy.
Many aspects of the two careers are more similar than dissimilar.
For example, an analysis of avionics technician salaries shows that they make slightly more than other aircraft mechanics. But it’s not a significant enough sum to endure if you dislike working with avionics; it’s only a few thousand dollars a year.
In addition to similar salaries, both jobs have similar duties like maintaining compliance and documentation standards, continuous learning and new equipment training, and troubleshooting and problem diagnosis.
Aircraft or Avionics Technician: Which Is Right For You?
Many people who want to get into avionics work start as regular A&Ps.
Most job listings you’ll see online require — or at least encourage — applicants to have their A&P certificates before applying for an avionics position.
That effectively means that getting into avionics is a career move to be made after you get your A&P. For most, new skills can open new career options for you along the way.
But not everyone enjoys avionics work, so not everyone follows that path.
It involves a lot of electronics and computers. It means running wires in tight spaces, tracing electrical faults, and troubleshooting computers, intricate components, and complex systems.
It usually means working indoors, inside the aircraft, or in quieter offices than other mechanics. The job could be described as more “techy” and less mechanical.
Some technicians love these elements of the work, while others are much happier turning big wrenches and working on engines outside in the hangar.
No matter which path you choose, your day-to-day working conditions are decided more by the shop you work in than your chosen career.
Avionics techs work at various locations, from huge airline shops to small airport shops that work on little planes. Some avionics techs work in specialized shops that don’t do anything else, while others multitask at shops that do anything and everything.
So, which path is right for you?
It’s a personal choice that comes down to what type of work you enjoy doing and what sort of job you can get doing it.
In other words, it’s a complex decision that requires you to compare one job’s working conditions with another, and many different factors can affect that.
Regardless of your choice, remember that gaining more experience and specialization can lead to more demand for your skills and more job opportunities. There’s always room to move into senior positions or supervisory roles for experienced individuals.
The Path to Becoming an Avionics Technician
There are two ways to get a job as an aircraft or avionics technician. You can work through an apprenticeship program or go to an approved school.
Apprentices get experience and education through on-the-job training.
Since the FAA does not require specific licensing for avionics, this path is an option for some positions.
However, focusing solely on avionics could restrict your career options since most techs get the A&P certificate for more choices and opportunities.
If you’re pursuing the A&P via the apprenticeship option, it takes at least 18 months of training for one rating or 30 months to obtain both the airframe and powerplant ratings. Attending an FAA approved school allows you to complete the A&P ratings in only 12 months.
With the A&P certificate in your pocket, you can apply for jobs and participate in on-the-job training for avionics-related roles.
Additionally, you can attend school and receive training from specific equipment. This is usually the next step after being hired at a big shop — you go to school for the particular planes and components they work on.