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Aviation mechanic skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Nicolas Yale,
Nicolas Yale
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical aviation mechanic skills. We ranked the top skills for aviation mechanics based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.0% of aviation mechanic resumes contained safety procedures as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an aviation mechanic needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 aviation mechanic skills for your resume and career

1. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how aviation mechanics use safety procedures:
  • Performed maintenance on rotary wing aircraft in accordance with aviation maintenance manuals and organization safety procedures.
  • Followed all safety regulations in accordance with Naval Aviation safety procedures.

2. Hand Tools

Here's how aviation mechanics use hand tools:
  • Assemble and install mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and accessories, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Used basic aircraft hand tools, specialized precision aircraft tools and calibrated tools to ensure safety of aircraft maintenance.

3. Airframe

Airframes are a type of mechanical structure used for an aircraft. This part usually consists of the wings, tail assembly, fuselage, undercarriage, and landing gear. It has a monolithic component in it that has ribs, frames, stringers, bulkheads and others. The Airframe is created, designed, and used to endure all the air force every time the aircraft takes off. It helps withstand the aerodynamics as well the pressure of the payload, crew, and the fuel.

Here's how aviation mechanics use airframe:
  • Performed minor airframe repairs on aluminum and composite paneling and flooring.
  • Repaired airframe structure and cabin interiors according to specifications.

4. FAA

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is an aviation regulatory body in the USA.

Here's how aviation mechanics use faa:
  • Utilize and reference additional supporting documentation including FAA approved engineering data/drawings, supporting company policies/procedures and supervisory instructions.
  • Conducted routine and special inspections as required by FAA regulations and technical publication.

5. Routine Maintenance

Here's how aviation mechanics use routine maintenance:
  • Performed routine maintenance and repairs as a general aviation mechanic.
  • Performed basic routine maintenance on general aviation aircraft.

6. Landing Gear

Here's how aviation mechanics use landing gear:
  • Replace, repair and inspect systems and subsystems, rotors, gearboxes, transmissions, landing gear, etc.
  • Work routine and non-routine tasks including removal and re-installation of aircraft engines, flaps, and landing gear.

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7. Aviation Maintenance

Here's how aviation mechanics use aviation maintenance:
  • Supervised and trained over forty individuals in aviation maintenance and safety.
  • Trained 15 new workers in all aspects of aviation maintenance in and outside of my scope of expertise.

8. Hydraulic Systems

Here's how aviation mechanics use hydraulic systems:
  • Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on Airbus A320 and A319 airplanes mechanical and hydraulic systems.
  • Serviced aircraft fuel, oil, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.

9. Ground Support Equipment

Ground support equipment provides passenger and baggage handling, aircraft handling, and docking at an airport.

Here's how aviation mechanics use ground support equipment:
  • Managed the activities of 30 personnel in the maintenance of 35 helicopters and 20 pieces of ground support equipment.
  • Operate ground support equipment, bleed hydraulics, adjust brakes, and replace gaskets, packing and seals.

10. Aircraft Systems

Aircraft systems refer to the subsystems necessary for the efficient and safe operation of an aircraft, including flight controls, landing gear, electrical systems, hydraulics, avionics, navigation, communications, and instrumentation. All aircraft require essential systems such as engine, propeller, induction, ignition systems, as well as fuel, lubrication, cooling, electrical, landing gear, and environmental control systems to aid flight. Understanding aircraft systems in flight is essential for safe operation and proper maintenance.

Here's how aviation mechanics use aircraft systems:
  • Identify electrical, avionics and mechanical malfunctions and replace/assemble components in all aircraft systems.
  • Performed operational and functional system testing, and analysis of electronic aircraft systems.

11. Aircraft Engines

Here's how aviation mechanics use aircraft engines:
  • Utilized MMI, IPB and MRC Navy Publications for tear down and assembly of F404-GE-400 aircraft engines.
  • Inspect, maintain, test and repair aircraft engines, including fluid, electrical and airflow systems.

12. Maintenance Manuals

Here's how aviation mechanics use maintenance manuals:
  • Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other signal circuit plans and schematic electronic diagrams
  • Conduct repairs within accordance of the set specifications and procedures of maintenance manuals.

13. Preventive Maintenance

Here's how aviation mechanics use preventive maintenance:
  • Performed preventive maintenance on associated flight deck equipment using maintenance requirements to assure adequate launch and recovery drills.
  • Perform preventive maintenance procedures on equipment as required.

14. Test Equipment

Test equipment is a mechanical tool or a device which is used create signals and gather response from an electronic device under test. It helps in detecting any faults in the device and it also proves the proper operation of the electronic device.

Here's how aviation mechanics use test equipment:
  • Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of applicable maintenance/technical manuals, publications, instructions and special tools and test equipment.
  • Operated test equipment and special tools required in performing unit level and intermediate level maintenance.

15. Unscheduled Maintenance

Here's how aviation mechanics use unscheduled maintenance:
  • Performed scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, service checks and overhauls, modifications and replacements.
  • Performed organizational aviation scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on UH-60 aircraft.
top-skills

What skills help Aviation Mechanics find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on aviation mechanic resumes?

Nicolas Yale

GTCC Director of Aviation Programs, Guilford Technical Community College

Focus on your historical work that compliments your current desired path into aviation. Pilots need to focus on past resource management (strict task sharing roles) and working in a regimented and forward-thinking position (thinking ahead of the current situation). Technicians need to focus on technical or mechanical experiences that show an ability to troubleshoot and isolate failures, previous experience in researching technical data, and diagrams for system understanding/troubleshooting. Of course, put your licensing and certifications gained from your recent training first and foremost to show drive to move into the new field of work.

What soft skills should all aviation mechanics possess?

Nicolas Yale

GTCC Director of Aviation Programs, Guilford Technical Community College

Employers want someone who arrives early to work, not running to get ready when they start. Be a self-starter and a person who is always prepared to contribute every day. Employers need those who not only think of the current job and tasks needed to complete it but think of what is needed, so the next task starts smoothly. If you need promoting to find the next tasks needed in a large project, you are not thinking ahead of need. Everyone needs to be able to get along with teams with varied personalities, experiences, and backgrounds. The most productive people work well with everyone and avoid conflict as second nature

What hard/technical skills are most important for aviation mechanics?

Nicolas Yale

GTCC Director of Aviation Programs, Guilford Technical Community College

The aviation industry is shorthanded in nearly all skilled labor areas: pilots, mechanics, maintenance specialists, project managers, logistics developers, and planners. Baby-boomer retirement and cutbacks during COVID have left large skilled labor shortages across the board. The key is to pick the area you want to start, gain the proper credentials to get started and take advantage of apprenticeships and work-study programs to get your foot in the door. Do not be afraid to change direction if your employer wants to retrain you based on your skills or aptitude. Use the opportunity to add skills and certifications to your resume.

List of aviation mechanic skills to add to your resume

Aviation mechanic skills

The most important skills for an aviation mechanic resume and required skills for an aviation mechanic to have include:

  • Safety Procedures
  • Hand Tools
  • Airframe
  • FAA
  • Routine Maintenance
  • Landing Gear
  • Aviation Maintenance
  • Hydraulic Systems
  • Ground Support Equipment
  • Aircraft Systems
  • Aircraft Engines
  • Maintenance Manuals
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Test Equipment
  • Unscheduled Maintenance
  • Technical Data
  • Hydraulic Components
  • Mechanical Systems
  • Hazmat
  • Technical Manuals
  • Fuel Systems
  • Gearboxes
  • Corrosion Control
  • Technical Publications
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Electrical Systems
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Maintenance Procedures
  • Maintenance Actions
  • Maintenance Tasks
  • FOD
  • Functional Components
  • Flight Control Systems
  • Structural Components
  • Operational Checks
  • Aircraft Structures
  • Gear Boxes
  • Pneumatic Systems
  • Jigs
  • Uh-60
  • Hoists
  • Engineering Drawings
  • Precision Instruments
  • Oxygen Systems
  • Mechanical Components
  • APU
  • General Maintenance
  • Flight Schedules

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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