Airframe & Powerplant
Written Exam Preparation
Condor Aircraft School will help you earn your Airframe and Powerplant license without the time and expense of attending a school. We will show you how to put your Civilian or Military aircraft experience to work for you. After you qualify for the experience requirements, Condor Aircraft School can quickly and properly prepare you for the knowledge (written), oral and practical tests.
Aircraft Mechanics are also known as: Airframe or Power Plant Mechanics and Avionics or Aviation Technicians. As a valued and critical member of an airline's chain of operations, the primary responsibility of this professional is aircraft preventive maintenance that ensures peak operation, performance, and safety. This is achieved through aircraft servicing, repairing, overhauling, and testing.
A Mechanic performs all required maintenance and inspections of aircraft engines, landing gear, pressurized sections, instruments, and accessories (e.g., pumps, valves, brakes, air conditioning), including parts replacement and maintenance. With larger and more complex planes, the Mechanic will retrieve valuable diagnostic data from the electronic boxes and consoles that track a plane's central or basic functions. They also maintain all records related to maintenance performed on each aircraft. The inspection schedule for each aircraft is based on one or any combination of factors: the number of flight hours that the aircraft has accumulated, the length of time (in days) that have elapsed since its last inspection, and the cycles of operation.
When examining an engine in all plane types, the Mechanic will stand on a scaffold or ladder, or use a lift to reach a special door/opening that allows direct access to the engine in order to examine, repair, or remove it completely. If needed, the Mechanic will disassemble the engine, and with specialized tools and instruments, evaluate various components while looking for any wear or corrosion. X-ray and magnetic inspection equipment may also be used to detect any unnoticeable or invisible cracks. Once the Mechanic's evaluation is completed, they will replace or repair any deteriorated or defective parts.
A Mechanic also evaluates and services various other parts of an aircraft, including:
- repairing sheet metal or composite surfaces
- measuring control cable tension
- looking for and evaluating corrosion, distortion, and cracks in the wings, tail, and fuselage (the central structure or body of an aircraft, to which the wings, tail assembly, and engines are attached)
Once all necessary repairs have been made, the Mechanic will run the equipment through a battery of tests so as to ensure safe and optimal function.
Specialty Mechanics
Some Mechanics specialize in repairs where they will find and repair abnormalities or problems as described by a pilot. They work as quickly as safety allows so that the aircraft can get back on track and may safely proceed with its flight. For example, before takeoff, a pilot may discover that the plane's fuel gauge is not functioning properly. The mechanic will locate and diagnose the problem, and through specialized testing equipment, test the electrical system to find and replace any wires that have shorted out or broken.
There are also Mechanics who work on only one type of aircraft, while others will work on many different types, such as propeller-driven planes, jets, and helicopters. Some Mechanics will specialize in a specific type of aircraft but work on only one section of that aircraft (e.g., hydraulics, engine, or electrical system). Following are some examples:
- Power Plant Mechanics have the authority to work on engines but perform limited work on propellers. The power plant is the engine and propellers (if utilized) of an aircraft.
- Airframe Mechanics have the authority to work on any part of an aircraft, with the exception of power plants, instruments, and propellers.
- Combination Airframe-and-Power Plant Mechanics, more generally known as A&P Mechanics, perform work on all parts of an aircraft, excluding the instruments. The airframe includes the fuselage, wings brakes, tail assembly, and the fuel and oil tanks. Mechanics who work in small, independent aircraft repair shops, will typically perform inspections and repairs on a variety of aircraft. Most of today's Mechanics who perform work on civilian planes, are A&P Mechanics.
- Avionics Technicians repair and maintain the avionics systems of an aircraft (i.e., parts used for aircraft navigation and radio communications, weather radar systems, and other integral instruments and computers that control primary functions such as flight and engine). Today, these systems are an integral part of overall aircraft design and have significantly increased and improved aircraft capabilities. With the advancements and increased use of technology, a greater amount of time is spent by the Technician in repairing electronic systems (e.g., computerized controls). In fact, sometimes a Technician will perform an analysis on a problem and will also be expected/required to develop a solution to a complex electronic problem. Some duties may require the Technician to obtain additional licensing (e.g., a radiotelephone license issued by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)).
Airframe and Powerplant Program Tuition
Course Tuition $2500.00
Written Exam - Three computer tests $165.00 each= $495.00
- Airframe Test
- Powerplant Test
- General Test