14 Key Attributes Aircraft Mechanics And Service Technicians Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Ethan Jones

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Aircraft mechanics and service technicians diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Includes helicopter and aircraft engine specialists.

The core tasks that aircraft mechanics and service technicians are likely to carry out include:

Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations.
Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
Inspect airframes for wear or other defects.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that aircraft mechanics and service technicians would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for realistic work environments. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 100%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 93.2%

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 92%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.8%

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 87.6%

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 87.6%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 86.8%

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 85%

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 82.6%

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 82.6%

Persistence in the face of obstacles.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.6%

A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.2%

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 80%