VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (JUNE 30, 2020) – Commercial airline employment has often been the go-to for many newly-certificated FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanics. Though, according to Tim Murray, Director of Education at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance Norfolk campus, “The A&P is what I would call a master key. There are so many ways to utilize it.” While passenger travel may be the first thing to come to mind, there are other fields of work:
Government and DOD Contractors
Government and Department of Defense Contractor Companies like Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Northrup Grumman, Lockheed Martin, as well as a slew of smaller sub-contractors, are often in need of certified A&P technicians. Mechanics are hired on to overhaul, maintain and repair the company’s proprietary aircraft.
Aerospace
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has reached new horizons with the successful launch of American astronauts on May 27, 2020, onboard the SpaceX Dragon 2. Projects like SpaceX are aiming to take the first steps into commercializing space travel. With this commercialization, A&P mechanics will be needed to work on aircraft and will have the opportunity to be part something brand new.
Historic and Vintage Aircraft
The Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, VA, prides itself on restoring and maintaining WWI and WWII warbirds full flight capability. The museum also offers biplane rides to guests which take off from the museum’s own airstrip. Every plane on the property is maintained by a team of A&P mechanics with a passion to keep them flying.
For more information on where an A&P certification can take you, head over to our blog. To learn more about AIM’s Aviation Maintenance Technical program visit www.AviationMaintenance.edu or call (888) FIX-JETS.
