Do you enjoy science, learning how things work? Do you have a mechanical aptitude? Do you enjoy working on your feet in a variety of settings, or even working outside? Are you at all fascinated by cars, airplanes, or jets? You may want to pursue a career as a professional aircraft technician. In the early days of air flight, an air-line's maintenance department may have included one or two mechanics. They did not have special training, and were often former automobile mechanics who quickly learned how to use their skills to service airplanes.

Today, however, airplane mechanics are more often called professional aviation technicians. They receive special training and are licensed by by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which also sets forth strict guidelines on how to repair and maintain all planes. An aircraft mechanic can earn two ratings: airframe, which certifies someone to repair and maintain the body of a plane, and power plant, which refers to the engine of a plane. There is also a combined airframe and power plant license, which is most popular because it offers the individual more training and thus more job opportunities. A third area - avionics - deals only with an aircraft's radio instruments and navigation units. Overall, there are almost 120,000 aircraft mechanics employed in the US. While almost two-thirds of this total are salaried mechanics who work for an airline, about one fifth work for aircraft manufacturers. Major airlines employ about 40,000 airframe and power plant mechanics, while an additional 1,400 airframe and power plant mechanics work for national airlines. Projections show that jobs in this field should grow as fast as average for the next decade or so.

In addition to major and national airlines, aircraft mechanics work for small commuter and regional airlines, general aviation companies, and FAA repair stations. Once licensed, a professional aircraft technician has a wide range of job opportunities and places to work. Many work for a national, regional, or major commercial airline. In addition, there are numerous opportunities in the military. Others work for an airport or private aviation service. Still others work for a large corporation, servicing the company's executive jets and planes. Aircraft technicians also have choices in the work they do. They may specialize in repairs or routine maintenance, airframe or power plant. Still others specialize in avionics. Let's take a brief look at these areas of expertise, and how they relate to the parts of an aircraft.

Generally speaking, airplanes include the landplane, the carrier-based plane, the seaplane, and the amphibian. The most common type of plane, the landplane - or land-based plane - is called this because it lands on the ground. The seaplane, in contrast, is designed to land on the water. Its fuselage is built as a hull to keep the plane afloat. The amphibian, as its name implies, can be used on land or water, and features a wheel gear, as well as a hull or pontoons. Seaplanes were used more commonly before World War II, while amphibians are somewhat popular today as a light sport plane. Finally, the carrier-based plane is a landplane designed to land on an aircraft carrier. It features a tail-hook which stops the plane after it lands on the carrier and its hook meets a strong cable that reaches across the carrier's deck. Airplanes may also be classified as military planes, commercial airplanes, and general aviation craft. Military planes include combat, cargo, training, and observation planes, while general aviation craft refer to planes used by executives, hobbyists, flight instructors, agricultural and other special users.