Aviation Maintenance: Earning an FAA Airframe and Powerplant License
Aviation Maintenance: Earning an FAA Airframe and Powerplant License
These institutions offer a curriculum aligned with the FAA Airman Certification Standards, divided into three areas: general aeronautical science, airframe structures and systems, and powerplant systems. Over eighteen to twenty-four months, students learn sheet metal fabrication, composite repair, hydraulic actuators, turbine engine operation, reciprocating powerplants, propeller governors, and aircraft electrical wiring.
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Licensing Costs
In general, tuition at public community colleges offering this type of instruction ranges from $15,000 to $22,000, while private aerospace academies charge $30,000 to $45,000.
Beyond tuition, students must also pay exam fees. To earn an Airframe and Powerplant license, students must pass computer-based written exams covering general, airframe, and powerplant topics. Candidates must then pass an oral evaluation and a practical hands-on examination administered by a Designated Mechanic Examiner. Testing fees range from $1,200 to $1,800.
Transitioning military personnel with aviation specialties can bypass some training because federal law lets candidates qualify for testing based on practical experience.
Time Commitment to Earn a License
An applicant must document at least 18 months of hands-on experience on airframes or powerplants, or at least 30 months of experience in both disciplines. Military specialties such as Air Force Tactical Aircraft Maintenance (AFSC 2A3X3), Navy Aviation Machinist’s Mates, and Army Helicopter Repairers (MOS 15T) may meet this practical maintenance experience requirement through their military duties.
Qualifying service members document their maintenance tasks through military training records, Joint Services Transcripts, and an official commanding officer endorsement letter. They must submit these to an Aviation Safety Inspector at a Flight Standards District Office. After verification, the inspector approves the candidate’s FAA Form 8610-2 application, authorizing them to take required written, oral, and practical exams without attending an aviation school.
Military maintainers with approved applications may attend commercial test-preparation courses lasting 10 to 21 days. These prep courses cost $2,000 to $4,500 and cover civilian federal regulations, general aviation reciprocating engines, and regulatory paperwork that military specialists do not encounter in tactical units.
Military Education Benefits
Military benefits may cover training and testing expenses related to aircraft maintenance. Active-duty personnel can use their branch of military service’s credentialing resources, such as Air Force COOL and credentialing programs, to pay for civilian test-preparation courses, books, and testing vouchers before leaving the service.
The VA GI Bill Test Fee Reimbursement Program reimburses applicants per test for approved licensing and certification tests. Veterans who choose to attend full Part 147 degree programs can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pay tuition, receive a monthly housing stipend, and cover annual book allowances.
Transitioning military members can also participate in Department of Defense SkillBridge Opportunities with commercial airlines and certified aerospace maintenance facilities. These programs place service members in civilian hangars during their final six months of active service, providing commercial turbine experience while the Department of Defense continues to pay them.
