Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Rapid City, SD
How to get your A&P Aircraft Mechanic certification in Rapid City, SD; training requirements, eligibility, and more. To earn your A&P Aircraft Mechanic Training Certificate in Rapid City, SD (A&P License in Rapid City, SD), you must attend a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Aircraft Mechanic School in Rapid City, SD OR have at least 30 months of relevant civilian or military work experience (supervised by a certified aviation mechanic from Rapid City, SD).
The FAA issues the A&P certificates (airframe and powerplant certificates), and A&P mechanics from Rapid City, SD can get either an airframe rating or a power plant rating or both--most aviation mechanics from Rapid City, SD get both. Those who want a certificate with just a single rating and who base their application on practical experience must demonstrate 18 months of work experience applicable to the chosen rating. Learn more about the training and experience requirements to become an A&P mechanic near Rapid City, SD.
After your aircraft mechanic school qualifications are met, you'll be eligible to take the required oral, practical, and written tests. You must pass all these tests within 24 months. The tests cover 43 technical subjects. Typically, tests for one certificate--airframe or power plant--take about 8 hours. (Get more details about the Aircraft A&P Mechanics Tests)
When you pass, you will have earned your FAA A&P mechanic license with airframe and/or powerplant certificates (A&P license in Rapid City, SD), and you'll be on your way to a successful career in aviation maintenance! Learn more about aviation maintenance A&P technician schools near Rapid City, SD.
A&P Mechanic Schools in Rapid City, SD
Although your certificates earned from A&P mechanic schools in Rapid City, SD don't expire, aviation mechanics from Rapid City, SD must remain "current" by meeting several criteria, including completing a minimum of 1,000 hours of hands-on work experience during the previous 24 months (or completing a refresher course) and completing at least 16 hours of additional training every 24 months.
The additional training requirement is usually satisfied by attending manufacturer events or training with outside contractors hired to conduct the training.
Avionics Technician Specialty Training
As an A&P mechanic in Rapid City, SD, if you have the training, qualifications, and tools, the FAA will allow you to work on avionics as well. Avionics technicians are not specifically required to have FAA certification if they received their avionics training in the military or from working for an avionics manufacturer.
Get Matched
With the BEST
School/Training for YOU! INQUIRE HERE
Aircraft Mechanic Trade Schools in Rapid City, SD
Aviation maintenance technicians keep aircraft in the air by inspecting, replacing, and fixing nearly every part of an airplane or helicopter. The term aviation maintenance technician (or A&P Mechanic) is very broad and applies to nearly anyone who works on aircraft in Rapid City, SD.
However, as an aspiring Aviation Mechanic in training, you'll quickly learn that there are several different types of aviation mechanics out there in Rapid City, SD.
First of all, airframe mechanics in Rapid City, SD are licensed to perform repair work on the entire aircraft with the exception of the engine(s), propellers, and instruments. Powerplant mechanics in Rapid City, SD are authorized to work on engines and in some cases, propellers.
Although Aviation A&P Mechanics from Rapid City, SD can earn either an airframe or powerplant certificate, the vast majority of Aviation Mechanic near Rapid City, SD earn both certificates and are hereafter referred to as A&P (airframe and powerplant) mechanics. Avionics technicians work exclusively on aircraft radios, instruments, navigation, weather, traffic, and ground proximity systems. Learn more about aviation maintenance technician jobs.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Career Paths Near Rapid City, SD
As an A&P mechanic in Rapid City, SD, you are eligible to work in a huge variety of settings. You can work as a freelance mechanic at your local airfield in Rapid City, SD, get a job working for a local airport near Rapid City, SD, work for a corporate aviation department maintaining one or a fleet of aircraft in Rapid City, SD, or end up at a major airline working on passenger jets and turboprops.
After three years of operating as an A&P mechanic in Rapid City, SD (with 24 months of hands-on experience), you're eligible to move up and become an inspection authorization mechanic (IA). IA's are A&Ps with the authority to return aircraft to service after certain types of thorough inspections.
Aviation Maintenance Technician Key Points
Aircraft Mechanic Trade Schools in Rapid City, SD must be detail-oriented. Aircraft mechanics perform a variety of complex tasks where mistakes can be costly in terms of money and human life. When the tools are put away, the job is not complete; aircraft mechanics must also be excellent record keepers.
Paperwork for all inspections and work completed must be filed and logged appropriately for each task completed. The larger and more complex the aircraft, the more paperwork. Find out more about aviation maintenance technician training.
Interesting Facts About Airline Profitability for Rapid City, SD
The airline industry has currently made a net loss of $31 billion dollars since 1940. The average profit per seat on a 1 hour flight is $2.20. In 1940 to fly London – New York it cost 1 years wages. Today it costs the wage of working only Monday & Tuesday.
Helicopter Spotlight for Rapid City, SD
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat helicopter, commonly used for light transport, scouting and light attack duties. It is powered by a single turbine engine and was the first helicopter to feature a fenestron tail instead of a conventional tail rotor. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation, later Aérospatiale; the Gazelle has also been manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom as the Westland Gazelle, by SOKO in Yugoslavia, and the Arab British Helicopter Company (ABHCO) in Egypt.
Since being introduced to service in 1973, the Gazelle has been procured and operated by a number of export customers. It has also participated in numerous conflicts around the world, including by Syria during the 1982 Lebanon War, by Rwanda during the Rwandan Civil War in the 1990s, and by numerous participants on both sides of the 1991 Gulf War. In French service, the Gazelle has been supplemented as an attack helicopter by the larger Eurocopter Tiger, but remains in use primarily as a scout helicopter.