Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

People in this career often have these skills:

• Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
• Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Hearing Sensitivity - The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
• Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning.
• Read technical information needed to perform maintenance or repairs.
• Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.
• Maintain repair or maintenance records.
• Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.

• Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
• Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
• Inspect structural components of vehicles to identify problems.
• Move large objects using heavy equipment.
• Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
• Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
• Service vehicles to maintain functionality.
• Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
• Assemble electrical components, subsystems, or systems.
• Install electrical components, equipment, or systems.
• Install piping for installation or maintenance activities.
• Reassemble equipment after repair.
• Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
• Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed.
• Determine operational criteria or specifications.
• Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems.
• Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
• Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.
• Remove parts or components from equipment.
• Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
• Communicate with coworkers to coordinate installations or repairs.
• Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
• Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
• Disassemble equipment to inspect for deficiencies.
• Install machine or equipment replacement parts.
• Align equipment or machinery.
• Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems.
• Lay out work according to specifications.
• Apply protective coverings to objects or surfaces near work areas.
• Fabricate parts or components.
• Cut materials according to specifications or needs.
• Operate heating or drying equipment.
• Paint surfaces or equipment.

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