Perform in-flight fixes and keep track of aircraft problems.
What does an Avionics Technician do?
Avionics is a field concerned with the electronics of airplanes, spacecrafts, and defense missiles. Basically anything that flies requires a truckload of electronic components. Avionics Technicians troubleshoot, maintain, and service that equipment. An Avionics Technician can work for a commercial airline, the military, or a private airfield.
As an Avionics Technician, you are the first line of defense in making sure that things are able to fly like they should, which means solving flying problems when they occur. For example, if the low-fuel warning light appeared mid-flight when it shouldn’t have, the Pilot alerts you. You pull out your toolbox and test different parts of the system to identify the problem. Your tools scan images and diagnose malfunctions in the system. Once you discover the problem, you ensure its proper repair and test it again to make sure it is working properly. Along the way, you carefully document each inspection, repair, or test you perform.
Even more important than repairs you diagnose is the detailed maintenance you perform. Your goal is to maintain the aircraft’s electronic system so well that there is never a problem to address. After all, the Pilot can’t just call AAA if there is a problem mid-flight.
These repairs and maintenance ensure the safety of Pilots and thousands of passengers. But your job doesn’t end there. You also get to work with Avionics Engineers and assist in creating designs. For this, you help the Avionics Engineer in using computer-aided design (CAD) software to prepare designs. After discussing design elements with the Engineer, you assist in the construction or installation of projects. This is a great way to gain first-hand experience and decide if you would like to further your degree in the field.