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Aircraft Maintenance Technician, as used in the United States , refers to an individual who holds a Mechanic certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration . Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT's) perform or supervise maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration of Aircraft and aircraft systems in accordance with the provisions of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's, which are Chapter 1 of Title 14 the Code Of Federal Regulations ). The Canadian equivalent of an AMT is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer . CERTIFICATION Certification of , instead of the ''Powerplant'' rating, an ''Engine'' rating was issued, so the abbreviation "A&E" may appear in older documents. The general requirements for eligibility for a mechanic certificate include the following:
Eligibility for the mechanic tests depends on the applicant's ability to document her or his knowledge of required subject matter and ability to perform maintenance tasks. The FAA recognizes two ways of demonstrating the needed knowledge and skills: On-the-job experience or completion of a training program at a School certified under 14 CFR Part 147 {Link without Title} . 14 CFR Part 147 schools These regulations specify each class and topic the applicant must become proficient in and how many hours each class must contain, for a total of 1900 hours of training. Completion of the program usually takes between 18 months and two years. The FAA requires that mechanics be taught all systems of the aircraft, such as:
Thorough knowledge of FAA rules and regulations (especially with regard to accepted repair/modification procedures) is also expected of A&P mechanics. After a maintenance student completes the required academic and hands-on coursework, he/she is then required by the FAA to pass a written General test, an Airframe written test, and a Powerplant written test in order to proceed to the next phase of testing. After all written tests are satisfactorily completed, the candidate is now able to take an Oral & Practical exam given by a Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME), who will further test the knowledge of the prospective mechanic using a question and answer format, as well as requiring the candidate to perform several tasks using the correct methods. After successful completion of the Oral & Practical examination, the candidate will receive a temporary A&P certificate from the DME and will shortly receive a permanent license from the FAA. This certificate allows the A&P mechanic to perform all privileges granted to him/her by the FAA, including returning aircraft to service after maintenance. INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION Some AMTs, after at least three years or working in their field, choose to acquire an inspection authorization. These individuals are allowed to perform annual inspections on aircraft and sign-off major repairs and alterations. Certification and limitations of mechanics with Inspection Authorization is contained in 14 CFR Part 65. EUROPEAN AUTHORITIES In Europe, Aircraft Maintenance technicians have to comply to part-66 Certifying Staff of the EASA . Part 66 is based on the JAR system and ATA 104 system. There are 4 levels of authorization:
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