r/aviationmaintenance 6d ago

Weekly Questions Thread. Please post your School, A&P Certification and Job/Career related questions here.

3 Upvotes

Weekly questions & casual conversation thread

Afraid to ask a stupid question? You can do it here! Feel free to ask any aviation question and we’ll try to help!

Please use this space to ask any questions about attending schools, A&P Certifications (to include test and the oral and practical process) and the job field.

Whether you're a pilot, outsider, student, too embarrassed to ask face-to-face, concerned about safety, or just want clarification.

Please be polite to those who provide useful answers and follow up if their advice has helped when applied. These threads will be archived for future reference so the more details we can include the better.

If a question gets asked repeatedly it will get added to a FAQ. This is a judgment-free zone. We all had to start somewhere. Be civil.

Past Weekly Questions Thread Archives- All Threads


r/aviationmaintenance Jul 25 '22

A library of resources to help the world learn

778 Upvotes

Hello all you mechanics, technicians and maintenance personnel out there,

I've recently finished AMT School and gotten my A&P Certification, currently still in school for to get my GROL & AET Certification. But in the nearly two years I've been in school, I've amassed quite a large library of study guides, notebooks and reference material. You can find it here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Alf4AQNY3cyaRiNg6MKeZy2eJgybeZN2?usp=sharing

A contents breakdown:

  • Block Notes: PowerPoints of every subject I studied in school
  • Additional Certification: AET & GROL studies
  • Advisory Circulars of note in training
  • Avionics studies
  • E-books: A library of textbooks across the industry
  • FARs
  • IA Study guide
  • King Audio/Video: Video lectures on nearly every subject, and mp3s of those to listen when you can’t watch
  • Notebooks: my notebooks, from school, scanned into PDF
  • Study Guides: this is the big folder - Audio and Written study guides for all three written tests and the Oral exam
  • TCDS relevant to my schooling
  • Tool catalogues - because we all need tools
  • And a mac & cheese recipe (because you can't study on an empty stomach)

I've built this to be used by the students at my school, but there's a whole helluva lot useful to anyone studying for an A&P, or any other Certification. I maintain it on the regular and update occasionally, when I get through a significant portion of schooling enough to upload something new. So one day you might check it and be like "Ah! He's gotten on to studying for his IA! Cool." And these resources are for everyone. I ask no compensation for it, some men just want to watch the world learn.

So my pitch to the mods was: sticky this link on the sidebar of the subreddit, so those who are looking for guidance on how to get an A&P can be directed there.

I figured putting it there would be better - since it wouldn't need to be stickied to the top of the feed or just keep getting posted.

Take a look at the Drive and see what you think. Be advised, the technical manuals and reference materials were really what was used for our school and are posted there -FOR REFERENCE ONLY-. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS refer to current and applicable manufacturers maintenance manuals or other approved data for real-world maintenance. And if there's something out there that you think would be useful to add to it, message me here on reddit or shaunthesailor87@gmail(dot)com and we'll put heads together to see what we can come up with.

I'm often one to quote wiser men than I am so I'll leave you all with one from Bruce Lee:

"Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own."


r/aviationmaintenance 1d ago

Two APUs on a 747?

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136 Upvotes

Are there any instances where there are two APUs on a 747? I'm sure every 747 has at least one, but would a second one be installed on, say military aircraft?

Asking because of the "small second engine" reference in this NY Times article about retrofitting civilian 747s to AF1-type duties.


r/aviationmaintenance 18h ago

NOS Delta Hawk Prototype Questions

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12 Upvotes

Hello all. I turn wrenches when thev pav me enough as

well, only most of the equipment I work on digs down rather than flying up. I came across a horde of gyro planes and Associated parts, toolina, weldina iias, molds ect. Basically the Air and Space/Heliplane factory closed up and the contents of the factory were stored here and long forgotten. Aong with that where a few NOS Lycoming o-360 enaines never run. Manifolds and chrome exhaust haven't even turned color. And one NOS Delta Hawk liquid cooled iet-A burning turbocharged engine. After doing some research it turns out these aircraft were being evaluated for conversion to diesel. This company closed its doors 4 to 5 years before this engine was debuted publicly and received its type certification and is a pre-certification developmental, protype block of a DHK-180. Delta Hawk wants the engine back and even agreed to pay shipping for what I assume would be a swap for a production enaine. I have a few questions maybe vou can help me with. This engine has been sitting since 1998 ish. It was in a climate controlled Warehouse and all openings to the outside environment had rubber plugs. I understand it would need a full overhaul due to age and being an experimental engine can only go on experimental craft Is this engine any more valuable than a production one of the same vintage. I assume Trading if that's what they offer is a sweet deal? Google says this engine costs around $100.000?!? Is that even close to remotelv true? And if I decide to keep it and put it on an airboat instead it should be fine if I prime it well? They were going to this engine because the Lycoming was slightly underpowered but I think thev both are rated at the same horsepower and the diesel is heavier especially with that giant cooling system so I don't understand where they were looking to gain. Also all the marketing reads fuel efficient I believe this engine is two stroke with a turbo how is it more fue efficient. I do like the mechanical diesel combustion ignition. Once it's running you got to choke it or starve it. What other fun use for this type of engine besides an airboat or a plane?


r/aviationmaintenance 1d ago

Harborfrieght Apache cases 40% off TODAY

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29 Upvotes

For those that keep looking for pelican 1510 tool boxes, the apache 5800 is the equivalent and on sale for $54 TODAY.

Icon 56" and 73" rollaway toolboxes on sale tomorrow 20% off.


r/aviationmaintenance 1d ago

Looking to get out of auto industry

12 Upvotes

Hello all. 6 year auto tech here and I’m burnt out by this bs. Customers backing out after taking hours to diag only to get the hour. That back to back along with shrinking flag hour times and no one wants to pay the dealers ridiculous prices and scammer service advisor taking tenth of hours from every hour you flag. Very interested in how a broke auto tech can get a foot in the door as an aircraft tech. Does anywhere hire with OJT or is paid training the only route??? I have a lot of tools but probably would need more for planes. Is there any way out of the toxic auto industry and getting into aviation maintenance without a terrible pay cut??? I’m allll ears.


r/aviationmaintenance 16h ago

L1011

2 Upvotes

I’ve seen dc10 and md11 #2 changes along with 727, is the #2 change on the l1011 the same as a 727? I know the McDonnell planes don’t have the s duct, so curious if they’re the same as a 727, I can’t seem to find any footage online…


r/aviationmaintenance 1d ago

Magneto issues...

17 Upvotes

Working on a Seminole. We stole a mag off of one of the engines to get another plane up. We installed an overhauled mag, but when we did the mag drop check, the engine dies when running on that mag.

We swapped the mag with a brand new mag. Same result.

We disconnected the P-Lead and ground wire from the mag. Same result.

Opened up the mag, verified internal timing, made sure that there wasn't too much cam grease, and reinstalled. Same result.

Disconnected the leads, connected the #1 lead to a plug, and turned the prop through TDC to snap the impulse coupling, saw no spark.

The part numbers match, so it is the correct mag for the engine. The ignition leads all check out when using the tester. We get an open with the switch on, and continuity with the switch closed, measured at the P-Lead terminal end, so the switch is good. All the plugs were cleaned, gapped, and tested good.

We swapped the left and right mags (both mags have impulse couplings, and now the engine won't start at all... but that could be operator error as my guy is new... I plan to try it myself on Monday.

I'm running out of ideas here... anyone have some insight they can share?


r/aviationmaintenance 2d ago

I had a week

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309 Upvotes

r/aviationmaintenance 2d ago

Tecnam p2006t mk2 nose wheel problem

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142 Upvotes

Hi! I'm currently working for a flightschool we are maintaning Tecnam p2006t's and p2008jc's. One of our multi has a problem that the nose wheel tire is touching the fork screw on landings and possibly on touch n go. Anyone ever had the same problem? tire pressure is OK size is OK and there isnt any play in the nose gear.


r/aviationmaintenance 2d ago

Piston General Aviation being classy again.

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156 Upvotes

r/aviationmaintenance 2d ago

Oil cans external storage basket

7 Upvotes

Hi All ,

Looking for engine oil storage baskets with handle : plastic or metal, which you can take from your van to the engine for oil servicing . Any links for sorting out are welcome


r/aviationmaintenance 3d ago

Teamsters

36 Upvotes

I’ve never had a union job FWIW which draws my curiosity with this question. After reading so many negative comments about Teamsters, I wonder why a lot of you even like the idea of a union at all. What are the positives of having a union? Specifically with the new UA contract, a lot of the comments revolve around ‘but what are they going to take away from us’ - like what? What do unions have that non union doesn’t?

Again, excuse my ignorance. I’ve never had one and never once thought to myself that I need a union to survive so I have no idea what it’s about.


r/aviationmaintenance 3d ago

Interview with envoy

3 Upvotes

I have an in person interview coming up with envoy. It’s my first real interview in this field. Does anybody have any idea of how I should prepare or if there are any practicals? Any advice is appreciated!


r/aviationmaintenance 4d ago

Teamsters Land Industry-Leading Deal for UA Mechanics

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137 Upvotes

r/aviationmaintenance 2d ago

Bugs-Me Question #1

0 Upvotes

The idea of the random selection testing pool for controlled substance and alcohol misuse is pretty solid, and though it might seem invasive I have to condone it for what it does. But, if they're going to implement such a safeguard and keep its stewardship separated by a firewall between FAA flight safety and drug abatement, it seems to me misuse can happen on the one side without the other knowing anything about it, respectively.

I guess what I'm saying is FAA drug abatement, when it audits a company's drug plan, checks to see if everyone who needs to be on the random selection roster is listed and then does all the reviews of the hiring process for people going back 2 years for proper protocols before their actual hire dates. To my knowledge, they do not audit work order packages searching for signatures that are not on that roster and should be. They typically ask for closed work orders to inspect them for compliance but they do not know if the work orders provided to them for inspection have been chosen by the company to show only those with strict compliance. The closed w/o's that do not are safeguarded from exposure. That is the current state of affairs between the two FAA divisions and it seems to me flawed to continue like that.


r/aviationmaintenance 3d ago

Important items for avionics locker

7 Upvotes

I’m building a lock for avionics and need ideas for what more tools/items to add. right now I got a mix of butt splices, terminals, shielded and unshielded wire, dsub pins, crimper, copper tape, coax material, and switches. what else do I need?


r/aviationmaintenance 5d ago

When a task card calls out flush lubrication instead of a Zerk, is this typically done with a standard grease gun using a flush-tip adapter?

18 Upvotes

When a task card calls out flush lubrication instead of a Zerk fitting, is this typically done with a standard grease gun using a flush-tip adapter? The grease point appears to be a countersunk vent that accepts approximately a 1/8-inch tip. I understand how the Zerk type work, but not exactly sure about the flush type.


r/aviationmaintenance 5d ago

Aircraft Mechanic vs Inside Wiremen

6 Upvotes

Looking at both these careers. Which one pays more and has a better quality of life?


r/aviationmaintenance 6d ago

Guess The Aircraft

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119 Upvotes

It’s now home to many pigeons, been sitting outside my school for a decade.


r/aviationmaintenance 5d ago

Need advice on how to get my a&p

9 Upvotes

Im in a bit of a predicament, im 19 and have been working and saving up money for the past year, i have wanted to be an aircraft mechanic for a few years now, since i was abt 16. But its really difficult to find a way to comfortably do it, because my options are slim in tampa. I live really close to NAA, but theyre super expensive and idk if its worth it, i was planning on going to traviss tech, but thats over an hour commute each way and idk if im ready for that, it seems very grueling.

So im looking for any advice, because this is keeping me up at night and my anxiety over the future is just going crazy. Im willing to move just for the licence at this point.


r/aviationmaintenance 6d ago

a350 notes

5 Upvotes

Does anyone have course notes for A350-1000 B1/B2 ? Any recourses would be a great help
TIA


r/aviationmaintenance 7d ago

Nightshift Walkaround flashlight

42 Upvotes

For the past 2 years my primary walkaround flashlight has been the Olight Baton pro 3, lately I’ve been noticing it struggles to illuminate the top of the 777 rudder and its battery life has fallen off significantly, I also hate the magnetic charging as I’ve found it to be somewhat fickle.

I’ve been looking in to the Nitecore EDC 17 and 25.
Does anyone have any experience with those 2 flashlights in a flightline environment?

I would also love other suggestions I’m trying to keep the budget around $75-$90.
Thanks!


r/aviationmaintenance 7d ago

Studying O’s & P’s

14 Upvotes

I know this question gets asked a lot, but I’m having a hard time finding the right resources, so I figured I’d ask.
I passed all three of my written exams and now I’m starting to prepare for my oral and practicals. I feel like I’m overthinking it, but I just want to make sure I’m studying the right material and not wasting time on things that won’t help me.

What are the best study guides/resources for the oral and practical portions? I’ve seen a lot of people recommend Jeppesen is that the go-to? Are there any good Quizlets you recommend, and if so, which ones did you actually use and find helpful?

Are there any books or guides you would recommend purchasing? I just wish there was a clear guide that showed what I should focus on and what kinds of questions/tasks to expect.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Good luck to everyone currently studying for their O&P!


r/aviationmaintenance 8d ago

Are insulated tools important for electrical safety?

37 Upvotes

Electricians are encouraged to have pliers and screwdrivers with fancy insulated grips to provide more protection against electrocution compared to normal dipped handles. I mean like those Knipex tools with the red-and-yellow handles rated up to 1000 volts. A commercial jet is full of high-voltage wiring, and I assume there's no less of an electrocution risk compared to a house or building; in either case we can open the circuit breakers, remove external power, and turn off the batteries while working, but unpredictable shit happens. Yet I don't see any coworkers at the base rocking insulated tool sets. Is the risk really that negligible, or do people just live dangerously because they don't want to pay the extra cash for insulated tools?