WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR... IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMTs? PIA has worked closely with aviation employers for nearly a century to make sure our graduates are learning the skills they need to succeed as aviation maintenance technicians.
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ut how are these needs changing over time, and what skills are today’s employers hoping to see from tomorrow’s AMTs?
To find out, PIA Associate Director of Career Services Mindy Pavilonis reached out to several recent employers of PIA grads to learn more about their side of the hiring experience. Here’s what they had to say about their labor needs, what traits they’re seeking in new talent, and what PIA students should focus on if they want to excel as AMTs.
In Aviation Maintenance, Every Little Detail Matters What's one way to be sure you’ll stand out in the AMT job market? Prove that you can stay laser-focused on the details of any project. “Attention to detail and the ability to follow written instructions is unfortunately lacking among many new AMTs, and that can lead to potential failures,” said Cory Highfield, a PIA alum who currently works as a Technician at GE Aviation’s Durham Engine Facility. 12
Highfield isn’t alone; nearly every employer mentioned how important it is for new AMTs to clearly follow directions, pay close attention to minor details, and remain safety-conscious at all times. That’s because every little detail is so crucial to the performance of a plane — and to the safety and well-being of everyone in and around it.
Never Stop Learning No employer expects a new AMT to know everything about the planes they work on, but being excited to learn as much as possible about the aircraft they service is a huge asset. For example, L. Martin Fletes, QC/TO/LT at Flightcheck Commercial Aviation Services, notes that the AMTs at Flightcheck must learn to be proficient in hydraulic service, compressed gas service and nav/com systems for Airbus, Boeing, CRJ, and Embraer. “A solid AMT candidate will learn to troubleshoot/repair/defer defects ranging from small regional to wide body commercial jets and in doing so, gain functional understanding of commercial jet systems” said Fletes. Angie Poston, a Recruiter at Signature TECHNICAir, which provides Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft operators at 11 locations worldwide, points out: “We have several seasoned mechanics who will be great mentors for new AMTs.
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