Get a Life…..

and a Career 1

LAMECK LOKUDO

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY

GET A LIFE….AND A CAREER

26/06/2021
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My ideal career goal is to work and achieve being a professional aircraft maintenance

engineer. Working in the maintenance field is one of the most rewarding jobs. The hands-on and

practical experience that characterizes the job makes it appealing and very insightful.

I have always had a knack for airplanes. My initial dream was to become a pilot and fly for a

major airline back home. I soon realized that there is less competition in the maintenance field,

which contributed to my change in career.

To achieve this dream, I need to further my education and skills. Possession of a

bachelor's degree in Aviation Science is a foundation; however, special licenses and certificates

are required to achieve a certain level of professionalism as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

Within the first decade after completing my studies, I plan on enrolling for a special

certificate from FAA. The field of aviation mechanics is quite vast, from repair and installation

of airframe systems to repairing the engines and structure. Each of these components requires

special training and skills. The FAA offers Academic training through an FAA-certificated

Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS).

An alternative would be to undergo an On Job Training course through civilian or

military experience. OJT job training is a more inexpensive route; therefore, I will be enrolling

for an apprenticeship or trainee program after completing my bachelor's degree. The trainee
Get a Life…..and a Career 3

program would equip me with the necessary skill set that would set me on course in becoming a

certified aviation mechanic. Simultaneously, I would enroll in a part 147 A&P program.

Within the second decade, I anticipate having completed my special certification courses

and my apprenticeship too. I shall advance my career by taking up a master's degree course in

Business Management. In the future, I would want to take up a managerial role in maintenance to

supplement my in-depth knowledge and skills as an aviation mechanic.

The job, however, has its pros and cons whereas the salary scale is good with upward

mobility and progression too, the working conditions can be challenging. As an aircraft

maintenance engineer, you can either work in line maintenance or base maintenance.

Line maintenance is performed on the ramp during an in-transit flight or troubleshooting,

whereas base maintenance involves a scheduled performance generally done at the hangar.

The challenging aspect of this career is that with mechanic jobs, teamwork is a vital

component. Without someone else's input, the overall job would not be complete. In some cases,

I may experience unwillingness to cooperate, or communication becomes a barrier from the team

members.

However, this shall be a critical factor in selecting my preferred choice of airline to work for.

The company should have a solid work ethic to discourage such and promote positivity while

working.
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Working as an aircraft maintenance engineer is less demanding if the airline has the

proper structure and adequate resources to support the maintenance team. The job provides

ample time for rest over the weekends, although one could get called in once in a while for an

urgent repair job.