Aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician

Aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technicians perform overhaul, maintenance and repair work on gas turbine engines. They disassemble, inspect, clean, repair and reassemble the engines using engine-specific tooling.

The following job titles also refer to aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician:

aircraft gas turbine engine installation technician
aeroplane engine mechanic
aeroplane gas turbine engine maintenance technician
aeroplane gas turbine engine repair technician
aircraft gas turbine engine repair technician
aircraft gas turbine engine maintenance technician
aviation gas turbine engine repair technician
aviation gas turbine engine maintenance technician

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as an aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician is a Skill level 2 occupation.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician.

• Operation of different engines: Know the characteristics, maintenance requirements and operating procedures of various kinds of engines such as gas, diesel, electrical, and engines with steam propulsion plants.
• Aircraft mechanics: Technicalities over mechanics in aircrafts and related topics in order to perform a wide range of repairs in aircrafts.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Common aviation safety regulations: The body of legislation and regulations that apply to the field of civil aviation at regional, national, European and International levels. Understand that regulations aimed at protecting citizens at all times in civil aviation; ensure that operators, citizens, and organisations comply with these rules.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.
• Engine components: Know the different engine components, and their operation and maintenance. Understand when repairs and replacement should be undertaken.

These skills are necessary for the role of aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician.

• Bolt engine parts: Securely bolt together engine components manually or using power tools.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Align components: Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
• Use power tools: Operate power driven pumps. Use hand tools or power tools. Use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Re-assemble engines: Re-assemble transport equipment engines after overhaul, inspection, repair, maintenance or cleaning according to blueprints and technical plans.
• Recognise signs of corrosion: Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion.
• Read engineering drawings: Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
• Adjust tightness of engine parts: Tighten or unscrew engine parts using hand and power tools; maintenance of tubing, casing and connecting rods.
• Fasten components: Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
• Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.
• Disassemble engines: Disassemble internal combustion engines, generators, pumps, transmissions and other components of mechanical equipment.
• Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
• Electromechanics: The engineering processes that combine electrical and mechanical engineering in the application of electromechanics in devices that need electricity to create mechanical movement or devices that create electricity by mechanical movement.
• Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
• Rivet types: The various types of rivets used in manufacturing, such as solid head rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, semi-tubular rivets, oscar rivets, flush rivets, and others.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Repair engines: Repair identified problems with internal combustion engines, external combustion engines and electrical motors. Replace and fix faulty parts by using hand and machine tools.
• Operate welding equipment: Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.
• Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
• Operate precision measuring equipment: Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, and a measuring gauge.
• Diagnose defective engines: Diagnose engine damage or malfunctions by inspecting mechanical equipment; utilise instruments such as chassis charts, pressure gauges, and motor analysers.
• Operate handheld riveting equipment: Operate various kinds of tools and equipment used in riveting processes, such a pin hammer and a rivet set, handheld squeezers, a hammer and bucking bar, a pneumatic hammer, a rivet gun, and others.
• Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
• Conduct performance tests: Conduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditions.
• Operate lifting equipment: Transport heavy objects using lifting equipment such as cranes, forklifts etc.
• Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Tend riveting machine: Tend a metalworking machine designed to join metal pieces by automatically shooting mechanical fasteners, rivets, into them, monitor and operate it according to regulations.
• Position engine on test stand: Position the engine on a stand or in a cell, ready for testing, by using a hoist or overhead crane.
• Evaluate engine performance: Read and comprehend engineering manuals and publications; test engines in order to evaluate engine performance.
• Operate soldering equipment: Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.
• Write records for repairs: Write records of the repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, of parts and materials used, and other repair facts.

7232 – Aircraft engine mechanics and repairers

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References

1. Aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician – ESCO