Aircraft interior technician

Aircraft interior technicians manufacture, assemble and repair interior components for aircraft such as seats, carpeting, door panels, ceiling, lighting etc. They also replace entertainment equipment such as video systems. They inspect incoming materials and prepare the vehicle interior for new components.

Excludes avionics technician.
Excludes transport equipment painter.

The duties of an aircraft interior technician include, but are not limited to:

• inspecting, replacing, recovering, fabricating, upholstering and repairing ceiling, sidewall, cockpit and door panels
• replacing and repairing passenger, attendant and cockpit seats and overhead bins and galleys
• replacing and repairing flooring, drapes, curtains, carpeting, closets, bulkheads, washroom modules and air conditioning ducts
• replacing passenger service units and entertainment equipment such as phones and video monitors
• installing placards, path lights and emergency lighting
• making structural modifications to seats and upholstery
• cleaning and treating fabrics
• making repairs to fibreglass
• fabricating specialized belts and cargo nets.

The following job titles also refer to aircraft interior technician:

aircraft furniture maker
aircraft interior electrical coordinator
aircraft interior maintenance coordinator
aircraft interior maintenance technician
aircraft interior assembler
aircraft interior lighting technician
aircraft entertainment systems technician
aircraft interior instrument operative
aircraft interior electrical operator
aircraft interior electrical mechanic
aircraft interior instrument operator
aircraft electrical inspector
aircraft interior furniture maker
aircraft upholsterer
aircraft interior panelling technician
aircraft seating technician
aircraft interior finishes technician
aircraft instrument technician
aircraft interior electrical technician
aircraft interior design technician
aircraft carpeting technician
aircraft furnishing technician
aircraft interior repairer
aircraft instrument mechanic
aircraft interior maintenance supervisor
aircraft interior electrical operative
aircraft furnishing maker
aviation interior instrument inspector

Aircraft interior technicians are predominantly found in national and regional carriers, approved Aircraft Maintenance Organizations (AMO), small specialty maintenance shops or small aircraft companies. Some companies specialize in upholstery work. The work is performed in the shop or on the aircraft.

Aircraft interior technicians enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent and receive on-the-job training to learn their skills and to be able to pass the examinations of the aeronautical regulatory authorities.

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 interior technician is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to aircraft interior technician.

marine upholsterer
motor vehicle upholsterer
railway car upholsterer
aircraft de-icer installer
bicycle assembler

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of aircraft interior technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of aircraft interior technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

aircraft maintenance engineer
avionics inspector
electromechanical engineering technician
instrumentation engineering technician
geothermal power plant operator

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of aircraft interior technician.

• Upholstery tools: Set of tools used for upholstering furniture, walls and floors such as staple gun, foam cutter, staple remover.
• 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.

These skills are necessary for the role of aircraft interior technician.

• Apply preliminary treatment to workpieces: Apply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Carry out measurements of parts: Operate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.
• 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.
• 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.
• Test electronic units: Test electronic units using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.
• 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.
• 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 interior technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Aircraft flight control systems: Know the setting, features and operation of aircraft flight control systems. Manage flight control surfaces, cockpit controls, connections, and operating mechanisms required to control the flight direction of an aircraft. Operate aircraft engine controls in order to change aircraft speed.
• Aircraft mechanics: Technicalities over mechanics in aircraft and related topics in order to perform a wide range of repairs in aircraft.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
• Electrical wiring plans: Pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified shapes, and the power and signal connections between the devices. It gives information about the relative position and arrangement of devices and terminals on the devices, to help in building or servicing the device. A wiring diagram is often used to troubleshoot problems and to make sure that all the connections have been made and that everything is present.

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

• Install passenger service units: Install PSUs in ceiling of an aircraft by using hand and power tools.
• Sew textile-based articles: Sew different products based on textiles and wearing apparel articles. Combine good hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and physical and mental stamina.
• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Provide customized upholstery: Install custom upholstery, according to the customer’s individual requests and preferences.
• Use manual sewing techniques: Use manual sewing and stitching techniques to manufacture or repair fabrics or textile-based articles.
• Manufacture fabric furnishings: Fabricate and design curtains, seat coverings, carpets and other fabric furnishings by cutting and sewing fabric and other materials.
• Install transport vehicle interior components: Use hand and power tools to install interior components of boats, aircrafts and railway cars such as seats, armrests, floor coverings, lining, storage compartments or lavatories.
• Install floor coverings: Install carpets and other floor coverings by taking the correct measurements, cutting the fabric or material at the appropriate length and using hand and power tools to fix them to the floors.
• Upholster transport equipment’s interior pieces: Upholster seats and other transport equipment interior pieces by using hand and power tools.
• Install plumbing systems: Install systems of pipes, drains, fittings, valves, and fixtures designed for the distribution of potable water for drinking, heating, washing and waste removal.
• Cut fabrics: Cut fabrics and other wearing apparel materials considering measures, placement of the fabrics in the cutting table in multiple layers, and making the most efficient usage of the fabric avoiding waste. Cut fabrics by hand, or using electric knives, or other cutting tools depending on the fabric. Use computerised systems or automatic cutting machines.
• Sew pieces of fabric: Operate basic or specialised sewing machines whether domestic or industrial ones, sewing pieces of fabric, vinyl or leather in order to manufacture or repair wearing apparels, making sure the threads are selected according to specifications.
• Repair wiring: Find faults in wires or cables by using specialised equipment and repair these faults depending on type of wiring.
• Install wall coverings: Install curtains, wall panels, window shields and other wall coverings by taking the correct measurements, cutting the fabric or material at the appropriate length and using hand and power tools to fix them to the walls.
• Perform upholstery repair: Repair/restore damaged upholstery for a wide range of vehicles; use materials such as fabric, leather, plastic or vinyl.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Integrate system components: Select and use integration techniques and tools to plan and implement integration of hardware and software modules and components in a system. Apply specific testing techniques to ensure integrity during system integration.
• Install low voltage wiring: Plan, deploy, troubleshoot and test low voltage wiring.
• Install transport equipment lighting: Install lighting elements in transport equipment according to blueprints and other technical plans.

7534 – Upholsterers and related workers

---

References

1. Aircraft interior technician – ESCO
2. Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Aircraft Interior Technician Certification | Canadian Council for Aviation Aerospace
4. Aircraft Interior Technician | CCAA
5. Featured image: Photo by JC Gellidon on Unsplash