Certification requirements are a key part of technical workforce development issues. As ARSA works to help close the skills gap and get aircraft technicians/mechanics/engineers to work, it asked the repair station community for insights into the certifications held in their shops.
ARSA asked and 28 respondents – representing employment of more than 1,000 technicians – answered:
| Average | Total | Percent | |
| Mechanics | 20.8 | 581 | 45.1% |
| Repairmen | 4.3 | 121 | 9.4% |
| Non-Certificated Technicians | 20.9 | 586 | 45.5% |
The numbers vary depending on the organization, its work and customers. In general, the “typical” repair station has roughly as many non-certificated technicians as it does part 65-certificated mechanics. There were three responding organizations who employed only individuals with mechanic’s certificates, each commenting that their technician makeup supports work for part 121 or part 135 operators.
While repairmen make up a small portion of the overall workforce, they are particularly important for smaller facilities. These shops typically perform specialized work that is limited in scope, and the use of repairmen provides them with the flexibility to comply with personnel requirements in an economic manner. There were seven respondents who indicated they had more repairmen than mechanics.
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If you have questions or want to provide additional information, contact Brett Levanto (brett.levanto@arsa.org).
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