Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMT) are an enlisted rating of the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

. They inspect, service, maintain,

troubleshoot Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process ope ...

and repair

aircraft engine An aircraft engine, often referred to as an aero engine, is the power component of an aircraft propulsion system. Aircraft using power components are referred to as powered flight. Most aircraft engines are either piston engines or gas turbin ...

auxiliary power unit An auxiliary power unit (APU) is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft and naval ships as well as some large land vehicles. Aircraft APUs generally produce 115&n ...

propeller A propeller (often called a screw if on a ship or an airscrew if on an aircraft) is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral which, when rotated, exerts linear thrust upon a working flu ...

s, rotor systems, power train systems, and associated

airframe The mechanical structure of an aircraft is known as the airframe. This structure is typically considered to include the fuselage, undercarriage, empennage and wings, and excludes the propulsion system. Airframe design is a field of aeros ...

and systems-specific electrical components. They service, maintain and repair aircraft fuselages;

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces both Lift (force), lift and drag while moving through air. Wings are defined by two shape characteristics, an airfoil section and a planform (aeronautics), planform. Wing efficiency is expressed as lift-to-d ...

s; rotor blades; fixed and movable flight control surfaces; and also bleed aircraft air, hydraulic and fuel systems. AMTs fill aircrew positions such as

flight engineer A flight engineer (FE), also sometimes called an air engineer, is a member of an aircraft's flight crew who is responsible for monitoring and operating its complex aircraft systems. In the early era of aviation, the position was sometimes referr ...

, flight mechanic,

loadmaster A loadmaster is an aircrew member on military transport aircraft or civilian aircraft (with cargo ramp) tasked with the safe loading, transport and unloading of aerial cargoes. Loadmasters serve in the militaries and civilian airlines of many nat ...

, dropmaster,

Aircraft Ground Handling In aviation, aircraft ground handling or ground operations defines the servicing of an aircraft while it is on the ground and (usually) parked at a Gate (airport), terminal gate of an airport. Overview Many airlines subcontract ground hand ...

, Flight Deck Handling, sensor-systems operator and basic aircrewman.

Duties

AMTs are stationed at Coast Guard Air Stations throughout the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

. AMTs maintain

Lockheed HC-130 The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR)/combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, with two different versions operated by two separate service ...

, HC-27J Spartan, CASA HC-144A Ocean Sentry,

Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk The Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk is a multi-mission, twin-engine, medium-range helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft and operated by the United States Coast Guard for various Military operation, missions including search and rescue, Specialist law ...

and Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin aircraft.

Training

The five-month course covers basic aircraft-maintenance fundamentals. Other advanced courses cover specific aircraft systems and provide troubleshooting skills. The advanced courses are taught at the Aviation Technical Training Centers in Elizabeth City,

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

, for all but the HC-130 aircraft. The Coast Guard also uses commercial training for advanced courses. An AMT may apply for the Aviation Maintenance Technology Program, which provides personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to fill billets requiring a high level of technical expertise. The program provides up to two years of full-time college attendance to achieve a minimum of an

associate degree An associate degree or associate's degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of academic qualification above a high school diploma and below a bachelor's degree ...

in aeronautical technology.

Qualifications

Algebra, geometry, electronics and machine shop are typical courses for those seeking a rating as an AMT. Candidates must pass a flight physical and qualify for a

security clearance A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information (state or organizational secrets) or to restricted areas, after completion of a thorough background check. The term "security clearance" is ...

References

{{reflist United States Coast Guard job titles Aviation licenses and certifications United States Coast Guard Aviation