Engineering ServicesISCO 7421

Avionics technician

An avionics technician is a person who installs, tests, inspects and adjusts the electrical and electronic equipment on aircraft and spacecraft, including navigation, communication and flight control systems.

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Rate 5 of the 18 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

solder electronics

troubleshoot

assemble electrical components

install electrical and electronic equipment

wear appropriate protective gear

About avionics technician

The technician's work covers installation, maintenance and fault-finding. On installation the technician reads engineering sketches, runs and terminates looms, solders electronic components and fixes units in place so that vibration and temperature cycling do not loosen them. On maintenance they perform functional tests, test electronic units, diagnose problems and take corrective action, which means establishing whether a fault lies in a unit, in the wiring to it or in what it is being asked to measure.

The technician needs knowledge of electrical engineering and the principles of electronic equipment at a level that allows a reading to be interpreted rather than merely taken.

Common aviation safety rules govern who may carry out and certify a task, how it is recorded and what evidence is kept, and health and safety standards apply around aircraft systems that remain live or pressurised. Every repair is documented in line with those rules. Licences and type ratings are set by national and international aviation authorities.

Do You Have the Skills for This Role?

Core competency requirements inferred from the occupation's skill profile. Take the free assessment to see how you match.

Must-Have Skills (Advanced)

Digital FluencyAdvanced

Supporting Skills

Problem SolvingIntermediate

Self ManagementIntermediate

Sense MakingIntermediate

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European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (18)

aircraft flight control systemsaircraft flight control systemsThe setting, features and operation of aircraft flight control systems such as flight control surfaces, cockpit controls, connections, and operating mechanisms required to control the flight direction...electrical engineeringelectrical engineeringThe field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.electrical systems used in transportationelectrical systems used in transportationThe functioning of electrical systems, their specifications, and application in operations and systems for the transportation of freight and people.electronics principleselectronics principlesThe study of electric energy, more specifically electron, control and its prominent principles regarding integrated circuits and electrical systems.electronicselectronicsThe functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications.electricityelectricityThe principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.electrical wiring planselectrical wiring plansPictorial 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...common aviation safety regulationscommon aviation safety regulationsThe body of legislation and regulations that apply to the field of civil aviation at regional, national, European and International levels.solder electronicssolder electronicsOperate and use soldering tools and soldering iron, which supply high temperatures to melt the solder and to join electronic components.troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.assemble electrical componentsassemble electrical componentsAssemble switches, electrical controls, circuit boards and other electrical components by using hand and soldering equipment.install electrical and electronic equipmentinstall electrical and electronic equipmentInstall equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work, or equipment to generate, transfer or measure such currents and fields. This equipment includes sw...wear appropriate protective gearwear appropriate protective gearWear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.read standard blueprintsread standard blueprintsRead and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.read engineering drawingsread engineering drawingsRead 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 unitstest electronic unitsTest electronic units using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.apply health and safety standardsapply health and safety standardsAdhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.operate soldering equipmentoperate soldering equipmentUse soldering equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, such as a soldering gun, soldering torch, gas-powered iron, and others.

Optional (15) — show

engineering principlesengineering principlesThe engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.CADD softwareCADD softwareThe computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) is the use of computer technology for design and design documentation. CAD software replaces manual drafting with an automated process.CAE softwareCAE softwareThe software to perform computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis tasks such as Finite Element Analysis and Computional Fluid Dynamics.CAD softwareCAD softwareThe computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.follow procedures to control substances hazardous to healthfollow procedures to control substances hazardous to healthAdhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result i...maintain electrical equipmentmaintain electrical equipmentTest electrical equipment for malfunctions. Take safety measures, company guidelines, and legislation concerning electrical equipment into account. Clean, repair and replace parts and connections as r...adjust engineering designsadjust engineering designsAdjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.use CADD softwareuse CADD softwareUse computer-aided design and drafting software to make detailed drawings and blueprints of designs.use testing equipmentuse testing equipmentUse equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.calibrate electronic instrumentscalibrate electronic instrumentsCorrect and adjust the reliability of an electronic instrument by measuring output and comparing results with the data of a reference device or a set of standardised results. This is done in regular i...use CAD softwareuse CAD softwareUse computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.maintain electronic equipmentmaintain electronic equipmentCheck and repair electronic equipment. Develop maintenance tasks on electronic equipment. Detect malfunction, locate faults and take measures to prevent damage.conduct performance testsconduct performance testsConduct 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 conditi...liaise with engineersliaise with engineersCollaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

aircraft maintenance technician11 shared essential skills electromechanical equipment assembler10 shared essential skills aircraft maintenance engineer9 shared essential skills rolling stock electrician9 shared essential skills aircraft engine specialist8 shared essential skills avionics inspector8 shared essential skills motor vehicle parts assembler8 shared essential skills automotive electrician7 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does an avionics technician do?

Avionics technicians install, test, inspect and adjust electrical and electronic equipment, such as navigation, communication and flight control systems in aircrafts and spacecrafts. They carry out maintenance and repair work. They perform functional tests, diagnose problems and take corrective action.

What skills does an avionics technician need?

An avionics technician needs 18 essential skills, including aircraft flight control systems, electrical engineering, electrical systems used in transportation, electronics principles, electronics.

Will AI replace avionics technician jobs?

The AI disruption score for avionics technician is 31/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: keep records of work progress, read standard blueprints, electrical wiring plans. Most resilient: electricity, install electrical and electronic equipment, maintain electrical equipment.