According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Inspect work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, modification, or repair and overhaul of aircraft and aircraft mechanical systems to ensure adherence to standards and procedures. | 94% |
| Investigate air accidents and complaints to determine causes. | 94% |
| Examine maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals. | 91% |
| Inspect new, repaired, or modified aircraft to identify damage or defects and to assess airworthiness and conformance to standards, using checklists, hand tools, and test instruments. | 91% |
| Approve or deny issuance of certificates of airworthiness. | 91% |
| Schedule and coordinate in-flight testing programs with ground crews and air traffic control to ensure availability of ground tracking, equipment monitoring, and related services. | 90% |
| Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports. | 89% |
| Examine landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs. | 88% |
| Recommend replacement, repair, or modification of aircraft equipment. | 83% |
| Start aircraft and observe gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunctions. | 83% |
| Examine aircraft access plates and doors for security. | 81% |
| Analyze training programs and conduct oral and written examinations to ensure the competency of persons operating, installing, and repairing aircraft equipment. | 80% |
| Conduct flight test programs to test equipment, instruments, and systems under a variety of conditions, using both manual and automatic controls. | 79% |
| Observe flight activities of pilots to assess flying skills and to ensure conformance to flight and safety regulations. | 78% |
| Recommend changes in rules, policies, standards, and regulations, based on knowledge of operating conditions, aircraft improvements, and other factors. | 65% |
