What is the difference between an aircraft technician and an aircraft mechanic?

Answer 1

in the Air Force, the difference is like night and day.

technicians specialize in communication, navigation, guidance, flight controls, ECM, environmental, engines, hydraulics, or fuels.

aircraft mechanics are crew chiefs. they take out the garbage, check the tires, inspect the plane, check the oil, gas up the plane, inspect the plane, coordinate maintenance efforts on their plane, scrape off the bird guts, and inspect the plane.

technicians have very, very specific areas of responsibility that require a LOT of training on system theory and troubleshooting.

mechanics don't really troubleshoot at all, they mostly inspect the aircraft and identify discrepancies.

the civilian world is probably different, but this is how it goes in the air force.

Answer 2

Nothing. It is just different terminology for the same job function. My former union was the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), which represents mechanics/technicians at NWA, SWA, UA, Alaska Airlines, and other airlines.
The real differentiating factor is whether or not a mechanic is licensed to sign off repairs on an aircraft. Anyone can fix an aircraft, but only those with a license can sign the log book. That is how the airlines are getting rid of their mechanics, by outsourcing the work to places that employ many unlicensed mechanics and where only a few people can actually sign the log books. Probably too much info, oh well...

Answer 3

Nothing really other than the name. But never, ever call an aircraft technician a mechanic.

Answer 4

In Commercial Airlines- Technicians usually are limited to unit changes that must be done under the supervision of a licensed mechanic. In short he can't work alone. A mechanic on the other hand can work alone signs for it in the Removal/Installation work card. Even does troubleshooting while a technician can suggest if the mechanic allows him to think.

Answer 5

An aircraft technician does the electrical work inside of the aircraft and an aircraft mechanic builds the inside and outside of the aircraft.

Answer 6

Aviation Technician

Answer 7

Where would NWA be without scabs? RIP.

They are the same thing. In Canada, we call them Aircraft Maintenance Engineers or AMEs. But they are still just mechanics. It's an effort to make the job seem less blue collar, just like the pilots who wear shirts and ties and bars on their shoulders whether they are flying a 747 or a 150.

Answer 8

Not one thing. The guy who wants to be called a technician instead of a mechanic is insecure and wants a more technical name.
I don't really care what they call me.

Answer 9

The person who has fundamental knowledge in his trades he is a mechanics and those has the comprehensive knowledge is the technician and who has the detail knowledge of his trades is the Engineer.

Answer 10

We used to call ourslves mechanics until amfa (union)stepped in and renamed us due to the fact we didn`t want to sound like auto mechanic. Technician sounds fancier but all the same meaning.