Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Share information with other aircraft engine repair businesses

Blogs are increasingly becoming the media of choice for many small business owners looking for quick and efficient means to communicate with other like-minded professionals. Find an Internet site that provides trust-worthy information and attracts reliable posting participants. Talk to other local aircraft engine maintenance firms in your networking groups to find out what they are doing that may be new or innovative.

I recommend: Keep up with the global news affecting the industry through Aerospace Technology. Inspection Trends is a great site to keep up with information as it relates to the repair and maintenance of aircraft. This is a service of the American Welding Society.

Read up on changes in aircraft engine repair companies

News about jet engine overhaul continues to emerge as technology changes the landscape. The trends are followed in the aircraft engine MRO service publications available online and in hard copy print versions. While you may get regular email alerts and newsletters from your trade association, it's a good idea to stay on top of the industry as a whole so that you can know about changes that affect the industry.

I recommend: Landings will keep you updated as news breaks that affects the industry. Aviation Today offers a number of products that will keep you in touch with all the emerging trends, particularly check out Aviation Maintenance.

Receive aircraft engine repair company email alerts

You should allow at least one information provider to get into your email with alerts and newsletters about new aircraft engine repair companies and their latest news. You don't want to be left out of the loop when it comes to getting the latest news.

I recommend: Global Spec can deliver the latest news about products and services in the industry through its engineering search engine. Sign up for alerts that affect your company. Keep up with the news as it relates to the engine repair industry through the Aero News Network.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you don't have time to keep up with all of the jet engine MRO news and trends, ask your administrative staff to log onto vital sites every day and keep you posted of news and trends that will affect your company.

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Jump online for jet engine MRO companies

Companies like King Aerospace, AAR, Derco Aerospace and Robbins-Gioia offer a wide variety of aircraft engine MRO services to fit your any need.

I recommend: King Aerospace engineers will perform full MRO services on your engine and work to suit you with a loaner engine from their firm's network of qualified subcontractors. AAR Corp. aims to give you cost effective, time efficient turn around on your repair services. Derco Aerospace's Derco Repair is highly certified, and they regularly exceed their 97% on-time delivery rate as well as their over-99% customer acceptance rate. Robbins-Gioia can help you service your aircraft during the most opportune downtime so that your plane can stay healthy instead of being sidelined by an unexpected issue.

Look into the big dogs in the jet engine overhaul field

Lockheed Martin and Victorville Aerospace are experts at jet engine overhauls. They have years of experience combined with reputations for quality that far outreach their competitors in the jet engine MRO industry.

I recommend: Lockheed Martin can handle scheduled maintenance from quick response servicing your aircraft anywhere in the world to major overhauls. Victorville Aerospace can support Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed and various McDonnell Douglas aircrafts.

Socialize with the aircraft engine repair companies

The best way for you to engross yourself into the industry read up on it as well as is to get out there and meet people in it. Go to conventions, pick up the phone or strike up an Internet conversation.

I recommend: Check out the latest aircraft engine maintenance industry news from AirWise or take a trip to the annual Aviation Industry Expo. You can also find a comprehensive list of aviation conferences through the Aviation Industry Group.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Discuss frankly any safety or quality concerns you may have with your be aircraft engine MRO service provider. They will appreciate your honesty, and they will hopefully be just as frank with their reassurances of their safety records.

Action Steps
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Watch for training in aircraft engine MRO services online

Take the time to regularly watch aircraft engine repair company websites for job requirements, as you look for opportunities online to advance your career. You'll find a number of online aircraft engine MRO training programs that will be most helpful in your search for employment. Check out the requirements and look for training to make you more suitable for the position you seek.

I recommend: Find a slew of self-paced online training courses at AeroLearn. Find a number of credentialing courses that will help to advance your career at Flight Safety.

Look for aircraft engine repair training through associations

While you are pursuing aircraft engine repair employment opportunities you should also be accruing a list of connections that will help you throughout your career. Trade associations are great places to get involved with professionals and administrators and make those important contacts. At the same time, most associations offer a wide variety of professional development courses that will look good on your resume.

I recommend: At the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, you can find a number of training and certification courses while you make important contacts in the industry. Find opportunities for advanced training through one of the many campuses of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance Schools.

Enroll in airplane engine repair training courses

While you must receive degrees in order to practice the various levels of aircraft engine MRO service, other programs are available that can help you advance to better careers. You can use an agency to help you find those positions once you've achieved the higher levels of education and training.

I recommend: Order books and manuals to receive advanced degrees in specific areas of aircraft engine MRO services from AMT Books. Once you’ve gathered some experience and need some advanced training, check out the courses at QinetiQ for opportunities to earn degrees and certificates.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your current employer to see about getting additional training in aircraft engine maintenance. You may also find a better job in the same facility after completing additional certification courses.

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FAA Part 145

FAA Part 145 is a certification given to some aircraft repair centers by the Federal Aviation Administration. It is important to know if the center that is handling your aircraft engine repair has this certification.

I recommend: Learn about FAA Part 145 and the certification procedures at the Federal Aviation Administration.

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification is a term you will often see listed on aircraft engine repair center's list of qualifications. If your planes are flying internationally, it is important that your engine technicians are certified to international standards.

I recommend: Learn more about the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)

Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) is a term to describe a full-service aircraft center. MROs are vital to the long life of any aircraft and its engine.

I recommend: Learn about what an MRO is and does from Fokker Services.

Ney Nozzle

The Ney Nozzle was created by Chuck Ney Enterprises and approved by the FAA to provide constant lubrication to the camlobes of Lycoming engines. The Ney Nozzle is a very helpful addition to any Lycoming engine overhaul and repair servicing.

I recommend: Learn more about the Ney Nozzle and how it fits into the engine overhaul service offered by Chuck Ney Enterprises.

Engine washing

Engine washing describes the method of cleaning out an aircraft engine's turbine blades and core with water and a mix of detergents or solvents. The process helps to eliminate carbon buildup and maximize the engine's efficiency.

I recommend: Read a description of engine washing at Aviation Maintenance.

Preignition and detonation

Preignition is the combustion of fuel and air in the engine before normal ignition takes place. Preignition can lead to detonation, which can lead to three types of engine damage: mechanical, abrasion and overheating. It is important to know the signs of an engine that is prone to preignition and detonation in order to avoid costly problems.

I recommend: Sacramento Sky Ranch provides an excellent description of what preignition and detonation entail, along with helpful illustrations.