Currently Officially Classed As 'Unskilled Labor' By The Government

An A&P mechanic has started a petition on the website change.org to have airframe and powerplant mechanics listed as "skilled labor" by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The petition was started by Adolfo Rodriguez. "The schooling and/ or on the job training required to qualify to test for a federal license is way beyond unskilled," he says on the site.

So far, more than 14,600 people have electronically signed the petition. The goal for the petition is 15,000 signatures.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft. They also may perform aircraft inspections as required by the FAA. The median annual wage for avionics technicians was $60,760 in May 2016. The median annual wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $60,170 in May 2016.

The BLS says on its website that many aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians learn their trade at an FAA-approved aviation maintenance technician school. Others enter with a high school education or equivalent and are trained on the job. Some workers enter the occupation after receiving training in the military. Although not required, aircraft mechanics and avionics technicians typically become licensed or certified.

(Image from Change.org petition page)

FMI: Petition, BLS