An aircraft goes through maintenance before flights and at fixed intervals. The person who carries out that work and certifies with a signature that the aircraft can fly is a licensed maintenance technician.
What the job involves
The work is inspection, fault finding, replacing parts and recording all of it. On the mechanical side there are the structure, engines and systems; on the avionics side there are the electrical and electronic systems. Line maintenance checks the aircraft between flights, while base maintenance takes it into the hangar for longer and deeper work.
The licence in Turkey: HBL-66
In Turkey the licence is issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM). The current rules are the Continuing Airworthiness Regulation (SHY-CA) and the SHT-66 instruction, prepared in line with the European EASA Part-66 rules. The licence is now called HBL-66, and older SHY-66 licences count as HBL-66 licences until they expire.
The categories are A (line maintenance), B1 (mechanical), B2 (avionics), B2L (limited avionics), B3 (piston, unpressurised aeroplanes of 2,000 kg and below), L (light aircraft such as sailplanes and balloons) and C (base maintenance). B1 has four subcategories: B1.1 turbine aeroplanes, B1.2 piston aeroplanes, B1.3 turbine helicopters and B1.4 piston helicopters.
The route to the licence
Applicants must be at least 18. A candidate passes the basic knowledge module exams for the category and gains maintenance experience on aircraft in operation.
The experience required depends on training. After an approved SHT or Part-147 basic training course, 2 years are required for B1.1, B1.3 and B2, and 1 year for A, B1.2, B1.4 and B3. Without such a course and without other qualifying technical training, the figures are 5 and 3 years. The licence is valid for 5 years. Signing for a specific aircraft type also requires type training.
Approved basic training is offered, among others, by the aircraft airframe and powerplant maintenance and aircraft electrical and electronics degree programmes of Turkish civil aviation schools. Atilim University, for example, states that it runs these programmes with SHY-147 approval.
Routes abroad
In Europe the structure is the same: the EASA Part-66 licence, the same categories and Part-147 schools. In the United States the FAA issues the Aviation Mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as A&P. Requirements are a minimum age of 18, the ability to read, write, speak and understand English, 18 months of experience per rating or 30 months for both, or graduation from an FAA approved maintenance school, plus written, oral and practical tests.
Which school subjects build the foundation
Physics sits at the centre. Mechanics, force and pressure for B1, and electricity, circuits and electronics for B2, appear directly in the module exams.
Mathematics keeps calculations safe: unit conversion, ratios, basic algebra and trigonometry. English is essential, because most maintenance manuals and technical documents are in English.
Which international courses help
IGCSE Physics (0625) builds a structured base in electricity and mechanics. IGCSE Mathematics provides the numerical base. For students who want to go further, AP Physics 1 deepens mechanics.
Common misconceptions
Graduating from a programme is not the same as holding a licence. A diploma shows training; a licence shows authority earned through exams and experience.
Salary is a frequent question, but there is no single figure: it depends on category, type ratings and employer. Current information comes from job listings.