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Ratings that raise your pay

• Inspection Authorization (IA)

  Available after three years holding both ratings. Lets you approve major repairs and sign annual inspections. A serious pay bump.

• Avionics training

  Aircraft electronics and instruments. Shorter supply than airframe mechanics, so it pays well.

• Nondestructive testing (NDT)

  Finding cracks with ultrasound, dye and eddy current. A specialty within heavy maintenance.

• Manufacturer type courses

  Factory training on a specific aircraft family makes you worth more to an operator that flies it.