Trade licensing overview · aircraft mechanic (a&p)
How aircraft mechanic (a&p) licensing works — Delaware
How this trade is regulated in Delaware. federal-license-required The framework below describes the national pathway most aircraft mechanic (a&p)s in Delaware follow.
Aircraft mechanics are federally licensed by the FAA, not by states. The Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate is issued under 14 CFR Part 65 and preempts any state mechanic licensing scheme.
Aircraft Mechanic (A&P) wages in Delaware · BLS OES A01 2024
Wages are state-level annual figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (A01 2024). Specific aircraft mechanic (a&p) earnings in Delaware vary by metro area, employer type, union membership, and years of experience. Verify the current state and metro figures on the BLS OES site (bls.gov/oes).
What this trade actually looks like in Delaware
Aircraft mechanics in Delaware work in a small market shaped by the Dover Air Force Base C-5 and C-17 airlift mission, contractor logistics support, and a modest general-aviation footprint. The state has no major commercial airline base and no large civilian MRO, so most A&P work is either federal civilian, contractor, or GA charter and corporate. Many Delaware-based mechanics commute to operations in Philadelphia or Baltimore.
Where they work
Dover (Dover AFB civilian and contractor logistics support on C-5M and C-17 fleets), New Castle (Wilmington-area corporate and charter hangars, DuPont legacy aviation), Sussex County (Georgetown and beach-area GA), and Middletown / Smyrna (small GA fields). Substantial commuter outflow to Philadelphia (PHL) and BWI for airline base and cargo work.
Pay context
Delaware has middle-of-pack cost of living and no state sales tax, which slightly improves take-home compared to neighbors. Posted federal civilian (GS) pay at Dover AFB follows federal pay tables and locality rates. Civilian A&P wages outside the Dover gate are typically lower than airline pay across the river in Philadelphia. Pull the Delaware row from the BLS OES 49-3011 table at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493011.htm for the current annual median figure. See https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_de.htm.
Training pathway
Delaware does not have an in-state FAA Part 147 AMTS program of significant size; many residents attend Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Aviation Institute of Maintenance Philadelphia, or programs in Baltimore. Military aviation-MOS experience from Dover AFB qualifies under 14 CFR 65.77 and feeds civilian contractor pipelines. Dover-based logistics support contractors hire from the regional pool.
Considerations
If you want stable federal civilian or contractor work on heavy military airlifters, Dover is one of a few US options. If you want airline base maintenance, you will commute or relocate. Small market means fewer openings; check Philadelphia and Baltimore listings if staying near home. State has no separate mechanic license; FAA A&P preempts.
Delaware aircraft mechanic (a&p) snapshot
| MSA | Employed | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,040 | $73,180 |
| Dover, DE | 90 | $78,770 |
FEDERAL LICENSE STATUS
The Federal Aviation Administration licenses aircraft mechanics under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 65, Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65). The Mechanic certificate is issued with Airframe, Powerplant, or both ratings; the combined A&P is the primary credential held by civilian aviation mechanics (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics). State mechanic licenses do not apply to certificated aircraft work. FAA certification preempts state licensing for maintenance performed on type-certificated aircraft (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become). A certificated mechanic may exercise privileges anywhere in the United States without state-level registration.
CFR PART 65 REQUIREMENTS
Under 14 CFR §65.77, an applicant must document 18 months of practical experience on the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in airframe OR powerplant work for a single rating, or 30 months of concurrent experience for both ratings (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65). Alternatively, graduation from an FAA-certificated Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School satisfies the experience requirement (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-147). Every applicant must pass three FAA written tests, General, Airframe, and Powerplant, followed by an oral and practical examination administered by a Designated Mechanic Examiner (https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing). The written tests are delivered through FAA-authorized testing centers.
PART 147 SCHOOLS
FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (AMTS) operate under 14 CFR Part 147 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-147). The legacy curriculum required 1,900 classroom and shop hours (400 general, 750 airframe, and 750 powerplant), and the 2022 rewrite of Part 147 moved the content to an FAA-approved curriculum model tied to the Airman Certification Standards (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics). Programs typically run 18 to 24 months. Completion substitutes for the 18 or 30 months of documented work experience required under §65.77, and graduates still sit for the three written, oral, and practical exams (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become). The DOL RAPIDS apprenticeship finder also lists registered aircraft-mechanic programs by ZIP (https://www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-job-finder).
IA (INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION)
Inspection Authorization is an advanced endorsement available to A&P mechanics under 14 CFR §65.91 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65#65.91). To qualify, a mechanic must hold an A&P for at least 3 years, have been actively engaged in maintaining certificated aircraft for the 2 years immediately preceding application, and pass the IA written exam. IA privileges include signing off annual inspections, performing progressive inspections, and approving major repairs and major alterations for return to service using FAA Form 337 (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics). Authorization expires March 31 of each odd-numbered year and is renewed under §65.93 by meeting recent-activity criteria (inspections performed, training completed, or re-examination) every 2 years.
AVIONICS / REPAIRMAN
Avionics technicians who transmit on aircraft radios typically hold the FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL), Element 3, issued by the Federal Communications Commission (https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/commercial-radio-operator-license-program). Avionics work on installed equipment is often performed under an FAA-certificated Repair Station (14 CFR Part 145) rather than by an individual A&P. The Repairman Certificate under 14 CFR §65.101 is an employer-specific alternative: it is issued to an individual recommended by a Part 145 repair station, Part 135 operator, or Part 121 air carrier, and its privileges are limited to the employer that requested the certificate (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65#65.101). A Repairman Certificate is surrendered when employment ends and is not portable to a new employer. BLS OOH covers aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians under a shared occupation page (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/aircraft-and-avionics-equipment-mechanics-and-technicians.htm).