What Other Schools May Not Teach You About FAA A&P Testing: Instructor David Lindsey Shares Insights
"Speaking personally, I was a person that was like, ‘I’m not going to get my A&P (license), I already work in the field, I don’t need it.’ But I learned you get more opportunities, more chances for work, and you just become a better mechanic overall."
UTI Aviation instructor David Lindsey was once in the same boat (or should we say plane?) as many of our students, wondering why he should earn his FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) license.79 But he quickly learned its importance and is now sharing his insights with the next generation.
Why Prepare for A&P License Testing With UTI
It’s an intensive process — and we support you
According to David, there are about 12 tests to take in order to earn an A&P license. And it’s not just a written test. There is an oral and practical side to demonstrate what you know. Studying hands-on with an instructor will help you work on each area to get you ready.
“There’s a lot to it and we help them prepare for every aspect of that test,” says David.
An A&P license opens more doors
Having that physical paper recognized by employers can be proof of the knowledge they’re looking for. It helps employers know they can trust you, and that makes room for more potential in a career path, according to David.1
“You can walk into an employer, and they know they’re dealing with a professional,” as David explains.
An A&P license allows you to pursue careers beyond aviation maintenance
It’s not just about maintaining aircraft. Earning an A&P license can help you pursue a career in other areas of powerplant. In fact, David says powerplant is where his true passion lies: fixing hydraulics, electronics, pumps, fuels and more.
“There’s other things you can do with A&P in the aviation world besides just taking apart engines, so there’s so much that opens up to you if you’re interested that this program can do for you,” David tells us.
Beyond A&P Test Prep: How UTI’s Program Prepares You for a Career
Earning an A&P license is important, and UTI is all about helping A&P students prepare for their testing.79,128 Many schools focus on helping students prepare, but passing the test is just a stepping stone. That’s where UTI does more than some other schools, according to David, because it’ll help prepare you for a career.
"We don’t want you to just be a good test taker. We want you to be a mechanic and a technician," says David.
Nose-to-tail hands-on training is what UTI’s Airframe & Powerplant Technician program is all about! Students will get training on every section of the airplane both “as a whole and as individualized components, all the way down to a small carburetor that you take apart, disassemble, diagnose and put back together,” as he puts it.
They’ll also get into avionics, the electrical side and powerplant side of A&P, helping to ensure students are ready for different aspects of the industry.
David’s Lifelong Passion for the Aviation Industry
"My family has been in aviation for years," shares David. "I started in aviation when I was really young."
His journey led to joining the military and being in the National Guard, where he discovered his passion for the powerplant side. To him, this industry is amazing because you get the “fun of the pilot” but the “knowledge of a mechanic.” As an A&P technician, it’s common to run a test flight after working on repairs, which is David’s favorite part.
“That was something when I first got in the airframe world, I was like, ‘Wait, I still get to fly and do all this stuff? That’s pretty cool!’”
Why would a seasoned technician with a family history in aviation step away from a lifelong career to teach? Because he wants the next generation to have the knowledge they seek.
“I want to show the new generation this is how you do it right and this is how you do it right every time."
The most rewarding part to David is seeing a student finally grasp a concept and start to achieve their goals, and that’s why he is doing what he does now.
David’s Advice For Taking the First Step
Whether you’re a veteran looking to expand your knowledge or you have trouble identifying a screw from a wrench, David says the A&P program at UTI is for you.
“There is no set person that’s like, ‘That guy’s gonna be in A&P,’” David says. “If you have the drive to learn a new skill, you can (train to) become an A&P. That’s all there is to it.”
Really, just having the passion for airframe is already a start for training in A&P, as David says. His final words of wisdom? If you want it, have the courage to take the leap.
"All that's stopping you is just taking that first step to walk in for your first day. That's it," he says.
To learn more about the Airframe & Powerplant Technician program, head to our Programs page. To get started training for a career where you can work with your hands in a field you’re passionate about, head to our Get Info page.