Aviation Maintenance Technology Airframe IV

Course Description

AMT0733C — Aviation Maintenance Technology Airframe IV is the final course in the airframe portion of Florida's Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) Aviation Maintenance Technology curriculum, delivered under FAA 14 CFR Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) certification (CIP 0647060703 Airframe; Career Cluster: Transportation, Distribution & Logistics). Building on the prior airframe coursework (AMT0731C, AMT0732C, etc., depending on institutional sequence), this culminating course covers the most complex airframe systems and prepares students for the FAA Airframe written, oral, and practical examinations. The "C" suffix denotes integrated lecture and laboratory with hands-on work on training airframes.

This course is offered at FAA-certificated AMTS schools in Florida, including Eastern Florida State College (Melbourne), Pinellas Technical College, Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Center at Polk State College, Broward College Aviation Institute, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College (Miami-Dade), and other Part 147-certificated institutions.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of AMT0733C, students will be able to:

• Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and return to service aircraft hydraulic and pneumatic systems including reservoirs, pumps, accumulators, valves, actuators, and lines.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and return to service aircraft fuel systems including tanks (integral and bladder), pumps, fuel-quantity sensing, fuel-flow indication, and fuel-jettison systems.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and return to service aircraft environmental control systems: pressurization, air conditioning (vapor cycle and air cycle), oxygen systems (gaseous and chemical OBOGS).
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service ice and rain control systems: thermal anti-ice, pneumatic boot deicers, electric anti-ice, weeping wing, windshield wipers and rain-repellent.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service aircraft fire-detection and fire-extinguishing systems: continuous loop and thermal-switch detectors, halon and clean-agent extinguishing systems.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and service aircraft position and warning systems: anti-skid, takeoff/landing/cabin warning systems, stall warning, AOA indication.
• Apply aircraft inspection procedures: 100-hour inspection, annual inspection (under IA supervision), progressive inspection programs.
• Document maintenance per 14 CFR 43.9 and 43.11 with proper logbook entries and "return to service" signoffs (where authorized).
• Demonstrate knowledge sufficient to pass the FAA Airframe written examination; be prepared for FAA oral and practical examination.

Optional Outcomes

• Apply introductory cabin entertainment and connectivity system awareness (typical for current-generation airliners).
• Apply composite structure inspection introductory techniques (visual, tap test, NDI).

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems: Open and closed-center hydraulic systems; pumps (engine-driven, electric, EDP, EMP); reservoirs and accumulators; check, relief, and selector valves; actuators (linear and rotary); landing-gear actuation.
• Aircraft Fuel Systems: Wing-tank construction (integral wet wing, bladder, removable); transfer pumps and boost pumps; fuel-quantity indication (capacitance and float-type); fuel-flow indication; refueling and defueling; fuel-system contamination (water, microbial growth).
• Environmental Control: Cabin pressurization (isobaric and differential); pressure-controller operation; air conditioning packs (air cycle machines for jets, vapor cycle for piston aircraft); oxygen systems (passenger emergency, crew, walkaround); altitude effects.
• Ice and Rain Control: Pneumatic deicer boots (cycle timing, repair); thermal anti-ice (engine bleed, electric); fluid weeping (TKS); windshield heat (resistance and laminated heated panels); wipers and repellent.
• Fire Protection: Fire-detection methods (continuous loop, thermal switch, optical); fire-extinguishing agents (halon, halocarbon clean agents, water for cabin); cargo-bay fire suppression; lavatory fire detection.
• Position and Warning Systems: Anti-skid (Maxaret/Mark equivalent systems); takeoff configuration warning; landing-gear warning; cabin altitude warning; stall warning (vane, AOA-based).
• Inspection Procedures: 100-hour inspection (under 14 CFR 91.409); annual inspection (under IA, 14 CFR 43.7); progressive inspection (Part 91 and Part 135); ramp inspection awareness.
• Maintenance Documentation: 14 CFR 43.9 entry requirements; logbook entries; deferral procedures; minimum equipment lists (MEL); return-to-service signoffs.
• FAA Examination Preparation: Airframe written test bank; oral examination subject areas; practical project requirements.

Resources & Tools

• Dale Crane Aviation Maintenance Technician Series — Airframe (ASA Publications)
• Jeppesen A&P Technician Airframe Textbook
• FAA Advisory Circular AC 43.13-1B and AC 43.13-2B
• 14 CFR Parts 39, 43, 65, 91, 121, 145, 147
• Aircraft maintenance manuals (AMM) for training aircraft (typically GA aircraft such as Cessna 172, Piper trainers; some programs include large airliner training)
• FAA Knowledge Test bank (Airframe)
• SkillsUSA CTSO

Career Pathways

Successful completion of AMT0733C and the full FAA Airframe examination sequence qualifies students for the FAA Airframe (A) Mechanic Certificate, allowing them to work on aircraft airframes under their own authority. Combined with the FAA Powerplant rating, this becomes the full Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate — the standard credential for aviation maintenance careers at airlines, repair stations, corporate flight departments, and general aviation operations. Florida's airline maintenance presence (American at Miami, Delta at Orlando/Tampa, JetBlue at Fort Lauderdale, Spirit at FLL HQ, Southwest at Tampa) creates strong year-round demand for newly-certificated A&P mechanics.

Special Information

FAA Airframe Examination

The course directly prepares for the FAA Airframe written examination (currently 100 questions, 2-hour time limit, 70% passing score). Following written-test passage, students must complete oral and practical examinations administered by an FAA-designated mechanic examiner (DME). The oral covers operational principles and inspection procedures across the airframe subject areas; the practical covers hands-on tasks selected from the FAA Practical Test Standards.

Combined A&P Programs

Students typically complete both Airframe (AMT07xx series) and Powerplant (AMT08xx series) coursework concurrently or sequentially. The combined A&P certificate — FAA Airframe and Powerplant ratings — offers significantly more career options than either rating alone.

Program Length

The full Aviation Maintenance Technology PSAV program typically runs 1,800–2,400 clock hours across 18–24 months. AMT0733C as the final airframe course typically allocates 200–300 clock hours. The FAA Part 147 minimum is 1,150 hours combined for General + Airframe + Powerplant; Florida programs typically exceed this minimum.