An avionics technician is very different from an airframe or powerplant technician. Whereas these types of technician tend to deal with mechanical components, your avionics technician training will concentrate on various instruments and control units. These units are more often than not computer controlled and might be used for communications, diagnostics, monitoring, navigation, engine control, lighting, flight data recorders, anti-skid equipment, weather radar, collision avoidance, and automatic aircraft flight control systems. Military programs might also cover systems for target acquisition, weapons guidance and communications encryption. Your responsibilities would include repairing, and servicing these controls units and their components. Useful topics to study in school might include some or all of the following: English, math, physics, computer science, chemistry, and electronics related courses.
Due to the different types of aircraft, you may need to study additional courses to work on different aircraft for example jets, rotating wing aircraft, and aerospace. If you want to work on communications, you will likely need a radio license too. The work itself can be extremely demanding. You may have to work a shift pattern as part of a team providing 24/7 technician services. Clearly, this will involve working on weekends, public holidays and nights.
There are quite a number of places where you might find employment after you have completed your avionics technician training. Airports are an obvious place to start your search, and defense is another one. Places that may not have occurred to you include: parts manufacturers, federal government, scientific and professional equipment manufacturers, large courier companies with their own fleet, and electronic equipment manufacturers.
