As you now know I have passed my exams and am a certified Airframe mechanic now. I would like to provide a few more details about this process. It was actually 6 different tests over a two week period. The FAA requires everyone to take and pass three exams from the "General" section. This is general mechanical knowledge that all people in this field need to know. This portion has a computerized written test ($100) and an oral and practical test ($125). Passing these tests first is necessary to qualify to take the other exams. Passing the General section however does not get you any license. This was not an easy section because we covered all the general curriculum last year.

The Airframe section has its own written test to take ($100) and the oral and practical tests( $125). With both written tests passed I showed up at 6:30am on Thursday to meet with Dean my instructor and DME (Designated Mechanic Examiner) for the day. I have worked with Dean since August as my teacher but he wore a different hat today. He was testing and could provide very little assistance me. After passing the General oral and practical tests in the morning I pressed on into the Airframe section in the afternoon. It really was an all day test.

The oral questions came from our text books and really almost anything could be fair game. I had to answer Dean's questions without any assistance. The practical portion included many different tasks: finding the weight and balance of an aircraft, log book entries for inspections and maintenance, inspection a welding job, troubleshooting a landing gear system and electrical system, severing an anti-skid system, looking at blueprints, making my own blueprint drawings, riveting flush and universal head rivets, inspecting a flap indicating system, inspecting a radio installation, servicing a fuel system, finding the correct torque and torquing several bolts, rigging an aircraft flight control to the proper tension, inspection an air conditioning system, looking up many different safety related airworthiness directives from the FAA, the list goes on and on. You can see why it took all day.

A representative of the FAA showed up to watch the exams and must of been satisfied as a passed after a long day of testing. It is a good feeling to be done and I am now looking forward to the next challenge of learning more about aircraft power plant systems. Thanks to the many people at the many different Churches I have visited over the last year who have supported me in this endeavor. This would not have been possible without you.

Another student, Matt, passed and got his license the same day that I did. So, to celebrate we went and got about 60 hot dogs for everyone at SMAT and had a good little cookout for lunch on Friday. It was a fun way to celebrate.

JMG