I'm extremely surprised! and I have another question or two? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: etstudent
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 08:11:55 pm
content: Well I got a call today to come in for testing for an avionics technician. She said they work on electronics that have been removed from airplanes, not on the actual airplane . What kind of equipment do you think she meant? Do avionics technicians earn good money when they get some experience? I have to get 22 out of 30 questions right.Now another question I have is this. I was brought in for testing for a commuter railroad for signals maintainer which is my absolute dream job. I passed the Electronics part easy, passed the reading/comprehension, but in the time allotted I only answered 38 math questions when I needed 45. Ok that is easy, next time I just have rush a little to get to 45 questions in 5 minutes. Here is the issue, there was a mechanical aptitude exam too. I needed 32 right, and got 29, and I thought the test was easy, but I missed on it by 3. Any tricks to passing a mechanical aptitude test? Any study websites or books you can recommend? I have a friend who works there in the same position, and he talked to them so I am going to be able to test again in a few months. I want to study my butt off till then. Thanks for any info, and advice.

author: poptones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2012, 08:17:32 pm
content: I bought a good bit of my inventory from an avionics technician. There are lots of firms like that here in Tucson owing to the large military presence. He makes very good money. He told me about one time they had a large number of some instrument to rebuild, he got to where he could rebuild one in about an hour and he made 100 bucks. He said he was taking them home at night and rebuilding them on his kitchen table

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2012, 05:28:02 am
content: Equipment will be standard - Scopes ( assorted depending on the unit), meters, tools to open the boxes ( tip, buy an electric driver and a lot of the correct bits for the screws, it saves time in undoing the 100 plus typically per big box), power supplies AC and DC along with simulator jigs per unit to actually test them in a working condition. This will include sources of both air and vacuum to drive sensors, along with a hydraulic test rig for actuators and engine sensors.There has to be documentation of the units, and there will be recording of all work done on a per unit basis, along with you having the full service documentation, down to descriptions of each card and circuit and layout drawings.Normally most units will have common to the model failures, and often the faults are simple and easy to fix, though you have to have the correct parts, no easy way to substitute without careful analysis as to whether the part will have an effect on the aircraft safety wise ( that documentation can be a massive pain to fill in, easily runs to 100 plus pages, often whole sections that do not apply to you have to be filled in by others) before you use it.As to what you will get, it will range from cabin lights that have a dead lamp ( aircraft electrician will often change the whole lamp as it is faster) to complete engine management units or autopilot units, with all of the associated sensors as well. These will be either repairable or replaceable units, and you will have to fix them down to part level, like changing seal or actual bellows assemblies or pivots or sliders. Good work, and I miss it at times. You will have often a computerised test station for final outgoing test, which does a thorough test on it before final shipping out.

author: etstudent
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2012, 10:03:26 pm
content: Thanks guys for the info, and help. I still have to get 22 of 30 questions right on the test just to interview. That in and of itself is going to be a tough task.