A power plant technician maintains power generating systems, either for onshore installations or aviation power plants. They inspect, maintain, and repair equipment, and may need special certifications or training. In aviation, they keep aircraft engines functioning properly and may investigate engine failures.
A power plant technician maintains the systems used to generate power in a power plant. This role refers to two slightly different positions, each with its own requirements. The first is in installations that generate electricity for consumers and companies that use turbines and other equipment. In the other case, people work specifically on aviation power plants, the engines and equipment that keep a plane in the air.
In the case of onshore power plants, a plant technician may work on plants that generate power from sources such as coal, water, and nuclear elements. The technician regularly inspects the equipment for signs of problems, performs routine maintenance to keep it operational, and repairs it if problems arise. Technicians are usually on call at the factory constantly to be available in emergencies. People in senior roles can provide oversight, setting schedules and delegating tasks to the rest of the team.
These technicians are usually required to have a high school diploma and some have qualifications from a technical school or college. Employers may require special certifications to work in specific systems, including health and safety qualifications. The plant technician becomes familiar with a given facility, its equipment, and its ability to keep the systems running smoothly. In emergencies where there are unexpected grid outages or technicians must deal with severe weather such as hurricanes, quick responses are critical to minimizing damage and keeping the plant operational.
Aircraft power plants require special care and maintenance. To become a power plant technician in the field of aviation, people may need to attend training at a technical school and pass an exam set by a regulatory agency. Requirements vary by region. Training may include classroom education as well as opportunities to work with aircraft engines in a laboratory environment under the supervision of qualified instructors.
Work in the field of aviation involves keeping aircraft engines tuned and functioning properly. A power plant technician can keep the aircraft in a fleet and replace parts as they wear out or are repaired. If an airplane develops a problem, the technician will examine the plant to determine the cause and develop a plan to repair it. The job may also include a forensic element, inspecting engines after failure to find out how and why they broke. These exams may result in further maintenance recommendations to prevent issues of a similar nature in the future.
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