Aviation Maintenance General Knowledge Base | Core Principles and Fundamentals

The Aviation Maintenance General Section serves as the foundation for students preparing for mechanic certification in Airframe, Powerplant, or both ratings. It introduces the essential principles, fundamentals, and technical procedures common to all areas of aircraft maintenance. The goal is to build a strong understanding of theory and practical application methods that support more advanced and specialized study.

Because there are many types of airframes and powerplants in operation today, differences in systems and components are to be expected. To maintain clarity and avoid unnecessary repetition, this section uses representative systems and units as examples throughout.

The information is presented from a general perspective and should always be supported by manufacturer’s manuals, official aviation regulations, and other technical references when more specific aircraft data is needed. This section is not a replacement for official documentation or manufacturer instructions but a guide to the foundational concepts every mechanic must know.

Topics Covered:

• Safety, Ground Operations, and Servicing
• Regulations, Maintenance Forms, Records, and Publications
• Aircraft Drawings
• Physics for Aviation
• Aircraft Weight and Balance
• Aircraft Materials, Hardware, and Processes
• Aircraft Cleaning and Corrosion Control
• Fluid Lines and Fittings
• Inspection Concepts and Techniques
• Fundamentals of Electricity and Electronics
• Aviation Human Factors

Together, these topics form the core knowledge base required for any aspiring Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT)—the essential first step toward mastering aircraft systems and maintenance practices.