Definition
A certification issued by the FAA to a mechanic who is qualified to inspect, maintain, and repair both the airframe (the aircraft structure) and the powerplant (the engine and its associated systems) of an aircraft. An A&P certificate is granted under 14 CFR Part 65 after the applicant meets experience, knowledge, and practical test requirements.
Plain English
An A&P is a certified aircraft mechanic who is licensed to work on both the body of the aircraft and its engine.
Context Anchor
You may see A&P in training materials, maintenance records, logbook entries, and discussions about who is allowed to inspect or repair an aircraft.
Derivation
‘Airframe’ refers to the physical structure of the aircraft minus the engine. ‘Powerplant’ is an older industrial term for the unit that produces power — in aviation, the engine and the systems that make it run. The ‘&’ simply joins the two areas of certification a mechanic can hold together.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots depend on A&P mechanics to confirm an aircraft is safe and legally airworthy.
Intuition Check
Do not read A&P as just a general repair person. In aviation, it points to a specific FAA-certificated mechanic qualification.
Example Sentence 1
Before the flight, the owner had an A&P inspect the landing gear and sign off the repair in the logbook.
Example Sentence 2
An A&P signed off the logbook after replacing the engine cylinders.