Definition
An FAA-certificated person authorized to inspect, service, repair, and approve aircraft and aircraft components for return to service. AMTs typically hold an Airframe and/or Powerplant (A&P) certificate issued under 14 CFR Part 65, and they are the people legally permitted to perform and sign off most maintenance work on certificated aircraft.
Plain English
A licensed aircraft mechanic. They are the trained, certificated people who fix aircraft and sign the paperwork that says the aircraft is safe to fly again.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter AMTs when an aircraft needs maintenance, an inspection, a repair entry in the logbook, or help with a problem found before or after a flight.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots depend on AMTs to keep aircraft legally airworthy and mechanically reliable.
Intuition Check
Do not read “technician” as just any handy repair person. In this context, an AMT is a person with FAA authority to perform and approve specific aircraft maintenance work.
Example Sentence 1
After noticing a small oil leak during preflight, the pilot grounded the aircraft and called the AMT to inspect it before the next flight.
Example Sentence 2
After completing the required repairs, the aviation maintenance technician updated the aircraft logbooks.