O & P Test | AZTechnical Training

The Oral & Practical Test

Effective August 01, 2023

Effective September 21, 2022, the FAA implemented changes to part 147, which eliminated the use of "Practical Test Standards", and implemented the use of Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards (Mechanic ACS).

Effective August 01, 2023, part 14 CFR Part 65 requires the Mechanic ACS to be used as the standard for oral and practical testing. Changing from the Practical Test Standards (PTS) to the ACS necessitated structural changes to all tests. The Airframe and Powerplant Oral and Practical tests will no longer be broken into five different sections. Airframe Structures and Airframe Systems will be combined into one section, Airframe. Powerplant Theory and Powerplant Systems will be combined into one section, Powerplant.

Now there are "three tests" (General, Airframe, and Powerplant), Each test is still divided into an Oral test and a Practical test which are graded independent of each other.

NOTE: The FAA Form 8610-2 has been revised to support the new mechanic testing process using the Mechanic ACS. If you have an 8610-2 that was approved by the FAA prior to August 01, 2023, you will also need to have two copies of the new form with Section I completed. You are not required to have the two new copies signed by the FAA.

As with the Airman Knowledge Tests, the Oral and Practical Tests are on the 40 subject areas found in Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards which outlines the aeronautical knowledge, risk management, and proficiency standards for the Mechanic Certificate.

AMG - General

A. Fundamentals of Electricity & Electronics

B. Aircraft Drawings

C. Weight and Balance

D. Fluid Lines and Fittings

E. Aircraft Material, Hardware, & Processes

F. Ground Operation and Servicing

G. Cleaning and Corrosion Control

H. Mathematics

I. Regulations, Maintenance Forms, Records, & Publications

J. Physics for Aviation

K. Inspection Concepts & Techniques

L. Human Factors

AMA - Airframe

A. Metallic Structures

B. Non-Metallic Structures

C. Flight Controls

D. Airframe Inspection

E. Landing Gear Systems

F. Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems

G. Environmental Control Systems

H. Aircraft Instrument Systems

I. Communications, Light Signals,

and Runway Lighting Systems

J. Aircraft Fuel Systems

K. Aircraft Electrical Systems

L. Ice and Rain Control Systems

M. Airframe Fire Protection Systems

N. Rotorcraft Fundamentals

O. Water and Waste Systems

AMP - Powerplant

A. Reciprocating Engines

B. Turbine Engines

C. Engine Inspection

D. Engine Instrument Systems

E. Engine Fire Protection Systems

F. Engine Electrical Systems

G. Engine Lubrication Systems

H. Ignition and Starting Systems

I. Engine Fuel and Fuel Metering Systems

J. Reciprocating Engine Induction and Cooling Systems

K. Turbine Engine Air Systems

L. Engine Exhaust and Reverser Systems

M. Propellers

Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards

Mechanic ACS

Companion Guide to the Airman Certification Standards

Companion Guide to ACS

The New Mechanic Test Generator (MTG)

A third-party vendor (PSI) has designed the new Mechanic Test Generator (MTG) that the Designated Examiner will use to generate the oral and practical examination to be administered. (PSI is the same vendor that manages all FAA written examinations.

The DME that you select to conduct your test is required to conduct a pretest interview. This can be accomplished face-to-face, by telephone, through email, zoom call, or by other methods that will allow them to review your 8610-2s, Airman Knowledge Test Reports, eligibility, and identification. They should also discuss fees, testing procedures, projects, the type of equipment to be used, and what you should expect if you pass, fail, or do not complete the test.

NOTE:

Designated Mechanic Examiners are not employees of the Federal Aviation Administration but they are

authorized by the FAA to conduct oral and practical examinations and if also authorized, to do so, issue temporary airman certificates to those they have tested and who have passed their examinations.

The DME will charge a reasonable fee to each applicant for handling the forms and reports incident to the issuance of an aviation mechanic certificate, the use of the DME's facilities, equipment, materials, and service in administering the oral and practical tests.

(Each DME is independent and the FAA does not set the fees to be charged)

After the pretest interview and prior to the examination date, the DME will enter the information from your 8610-2 into the PSI Mechanic Test Generator (MTG). This is the system that the computer generates your test and where your results will be recorded.

The computer-generated test will be based on the ratings sought. There will be a planning sheet for each test. There are number and letter codes for the test questions to be asked and the number and letter codes for the practical projects to be given. There will also be the actual questions to be asked with the typical answers for each question and a description of the individual projects to be given and additional oral questions that pertain to the project given.

Oral Part of each Test

There are three oral tests for an applicant seeking to obtain an airframe and powerplant certificate (General, Airframe, Powerplant). Two tests for a mechanic seeking an initial single certificate, (General Airframe or General Powerplant). For an added rating either airframe or powerplant, 1 test.

A mechanic oral test consists of a minimum of 4 oral questions in each test. Additionally, for each ACS code the applicant failed on their associated written test, the test will include an oral question for that ACS code. NOTE: The higher you score on your each written test the fewer oral questions you'll have on

your oral part of your oral and practical test.

For Example:

An applicant who obtains a 100% on their written test will have an oral test containing a minimum of 4 questions (for each written test scoring 100%).
An applicant who obtains a 70% on their written test will have an oral test containing a maximum of 22 questions for the (General test) or 34 questions (airframe or powerplant test). This is assuming that every question missed on the written knowledge test was a different ACS code.

The oral test is passed when the applicant obtains a minimum of 70% on the oral test as a whole. Each test is scored separately.

Practical Part of each Test

The mechanic practical test (General, Airframe, and Powerplant) includes a random sampling the subject areas in the (ACS) testing standard. All General practical tests consists of 9 projects, all Airframe 11 projects, and all Powerplant tests 11 projects.

Additionally, each practical project consists of a skill demonstration and two practical questions, related to the projects. The applicant must successfully demonstrate the skill and answer both questions correctly to pass the practical project. The questions are "open book" questions mostly from the 8083 series text books. (The 8083 series text books were revised in July 2023. The new version text books are free for download and can be found under the "Free Books" tab.

The project must complete the project correctly and answer both questions correctly to pass the project.

The practical test is passed when the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates 70% of the practical projects tested. An applicant can fail two projects in General, fail three projects in Airframe, and fail three projects in Powerplant, and still pass the test.

Typical Type of Practical Projects

The following is not a complete list however it is a good sampling of items that an applicant should be familiar with and able to accomplish.

Use a multi-meter; check for opens, shorts, resistance, voltage drops, or continuity in a circuit or component.
Be able to calculate voltage, resistance, current, and voltage drops using ohms law.
Calculate capacitance in a circuit.
Using the FAA website, be able to create a summary of airworthiness directives for a particular make and model of an aircraft, engine, or other component.
Determine the applicability of an airworthiness directive, both one time and recurring.
Complete logbook entries for 100hr inspections, minor repairs or maintenance.
Complete the FAA form 337.
Determine the applicability of 14 CFR Parts 1, 3, 21, 23, 39, 43, 45, 47, 65, 91, and various advisory circulars.
Find torque values, correct use of a torque wrench, and torqueing of nuts and bolts.
Use and read a micrometer and vernier caliper.
Inspect and interpret airworthiness of woods, dope and fabric, and sheetmetal.
Bend sheetmetal, calculate bend allowances, calculate rivet spacing, repair a damaged sheetmetal surface.
Interpret blueprints and illustrated parts catalogs, and make rough sketches of repairs.
Remove and replace a flight control.
Check control surface travel.
Check and adjust cable tension.
Safety wire turnbuckles.
Create inspection checklists and perform inspection of systems and components.
Remove and replace brake assemblies, replace brake linings.
Remove and replace tires from wheels, service bearings.
Service brake systems, pressure and gravity methods.
Service hydraulic reservoirs.
Remove and replace aircraft batteries. (service batteries)
Remove and replace a cylinder from an engine.
Check magneto internal timing, or time the magnetos to an engine.
Perform a compression test on an engine.
Service spark plugs.
Perform a conformity inspection on an aircraft, engine or component.
Check propeller blade angle using a universal propeller protractor.
Check, inspect, and dress nicks in a propeller.
Check thermocouples,
Splice a wire, install connectors, remove and replace circuit breakers or fuses.
Demonstrate the starting procedures and run an engine.

Again, this is not a complete list but a good sampling of the typical type of projects that are given for a test. Differences are in the aircraft, training aids, and equipment being used by the DME.

Retesting Procedure

If you fail any section either oral or practical you will be required to retest the complete section of the subject failed, even subject areas passed during the test. You may:

Retake the test after 30 days from the date of the previous test. You must present to the DME an original copy of the 8610-2 from the previous test, two new 8610-2 forms, AKTRs, photo ID, and another copy of the Pilot's Bill of Rights.

Retest sooner than 30 days if you receive a signed statement from an airman holding the certificate and rating you seek certifying that you have been given additional instruction in each subject failed and that you are now ready for retesting.

NOTE: The certifying airman's signed statement must also include the airman's rating and certificate number.