Aviation maintenance technician Brianna De Armond breaks down what it really takes to become an aircraft mechanic — and why one signature on the paperwork can define an entire career.
Brianna is a student in the Aviation Maintenance Technician program at San Bernardino Valley College and a competitor at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC). In this episode, she shares the moment she realized aircraft maintenance is as much about reading manuals and ATA codes as it is about turning wrenches — and what it feels like to sign off on a plane carrying a couple hundred people, knowing your name is the only one on that paper.
She also opens up about growing up around the trades with her welding-and-HVAC dad, the classmate-turned-mentor who talked her into pursuing her pilot's license, and what it's actually like to be one of a small percentage of women in aircraft maintenance — including the harassment many women face and what real support on the shop floor looks like.
If you're considering a career in aviation maintenance, mentoring someone who is, or just want to understand what happens behind the scenes every time a plane takes off safely, this conversation will change how you think about the person under the fuselage.
IN THIS EPISODE
(00:00) – Why Mechanics Deserve More Credit: Brianna opens with the line that defines the episode — the pilots get you there, but it's the mechanic who fixes it when they break it.
(02:30) – Falling in Love with Aviation as a Kid: How childhood curiosity about airplanes led Brianna to San Bernardino Valley College's aeronautics program.
(08:00) – The Reality of Aircraft Maintenance: Reading, Writing, and Wrenches: Why the job is as much about manuals and documentation as it is hands-on repair — and the moment installing avionics made it all worth it.
(15:00) – Family, Mentorship, and Learning to Fly: Her dad's welding and HVAC background, the classmate-turned-mentor who changed her trajectory, and how she ended up pursuing her pilot's license.
(23:00) – Being a Woman in Aircraft Maintenance: The small percentage of women in the field, the harassment many face, and what real support looks like.
(32:00) – The Weight of Signing Off on a Plane: What it takes to become an Inspection Authorization (IA) mechanic, why it takes years of experience, and the pressure of putting your name on the paperwork.
Key Takeaways
Aircraft maintenance is far more reading- and documentation-heavy than most people expect — technicians live in manuals and ATA codes as much as they work with tools.
Becoming an Inspection Authorization (IA) mechanic typically takes years of experience because a single signature carries full legal and safety responsibility for the aircraft.
Only a small percentage of aircraft maintenance technicians are women, and closing that gap starts with listening to women and building real support systems on the shop floor.
A strong mentor can be the difference between quitting and thriving — Brianna credits a classmate-turned-mentor with keeping her in the trade and inspiring her to pursue a pilot's license.
About the Guest
Brianna De Armond is an aviation maintenance student at San Bernardino Valley College and a competitor at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC), where students and professionals from across the industry test their skills head-to-head. She has hands-on experience in airframe work, avionics installation, and engine overhaul, and is currently working toward her pilot's license.
Her focus is aircraft maintenance and inspection — the unseen work that keeps commercial and general aviation flying safely. Her story speaks directly to this episode's theme: the skilled trades carry enormous responsibility, and the people doing that work deserve recognition most audiences never think to give them.
Keywords
aviation maintenance technician, aircraft mechanic, A&P mechanic career, Inspection Authorization IA mechanic, women in aviation maintenance, Aerospace Maintenance Competition, San Bernardino Valley College aeronautics, Brianna De Armond
RESOURCE LINKS
San Bernardino Valley College Aeronautics Program: https://www.linkedin.com/school/san-bernardino-valley-college/
SUPPORT THE SHOW
If you found value in this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep telling the stories of the skilled trades.
