Aircraft Welding (Meaning, How-to, Duration, Processes, Schools)

Does Aircraft Welding sound weird to you? Don’t worry, this article explains everything you need to know about Aircraft Welding, the processes, the duration, benefits, and many more.

What does Aircraft welding mean?

Aircraft Welding keeps aircraft in service by improving the service life of various aircraft components at a low cost.

Replacement parts can be prohibitively expensive and difficult to get, with some having lead periods of more than a year. Thus, welding aids in the cost-control of aircraft maintenance and the avoidance of lengthy periods of downtime.

Moreover, it was welded construction that allowed for the fabrication of some of the very first aircraft that were successfully produced for commercial usage.

The manufacturing method and technology employed in the aircraft industry have evolved over time. New ways for working with lighter metals, such as titanium, aluminum, and magnesium, were created by the industrial sector.

To this day, a variety of different welding methods are utilized.

How to Become an Aircraft Welder

A student that wants to become a welder can attend high school classes that can assist in welding training which includes Physics, chemistry, and math. If you want to learn how to weld, you should study mechanical engineering and metallurgy.

After high school, many students engage in welding training programs, learning techniques like SMAW, MIG, and TIG.

Many welders obtain welding process certification to assist them to find work. More so, the American Welding Society, for example, certifies welders to industry standards.

Welders are vital in the production and maintenance of airplanes. One must understand numerous welding processes to become an airplane welder. Trade schools offer welding instruction and certification can also help one advance.

How long does it take to become an Aircraft Welder?

You must have a minimum of 60 months of experience in occupational, interprovincial, or provincial welding, with a minimum of 24 months of experience in aircraft welding necessary.

Welders work in the aircraft industry, where they are responsible for the production and repair of airplanes, jets, and helicopters.

60% of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers (51-4121) are employed in the manufacturing industry, with only 5% employed in the repair and maintenance industry (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Benefit of Aircraft Welding:

Due to the fact that welding is a cost-effective means of improving the service life of numerous aircraft components, welding helps to keep airplanes in service.

Replacement components can be extremely expensive and difficult to obtain, with certain parts having lead periods of more than a year. Replacement parts are not always readily available.

In aviation maintenance, welding can assist, keep costs under control and prevent long periods of downtime. The gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) or tungsten inert gas (TIG) technology was specifically designed for aviation welding.

Aircraft Welding Processes

Gas Welding:

For materials less than 3/16-inch thick, gas welding was the most prevalent method. Electric arc welding has mainly replaced gas welding due to cost. Moreover, gas welding is still used to repair aircraft.

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW or TIG):

TIG welding was invented by the aircraft industry. 2 TIG welding is still used today for magnesium, stainless steel, and thick aluminum. Moreover, TIG welding is widely used in aircraft maintenance and repair.

Welding thin sheet metal components together with electric resistance welding, specifically spot and seam welding, is also used in the aircraft sector. It also uses plasma arc welding (PAW) for applications requiring precision and small dimensions.

What is the job of an Aircraft Welder?

Aviation Welding Technicians must know and follow safety regulations, operate and maintain all welding equipment, have dexterity, coordination, and patience to learn the skills required of effective welders, and keep up with welding technology and CCAA welding standards.

Best Aircraft Welding Schools in the USA in 2022

The Lincoln Electric Welding School

The Lincoln Electric Welding Institution is a specialized school that will prepare you for a profession in welding.

It provides eight basic and advanced welding courses. Lincoln Electric, a well-known maker of welding equipment, also has one of the greatest welding trade schools.

Only highly qualified instructors will teach you here, and you will get lots of supervised, hands-on training. Upon completion of the course, you will be awarded a diploma containing Lincoln’s name.

This could be a terrific way to get into one of the best professions in welding. At the Lincoln Electric Welding School, you’ll learn everything from the principles of welding to advanced methods like submerged welding.

Rated as one of the best welding schools in the USA, their extensive training will surely prepare you for a lifetime career as a master welder.

Hobart Institute of Welding Technology

Hobart is popular when it comes to welding. However, they do more than only manufacture high-quality welding equipment.

The Hobart Institute of Welding Technology has been teaching welding for almost 80 years. They are a welding-only school with a global reputation.

With their industry-leading program, you may get an American Welding Society-accredited certificate in less than a year.

They also help their graduates find jobs, allowing them to put their new welding abilities to use in a professional context, turning their degree into a career.

Whether you take individual classes or a full 24-week program, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology will prepare you for a successful career in welding.

Advanced Welding Institute

As one of the best welding schools in the USA, the Advanced Welding Institute offers accelerated programs with hands-on training to prepare you for your new welding employment.

You will be given individual attention to ensure that each student has the resources needed to succeed. Day after day, you’ll spend at least eight hours in the welding shop, a modern training facility designed to educate you by doing.

With small class sizes and a low student-to-teacher ratio, you will get loads of customized instruction. They provide 15 and 24-week full-time welding programs with AWS, ASME, and API certifications.

They’ll even help you get a job once you finish, so your skills don’t go to waste.

Modern Welding School

Your ACCSC, ASME, and AWS-accredited Modern Welding School certification will surely open numerous opportunities for you. With full-time day sessions and part-time evening programs, you may learn all aspects of welding on your own time.

The full-time evening curriculum is 45 weeks long and 900 hours long. You’ll learn acetylene welding, structural welding, pipe welding, MIG, TIG, and other welding techniques.

They also provide workshops to help you go beyond the certification and stay on top of the newest innovations in the field.

Best Aircraft Welding Schools in USA in 2022

Welder Training & Testing Institute

The Welder Training & Testing Institute is accredited by the ACCSC and the American Welding Society. They provide a variety of programs and certificates based on your interests and career goals.

The Welder Fitter program takes 900 hours to complete. It’s suitable for people with no or little welding experience who wish to gain the training they need to get a career.

The 740-hour Combination Welding curriculum excludes skills like blueprint reading and pipe fitting. They also provide advanced welding technique classes to assist you to specialize your skills.

They are among the top welding schools in the USA.

Tulsa Welding School

The Tulsa Welding School has three sites across the USA. Their seven-month professional welder curriculum includes 80 percent hands-on welding practice in Tulsa and Jacksonville. You’ll only have one class per week.

The rest of your time will be spent learning from specialists while welding on your own in a controlled environment.

Lessons can be scheduled around your busy schedule. You’ll learn structural welding, pipe welding, MIG and Flux core welding, and TIG welding. The Texas campus offers the Welding Specialist program.

With an American Welding Society (AWS) certified certification, you can show future employers that you know your stuff and took the time to get the best certification possible.

Davis Applied Technology College

With a placement rate of 72% after completing the Welding Technology program at Davis Applied Technology College, you’re guaranteed a job.

Because their diplomas are approved by the American Welding Society, you can be sure that future employers will treat you with the respect you deserve.

Here you can learn about gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux core arc welding (FCAW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).

A technical institute’s specialty welding credentials are more valued than those from a welding-only school. With all these features, Davis Applied Technology College is one of the top welding schools in the USA.

Top Aircraft welding schools in the USA in 2022

Wichita Area Technical College

Wichita Area Technical College will help you get started with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or a Technical Certificate (TC). You can choose from three different welding programs based on your study time commitment.

The Welding Fast Track curriculum gets you a TC in welding in just 19 credit hours. A TC with 46 credit hours and an AAS with 62 credit hours are available.

WSU Tech’s welding programs are also recognized by the American Welding Society, which will help you find a job in the welding industry.

Conclusion:

Technicians in the aviation industry must be familiar with and adhere to safety regulations, as well as operate and maintain all welding equipment.

They must also have dexterity, coordination, and patience in order to learn the skills required of effective welders, as well as keep up with welding technology and CCAA welding specifications.

Awesome one; I hope this article answered your question.

Aircraft Welding (Meaning, How-to, Duration, Processes, Schools)

What does Aircraft welding mean?

How to Become an Aircraft Welder

How long does it take to become an Aircraft Welder?

Benefit of Aircraft Welding: