Avionics News November 2014 - 59

of basic physics applied to electricity. You will want to
review atomic structure, magnetism, resistance, power,
current and EMF. Be prepared to apply these terms and
formulas to AC and DC.
Make sure to review the color code and the
construction of capacitors, inductors, transformers,
switches, relays and solenoids.
Practice applying Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws to
series, parallel, complex and bridge circuits. Practice
calculations in AC circuits, including phase angles,
frequency, impedance,
capacitance,
inductance, peak
voltage, power factor,
THE AET
true power and
CERTIFICATION
apparent power.
EXAM WILL TEST
Review diodes and
bipolar transistors
YOUR KNOWLEDGE
and how they work in
OF BASIC PHYSICS
basic circuits, such as
rectifiers and filters.
APPLIED TO
Take some time to
ELECTRICITY.
review oscillators and
multivibrators, which
are also on the test.
Digital circuitry, including flip-flop circuits, should be
reviewed, along with numbering systems other than base 10.
You can count on at least one question on corrosion
and one or more on safe maintenance practices. There
is more, but most remaining topics are among things
working technicians will know well.
During the last few years, AET-specific material has
become available. The basic study guide comes from
NCATT itself. It is a true study guide and tells the reader
what to study with no answers or practice exams. More
useful would be AET-specific study guides available for
purchase.
Avionics students have options with study material;
Bruce Bessette and Scott Kenney both have AET study
guides on the market.
Bruce Bessette's publication is available from a
variety of sources, including Barnes and Noble, and
Amazon. Avionics Certification Test Study Guide is in
its second edition and includes material for the Federal
Communications Commission's General Radiotelephone
Operator license test.
Scott Kenney's Avionics, Fundamentals of Aircraft

Electronics, is available through Avotek. The text has a
companion piece in the form of a workbook. This book is
the first of a multitext series.
If you have experience, then you should consider the
reasonably priced Avionics, Fundamentals of Aircraft
Electronics Student Workbook for a start. You can
practice answering questions similar to those on the AET
certification exam. After using the workbook, determine
whether or not to purchase the full study guide.
Once you pass the AET certification exam, the rest
may seem quite easy. Like the general test is for
the airframe and powerplant license, the AET
certification just covers the basics. However,
the industry expects some specific avionics
knowledge, and this is where the endorsements
come into play. Currently, there are four
endorsements available.
* Radio Communication Systems.
* Dependent Navigation Systems.
* Autonomous Navigation Systems.
* Onboard Communication & Safety Systems.
The first two endorsements listed above will
prove you are an avionics technician. The ANS
endorsement also is valuable, even if you are not
working with aircraft using IRS or INS. If you
work with corporate jets, then you will find the OCS
endorsement valuable.
Radio Communication
Systems Endorsement
Once you have passed the AET certification exam,
this is a good endorsement to start. Since the RCS
endorsement, like the AET, was developed using industry
experts, the knowledge required is closely related
to the work being accomplished on a daily basis. In
preparation for the RCS endorsement exam, you will find
yourself researching relatively small gaps in knowledge.
For example, a technician with years of GlobalStar
experience may find themselves looking up details of the
Inmarsat system.
The NCATT has published the subject, performance
and task knowledge requirements for the RCS exam.
The document reads in a way similar to a topics outline.
It covers history, safety, transceivers, integration,

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Avionics News November 2014

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