Generals Section Overview

Purpose of the Generals Section

The Generals section provides the foundational knowledge required for all aircraft maintenance technicians. These topics apply to both Airframe and Powerplant work and form the core principles tested on the FAA Generals Written examination. The objective of this section is to develop a strong understanding of the scientific, technical, and regulatory concepts that support safe aircraft maintenance. While later sections focus on specific aircraft systems and components, the Generals portion focuses on the universal skills every technician must master, including mathematics, physics, electrical principles, materials knowledge, documentation practices, and regulatory responsibilities.

What You Will Learn

This section introduces the essential concepts that technicians rely on daily in the hangar, shop, and maintenance environment. These topics support inspection, troubleshooting, repair, documentation, and regulatory compliance. Understanding these fundamentals allows technicians to interpret maintenance manuals correctly, diagnose system problems efficiently, and perform work that meets airworthiness standards.

Lesson Structure

Each topic in the Generals section follows a consistent learning format designed to reinforce understanding and retention.

• Lesson Content – A focused explanation of the topic and its application to aircraft maintenance.
• Quiz – Multiple-choice questions designed to test understanding of the most important concepts.
• Quiz Review – Clear explanations of each answer to reinforce correct reasoning and identify common mistakes.
• Wingman Audio – Short audio reviews that summarize the most important concepts and support reinforcement during study.

This structure helps students learn the material, test their understanding, and immediately reinforce the correct concepts.

Topics Covered in the Generals Section

• Basic Electricity – Electrical fundamentals including voltage, current, resistance, Ohm’s Law, circuit types, and troubleshooting principles.
• Physics and Math Fundamentals – Core scientific and mathematical principles used in aircraft maintenance, including force, pressure, friction, heat transfer, measurement, and unit conversion.
• Materials and Hardware – Identification and application of aircraft materials, fasteners, and hardware used in aircraft structures and systems.
• Maintenance Publications – Understanding maintenance manuals, technical publications, and approved documentation used to perform maintenance.
• Regulations and Responsibilities – FAA regulations, certification requirements, privileges, limitations, and responsibilities of certificated technicians.

How to Study This Section

Focus on understanding the concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts. Many exam questions test whether you understand how principles apply in maintenance situations. Use the quizzes to test your understanding, and review explanations carefully to identify areas that need additional study. These topics form the foundation for everything that follows in the Airframe and Powerplant sections. A strong understanding of the Generals material will make the rest of the course easier to understand and apply.

Wingman Guidance

Approach this section as the foundation of your technical knowledge. The principles you learn here will appear repeatedly in aircraft systems, troubleshooting scenarios, and regulatory responsibilities. Mastering these fundamentals will strengthen both your exam performance and your effectiveness as an aircraft maintenance technician. Begin with the first lesson: Basic Electricity.