Start and grow your aircraft maintenance business.
Grease Pilot Business is the all-in-one platform for Certified A&P mechanics. Aircraft Owner Job Leads, 270+ Aircraft Manual Library, Step-By-Step How To Start an Aircraft Maintenance Business Course, and other field-tested tools to grow your aircraft maintenance business.
Trusted by over 250A&P Mechanics & Students
Supporting A&P Mechanics Since 2019
Built by our A&P and student members
270+ Aircraft Manual Library
Real aircraft owner job leads
4.8 from Verified Buyers
Purchased Grease Pilot's Mechanic Portal: Awesome platform that actually provides a lot of value compared to most all of the other “fluff” offerings out there. Highly recommend to anyone trying to run a maintenance business with integrity!
Purchased Grease Pilot's Mechanic Portal: Awesome platform that actually provides a lot of value compared to most all of the other “fluff” offerings out there. Highly recommend to anyone trying to run a maintenance business with integrity!
I’m a mobile mechanic (Navyation.com) and signed up for the mechanic portal and man!!! What an awesome deal. I have access to a bunch of maintenance manuals that I can access from my smart phone. There’s also a job posting where pilots put up the maintenance they’re needing. I have picked up one annual inspection from it so far, keep in mind, I’ve only been using it for two months and it’s already paid for itself 20 fold. This is an awesome idea to get in on, that benefits everyone involved. Cheers!
I’m a mobile mechanic (Navyation.com) and signed up for the mechanic portal and man!!! What an awesome deal. I have access to a bunch of maintenance manuals that I can access from my smart phone. There’s also a job posting where pilots put up the maintenance they’re needing. I have picked up one annual inspection from it so far, keep in mind, I’ve only been using it for two months and it’s already paid for itself 20 fold. This is an awesome idea to get in on, that benefits everyone involved. Cheers!
I found this training to be very detailed and exactly what I will need once I’m ready to start my own business! I do plan on working for Phalanx prior to making a way of my own but I wanted to get a jump on understanding and setting up what will be necessary once I make my move.
Not finished with the course yet, but so far so good! I have a mentor at my fingertips. There's a lot to consider and know when it comes to opening a business and Grease Pilot has it covered.
How do I start an aircraft maintenance business?
Start by obtaining your A&P certificate — or hiring an A&P mechanic. The certificate is the license the whole business runs on, and you don't have to hold it yourself to own the shop. If you want to earn it, you can start your journey to becoming an aircraft mechanic on Grease Pilot School. From there it's classic business setup: form an LLC, get aviation liability insurance, define your service area, and put clean recordkeeping in place before your first customer. Grease Pilot offers an in-depth, step-by-step course on how to start your aircraft maintenance business — and Grease Pilot Business is built specifically to help people start and grow one: aircraft maintenance manuals, ready-to-use business forms and templates, and listings that put your name in front of aircraft owners.
How do I grow an aircraft maintenance business?
Growth in aircraft maintenance comes from three levers: authorization, capacity, and reach. Authorization — hire or earn your Inspection Authorization (IA); it raises your ceiling to annual inspections and major repair sign-offs. Capacity — the industry-wide technician shortage makes experienced hires scarce, so many shops grow their own by training A&P apprentices on the job; Grease Pilot's OJT platform manages the FAA-compliant records and signatures while you supervise. Reach — start as a mobile aircraft maintenance provider, then anchor your business with a hangar when you're able. That mobile-first, hangar-later path keeps overhead low while your customer base builds, and it's the smartest way to grow. Standardized checklists and templates hold quality steady as you scale.
How much can I make as an independent aircraft mechanic?
Insured freelance A&Ps and small shops often charge $90–125 per labor hour, because that rate has to carry insurance, tools, travel, and unbillable time. Depending on your business structure, how well the business is managed, and your number of employees, 30–50% of that hourly rate can flow to the mechanic-owner. The quality of your service and work plays a big part in what you can charge — and steady demand does the rest: with the technician shortage leaving many owners struggling to get shop slots, independents who stay organized and easy to find stay booked.
What happens to the records I've signed if I cancel my paid plan?
You keep them — records you sign are your records too. After canceling you keep your free supervisor account and can still view and download everything you've signed, including verification letters, in your All Records area. At the end of your paid billing period your account moves to the free plan, which supports one connected OJT student — you choose which student to keep when you cancel, and you can keep supervising and signing for them.