Aviation Maintenance Engineers
Teams of technicians power
every airplane. Mechanics
maintain and overhaul aircraft
structures, repair the engine,
install new systems such as
flight deck avionics and conduct essential safety checks.
Canada has the fifth largest aerospace
manufacturing sector in the world, producing aircraft components, avionics, engines
and complete aircraft construction. A joint
study by Foreign Affairs and International
Trade Canada and the Canadian Council
for Aviation and Aerospace (CCAA) reports
that there is a labour shortage in nine of 10
key occupations in the Canadian aerospace
manufacturing sector and a skills shortage in
all 10. By 2017, 40 per cent of the Canadian
labour force will be over 55 years of age and
considering retirement, including the more
than 80,000 aviation technical personnel.
The company that represent Canada’s
cluster of heavy-hitters – among them
Bombardier (the world’s fourth largest civil
aircraft manufacturer), Pratt & Whitney
Canada (the largest supplier of engines for
regional and business aircraft and helicopters) and CAE (the world leader in simula-
tion and modeling), are also creating an additional need for maintenance of their new
products.
Still, it is not as simple as backfilling the
vacancies. New-generation aircraft, carbon
composites and more complex systems will
require sophisticated skill sets and more
education than once was the case. Aviation
technical personnel must possess a strong
knowledge of aircraft systems, aerodynamics and aircraft structures along with a clear
understanding of the interrelationship
among components on an aircraft. Aircraft
maintenance is also a very manual-driven
industry that requires a high level of literacy and numeracy skills and the ability to
follow technical drawings and blueprints.
A variety of skilled trades are required for
the building and maintenance of aircraft,
requiring different licence ratings, levels of
study and documented work experience.
The list of aviation maintenance colleges in
Wings Careers in Aviation 2013 also includes
examples of a specific program, although
most Canadian colleges on the list have a
broader scope of programs available.
AME ASSOCIATIONS IN CANADA
AVIATION TECHNICAL CAREERS
Qualified aircraft maintenance technicians
have found challenging careers in all areas of
Canada’s airline and aerospace sectors. Below
is a brief description of several specialized
roles.
Avionics Maintenance Technician
In the past 10 years, avionics has penetrated
every aspect of an aircraft’s operation, and has
ensured a strong demand for avionics main-
tenance technicians. An avionics maintenance
technician installs, repairs and maintains various complex aircraft computers and subsys-
tems including “fly by wire,” auto flight, global
positioning and satellite navigation. Avionics
technicians are involved in integrating avionics systems into the aircraft, technical writing
and troubleshooting. An avionics technician is
eligible to obtain an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence and release aircraft for service.
Aviation Machinists
Aviation machinists fabricate, repair, rework
or modify aircraft parts and components to
exacting specifications. They must be familiar with exotic and specialized materials used
in aviation, and will often be called upon in
the design phase of a project because of their
knowledge of materials, processes and fabrication techniques. Newer carbon-fibre com-
posites such as those being used in the Boeing
787 will bring new opportunities for aviation
machinists.
Aerospace Engineers
In Canada, aerospace engineers are at the core
of a vibrant industry, developing new systems
and aircraft that meet the highest standards
for safety and performance. Each year, more
than 1,200 new and modified aeronautical
products are built or operated in Canada. A
day in the life of an aerospace engineer could
include developing new aircraft flight systems,
designing new propulsion systems, or studying and analyzing aircraft aerodynamics.
Aviation Maintenance Inspector
An aviation maintenance inspector inspects
the structural and mechanical systems of an
aircraft to ensure it complies with Transport
Canada, operator and manufacturer performance and safety standards. In some organi-
zations, the aviation maintenance inspector
plans and implements every aspect of inspection techniques to make sure the quality of
aircraft repairs and maintenance performed
meets industry standards. An inspector can
also be an AME who releases aircraft.
Aircraft Line Maintenance Technician
Aircraft line maintenance involves technicians
who diagnose and correct troubles on the aircraft conduct major aircraft checks and effect
repairs.
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