Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Category ‘M’ (Maintenance)

An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) is responsible for the release (certification) of an aircraft after maintenance, inspection, repair or modification. This is a responsible occupation requiring a high degree of responsibility and skill, which includes:

• certifying airworthiness of airframe, piston and turbine engines, electrical/electronic systems, propellers and rotary systems;
• troubleshooting aircraft structural, mechanical or electrical systems to identify problems;
• adjusting and repairing systems according to specifications, technical drawings, manuals and established procedures;
• repairing and overhauling aircraft structural, mechanical or electrical systems;
• installing or modifying aircraft engines, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, flight control, fuel and pneumatic systems;
• dismantling airframes, aircraft engines or other aircraft systems for repair, overhaul, inspection and reassembly; and
• supervising, performing and documenting routine maintenance.

The program

The program will offer three start times per year with the ten classes starting each year. We offer four classes starting in January and late August and two classes starting in May. Some classes will be expected to proceed through the program with a few breaks, completing their studies in about 18 months. Some of our classes will have a 17 week break to allow for work, work-study, Work Integrated Learning or for students to return home. This option will have students completing their studies in about 21 months. Approximately 50 per cent of the day is spent on theory discussions in a classroom setting, followed by hands-on practical training in the shops and hangar located at BCIT’s state of the art Aerospace Technology Campus. The program is designed to follow a national/international set of standards and is approved by Transport Canada (TC) and the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace (CCAA). Successful completion of the diploma program will result in an experience credit of 18 months (of the 48 months) required by TC to obtain an AME M license. Successful graduation from this program may qualify you for national certification from TC and CCAA. AME licenses are not granted by Transport Canada until the applicant has reached age 21, and the required work experience is obtained.