Trade Programs: Aircraft Maintenance Journeyperson

For more information about this trade, contact the training co-ordinator.

What does an Aircraft Maintenance Journeyperson do?

Ensuring aircraft are airworthy is a responsible job. That's why people who train as aircraft maintenance journeypersons can only service and maintain fixed-wing and rotory-wing aircraft. Upon successful completion of an apprenticeship, individuals who pass the federal Transport Canada exam for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's licence -Category M are expected to troubleshoot, repair and perform the following:

• aircraft weight and balance reports
• towing and taxiing of aircraft
• air conditioning and auto flight systems
• communication and navigation systems
• electrical and fire protection systems
• piston and turbine engines
• flight controls
• fuel and hydraulic systems
• landing gear and brake systems
• fabric, metal, and composite structures
• propellers
• engine indicating and control systems
• engine runups

What skills/abilities are required?

If you are interested in airplanes, are mechanically inclined, like variety and take pride in completing tasks to exacting standards, you may want to be an aircraft maintenance journeyperson. You also need good communication skills to prepare reports and other necessary paperwork and understand and work to regulatory requirements. Since an aircraft maintenance journeyperson performs tasks both indoors and outside, you should be willing to work in all kinds of weather conditions.

How long is the apprenticeship program?

The apprenticeship is four years of four levels. Each level requires 1800 hours of mainly on-the-job training under the supervision of a certified journeyperson and some technical instruction. About 80 per cent of your time is spent learning practical on-the-job skills, while supervised by a qualified journeyperson. The theoretical and technical aspects of your training take approximately 20 per cent.

When you complete all levels of training and earn a minimum mark of 70 per cent in all technical examinations, you qualify to write the federal Transport Canada examinations for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's licence - Category M.

What is taught during in-school/technical training?

Apprentice Aircraft Maintenance Journeypersons take training at Stevenson Aviation Technical Training Center at Southport (near Portage la Prairie). Instruction includes the servicing and maintenance of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including airframe, powerplants, propeller systems, non-destructive testing and composite repairs. Some of the specific courses in the four levels of technical training include:

• Ground Handling and Servicing
• Fluid Lines and Fittings
• Airframe Fuel Systems
• Hydraulic/Pneumatic Power and Landing Gear Systems
• Structures/Assembly and Rigging
• Electrical, Composites and Instruments
• Reciprocating Engines and Electrical
• Weight and Balance, Bearing and Seals
• Vibration Analysis and Ice/Rain Protection
• A/C Structural Materials and Metallic Structures
• Dynamic Drive Systems
• Turbine Engines, Propellors and Instruments
• Environmental and Fire Protection Systems
• Avionics and Canadian Air Regulations

What is the supervision ratio?

As experience comprises the bulk of apprenticeship training, it is essential that each apprentice has on-site access to a skilled journeyperson and receives the attention and guidance necessary to perform the tasks of the trade safely and efficiently.

For every apprentice working in this trade, the employer is required to maintain a 1:1 ratio of apprentices to journeypersons on-site and must ensure that the apprentice is directly supervised by a certified journeyperson in the trade.

What are the entrance requirements?

Senior Years Apprenticeship Option: Begin your apprenticeship training in high school. A minimum age of 16 years in required.

General Admission: A Grade 12 or equivalent high school academic standing is required, including recommended courses in Math and Physics. If you are 19 years or older and do not hold a high school diploma, you can qualify as a Mature Student. Prior Learning Recognition and Assessment may be required.

Note: Trades Qualification is not available in this trade.

For additional details on entrance requirements and how to begin your apprenticeship or obtain certification, see section on "How to Start".

Do I get a certificate?

When you successfully complete all of your required levels of practical (on-the-job) training and you score at least 70 per cent or better, you will receive a provincial certificate of qualification that meets the basic training requirements to write the Federal Transport Canada exam for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's License-Category -M. This license allows a journeyperson to perform aircraft maintenance and to release aircraft as airworthy.

What salary can I expect as an apprentice?

Manitoba Aircraft Maintenance Journeyperson Regulation states that when an apprentice is not attending technical school, an employer must pay the apprentice at least the provincial minimum wage plus:

• 15 per cent during the first six months
• 35 per cent during the second six months
• 55 per cent during level two
• 75 per cent during level three
• 95 per cent during level four
  

Current wage details are available by downloading the training wage schedule

What are the career prospects?

Aircraft maintenance journeypersons are required wherever aircraft are maintained. They find employment with passenger and freight air carriers and with aircraft-related specialty repair shops, flight training schools, aeronautical product manufacturers and component shops. Aircraft maintenance journeypersons can expect above average incomes.