Diploma: See education below

Apprenticeship: Completed through on-the-job training for a minimum of 36 months, which may be partially reduced by training programs. See education.

Licensing: Upon completion of the apprenticeship an application for licensing accompanied by the application charge, shall be submitted to Transport Canada (TC). If the application is found acceptable, the applicant will be authorized to attempt the Transport Canada regulatory requirement examination. The examination must be successfully completed within 12 months after the date on which TC accepted the application. Failure on the first attempt will not be re-examined sooner than 30 days following failure and a second or subsequent failure will not be reexamined sooner than six months following each failure.

Note: Individuals who hold both an M1 and M2 rating already hold the privileges of the E and S ratings.An AME license remains valid until the date indicated on the license which is set at six years calculated after the applicant's last birthday, i.e. the birthday immediately preceding license issue. Licenses not yet expired or expired for less than one year will be reissued upon submission of an application form and payment of the set fee. Licenses expired for one year or more will be reissued upon successful completion of the regulatory requirement examination, submission of an application form and payment of the set fee.

Recurrent Training: er Transport Canada regulations, recurrent training for AMEs shall be at least every three years, unless employer policies require it more frequently. Specialized aircraft type training may be required/provided by employer.

The following core competencies are required by Transport Canada to obtain certification:

• Technical Information
• General
• Aircraft Systems
• Airframe Structures and Designs
• Structural Material
• Heat Treatment
• Corrosion Control
• Damage Assessment
• Sheet Metal Repairs
• Standard and Special Fasteners
• Composite Repairs
• Tubular repairs
• Wood Repairs
• Fabric Repairs
• Sheet Metal Fabrication
• Composite Fabrication
• Fluid Lines and Conduits
• Thermoplastics

Fluent written and verbal English is mandatory.

Experience requirements will vary per employer depending upon the type of equipment being used and the level of occupational classification an employee is seeking.

Apprentice: $14.00 - $24.00 per hour
Journeyman: $23.00 - $31.00 per hour

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers - S License duties overlap with the services performed by other specialty mechanics and technicians. This is particularly true of the tasks, which relate to specialized work practices. Aircraft Maintenance Engineers - S License can expect to work on the aircraft in the hangar and on the flight line. Adverse conditions may include weather extremes, noise, odours, and danger.

Like Aircraft Maintenance Engineers - S License are predominately employed by major airlines and large repair, overhaul organizations and specialty repair shops. These will generally be located around major airports.

BCIT - Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Category S (Aircraft Structures Technician)
KELOWNA FLIGHT CRAFT - Offers in-house Structures Program to AME - S certification

The program is designed to comply with Canadian Aviation Regulation 566 and is approved by Transport Canada. It is recognized by the Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council (CAMC). Graduates may be credited with 10 months experience towards the 36 months industry experience required by Transport Canada. The student will attend lectures approximately 50 per cent of the time, while gaining hands-on experience 50 per cent of the time. The course is conducted at the Vancouver International Airport and at a satellite campus at the Kelowna Airport. The program has a wide selection of tools, training aids, and more than 18 aircraft. The student will perform a variety of tasks, ranging from the use of basic hand tools through troubleshooting of an operable aircraft.

Entrance Requirements

• High school Graduation
• English 12 or Communications 12
• Academic Math 11 or Introduction to Math 11 or Math 11A or Aviation Trade Math
• English language proficiency

BCIT pretest is acceptable for English and Math. Some drafting is recommended. Mature students may be given special consideration, subject to an interview and testing by instructional staff.

Note: Applied Academics courses taught in BC high schools are acceptable as entrance requirements for BCIT programs. Applied Academics courses can be used to meet these requirements, as follows:

• Technical and Professional Communications 12 meets English 12 requirement;
• Applications of Math 11 meets Math 11 requirement;
• Applications of Math 12 meets Math 12 requirement;
• Applications of Physics 11 AND 12 meets Physics 11 requirement;
• Information Technology 12 meets Computer Science 12 requirement.

For information on specific Applied Academics course equivalencies as they relate to entrance requirements for your chosen program, please contact your high school counselor or BCIT Registration and Information at 604-434-1610.

BCIT Fresh Start

The Fresh Start program is a full-time technical literacy program that provides academic upgrading in an applied setting for students wishing to enter a trades/technical program at BCIT.

Industry Policies

A security check will be required to work on airports.
Some sectors of the aviation industry screen for drug and alcohol use.
Most aviation companies require grade 12 completion as a hiring policy.
Excellent attendance is an important issue at most aviation companies.

National Occupational Standards

The occupational standards and training standards for the 15 occupations in the aviation industry are currently under national review by a joint industry, government and school association known as C.A.M.C. (Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council). The results are expected to lead to more formal and recognizable national and international trade certification. BCIT is an integral part of these ongoing studies and improvements, and will ensure that any changes are reflected in our curriculum and training standards.

Students intending to attend the AME "S" Term 2 will be governed by the following grading rules. Minimum course passing grade is 70 percent. Each course has a Theory component and a Practical component and both components must be passed with 70 percent to complete the course. The Official Transcript will show an average of both marks, with an F or U if either component is not passed. All courses must be passed in order to successfully complete the program.Aviation Attendance Policy

Students intending to attend the AME "S" Term 2 will be governed by the following attendance rules. Attendance policy for all Aviation programs differ from other BCIT programs and are regulated by Transport Canada and C.A.M.C. Attendance will be recorded for each course. The Program contains a course named Attendance in Term Three. If total program attendance is less than 95% an U (Unsatisfactory) will be entered which indicates the Program is incomplete. A Documented Supplementary Studies unit will be developed for each student with a U in Attendance. On successful completion of the Documented Supplementary Studies unit, the U will be changed to S.

Canadian Aviation Regulation 566 states:

"Students missing more than five per cent of the course curriculum through absence will not qualify for any credit under Transport Canada course approval, unless the loss time is made up through documented supplementary studies, which shall include theory, workshop and laboratory time, equivalent to that missed from the original program. The 5% absence policy is intended for illness, bereavement or other circumstances beyond the individual's control."

37 weeks full-time. Per Transport Canada, total experience for AME classifications may be reduced by one month for each 100 hours of approved basic training, up to a maximum of 50 percent of the total experience requirement for the rating.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE FRASER VALLEY - AME (S) PROPOSED COURSE

The program is broken into 3 sets of 3-month training modules alternating with 3 sets of 3-month work experience modules. The program is designed to follow a national and international set of standards and is approved by Transport Canada. Graduates may be credited with 18 months experience towards the 48 months industry experience required by Transport Canada to obtain an AME - "S" License. The student will attend lectures approximately 50 per cent of the time, while gaining hands-on experience 50 per cent of the time.

High School Diploma with the following subjects:

Grade 11 Math (C+)
Physics (or equivalent) (C+)

Mature students with related experience, which does not have the above academic background, are required to write an assessment exam and participate in an assessment interview so as to determine academic admissibility. CAAT Test

Prospective students must have a medical check-up which indicates the student:

Is physically and mentally fit
Has good vision
Have no serious allergies to petroleum products
Is able to maintain balance while climbing ladders and work stands
Is capable of standing on a concrete floor for long periods of time

Note: The program does not reject applicants with colour blindness

Note: A valid medical certificate for a pilot's license is also accepted in lieu of a medical check-up

15 months Full-time.