There is an urgent need for change in how and where entry-level training is conducted.
In our attempt to find out the challenges of AME Maintenance Trainers, the issue of skilled AME workforce, and the ways to tackle it, Swati. K spoke to Boyd Parsons, the Director of Corporate Services at the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace. The Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace (CCAA) is dedicated to ensuring the Canadian aviation and aerospace industry has enough workers with the right skills to meet industry needs. CCAA works with all segments of the industry to develop tools and solutions for specific skills and demographic needs of the industry. CCAA has two main areas of focus: skills development and industry demographics (supply and demand for particular skills). Read the complete Interview for more…..
Q – What are the current challenges in the job as an Aircraft Maintenance Trainer?
Ans – It depends on the type of training. On-the-job training requires a lot of coordination and it always competes with the work plan whereas aircraft “Type” training is usually well planned and structured. That being said, I would say keeping up with all the latest and new technologies and getting the time for hands-on experience is a challenge for many.
Q – What was your inspiration behind choosing this slightly off-track field of training/honing young minds and molding them towards aircraft maintenance?
Ans – To be honest, as a teenager, I always wanted to be a high school teacher and went to university to become a teacher. It was an impromptu decision to change my career path toward aviation.
Q – Was this decision taken by choice or by chance?
Ans – By choice.
Q – What are your views on the current global crisis of Shortage of skilled AMEs.
Ans – It’s not good. The shortage is critical and very real and many organizations are obliged to turn away work and are restricted in their ability to grow due to the shortage. I believe there is an urgent need for change in how and where entry-level training is conducted. I believe ab initio training should take place in the workforce, using standard instructor/employer-led training.
Q – Are the training schools today adequately equipped to provide on-job training to students?
Ans – I would say the training schools are challenged to provide adequate on-the-job training for two main reasons; outdated curricula colleges are required by Transport Canada to follow, and the lack of opportunity for the student to gain work experience in the workplace, while they are learning.
Q – What is one unique or different facility that your training school provides apart from the competitor schools?
Ans – Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace (CCAA) is a not-for-profit organization. While we provide corporate training, such as human factors and troubleshooting skills, our focus is on addressing industry labor needs. Our latest offerings include newly updated National Occupational Standards, a micro-credential program, competency assessment tools, an industry “Competency Dictionary” and a Digital Logbook.
Q – How according to you can we mend the situation of an impending global crisis of skilled labor shortage in coming years?
Ans – By introducing competency-based employer-led training, allowing organizations to hire local talent, and providing the training in-house. Of course, the training would need to meet a national standard such as the standards CCAA offers for the 29 industry occupations. Colleges all have waitlists but still can only produce about 25% of the AMEs needed. The industry needs to implement its own training programs for ab initio and upskilling if we want to find a solution to the labor shortage.
Q – What advice would you give to the young students trying to pursue a career in AME.
Ans – Beyond being the best they can be, I would suggest they look for a coach/mentor and soak up as much of their knowledge and skill as possible.
