Choosing the career path is one of the most important stage in our lives. Now-a-days the vast opportunities in different career field often leaves one confused about taking a future course. The most common fear is whether the chosen industry will continue to grow or soon become saturated or redundant. Most of the popular fields in engineering like software, mechanical, electrical have seen their glory days, however aeronautical engineering remains a lucrative career option for youngsters. Let us find out why…
The Scope
The COVID-19 pandemic sure put a dent in the fast-paced aviation industry, but with the pandemic already in shadows air travel is slowly and steadily began to pace up. Rise in air travel will in turn lead to increased flight hours and trickle down to more maintenance checks per flight. Besides the global air travel market is rising with new and latest aircraft on board. Increase in aircraft purchasing means need of more mechanics to maintain them. As per the Boeing’s pre-pandemic predictions, there will be a global need of 556,000 new maintenance technicians over the next two decades.
Career Opportunities
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers or AME’s have got tremendous career opportunities in Airlines, General Aviation industry, manufacturing industry, MROs, OEMs, technical publication organizations, flying clubs and defense sectors due to all-round strong growth in Aviation Industry. Apart from this an aircraft engineer can also work in different departments like line Maintenance, Stores, Quality & Planning, Cabin Maintenance, Ground Handling etc as per their interest.
Aviation maintenance training is facing unique challenges in current era. Besides shortage of skilled workforce, other factors are human safety, training, innovative technologies, newer and more advanced aircraft etc. Let us look at these trends one by one.
The changing trend in AME training
Once you become an AME, your job does not end there. The work of an aircraft maintenance engineer is a constant learning process with new technologies and innovations used in the latest aircraft. Today’s trend is towards replacing the older aircraft with newer, advanced, and modern fleet with latest technology and innovations. With the introduction of new aircraft, arises the need for changes in maintenance programs and technical training. Due to constantly changing technology, not just the newer aircraft have new avionics in the cockpit but even some of 6–7-year-old aircraft need to be retrofitted with the latest avionics.
Besides avionics aircraft composites have also changed over the years thereby hanging the maintenance requirements of these new and retrofitter aircraft. Besides changes in the structural components, now-a-days composites are also used for making floors and floor beams of the aircraft for greater stability. Working with these composites requires new maintenance skills and training.
How are training institutes coping with the changing trend?
With the changing trend of maintenance training, the institutes offering various aircraft maintenance courses also need to change with age. Most of the institutes have opted for latest aircraft simulators and equipment to keep their students abreast with the industry demands. FlightSafety International recently announced the qualification of its new Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 MAX simulators. The A320 simulator incorporates NEO engine configurations that can replicate Pratt & Whitney and CFM LEAP engine types.
During the pandemic, institutes offered virtual training courses to AME’s to help them stay connected with the industry. But is this enough? Certainly not!
- Mergers and acquisitions
Many AME training institutes are partnering with other institutes or aircraft operators to give their students global coverage of variety of fleet. Recently, CAE expanded its maintenance training capabilities with the addition of GlobalJet Services. This move has expanded CAE’s capabilities by increasing its aircraft platform addressability for maintenance training through world-class, regulatory approved training programs. This the acquisition will provide CAE with approved training solutions on key programs and bring in a highly experienced team. Well-aligned with the culture of CAE, GlobalJet Services is known for its strong customer service culture and high degree of quality.
Nick Leontidis, CAE’s Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions said, “We are thrilled to integrate GlobalJet Services’ capabilities and expertise in maintenance training. This tuck-in acquisition is a great addition. Moving forward, CAE will be able to better serve global operators as they look for a one-stop-shop provider that can support their various aircraft fleet types.”
- Defense AME Training
The defense sector is dealing with this changing trend in their own way. Most of the defense agencies across the world have signed the OEMs to train their engineers and pilots on the latest advanced fleet. The Royal Air Force has extended the training contract with Boeing for training of C-17 aircrew and engineers at C-17 International Training Centre in Farnborough. Through this contract Boeing will deliver a technology-enables program under a new Synthetic Training Service (STS) contract through 2040. The training program will apply a combination of digitally based training, advanced aircraft simulation and desktop training devices to advance the expertise of pilots, loadmasters and engineers who operate and maintain the C-17. The STS contract also includes development of two new engineering training devices that employ the latest technology for practical maintenance training on a C-17 wing engine and the main landing gear assembly.
- Opening of New and latest training centres
With the changing dynamics of aviation maintenance training, there arose a need for the opening of newer and more advanced training centres to meet the industry demands. Recently Elbit Systems earned a contract for establishment and operation of a new International Flight Training Centre for the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Hellenic Ministry of National Défense. Under the contract, Elbit Systems will supply new M-346 training aircraft and will maintain the entire training fleet, comprised of dozens of M-346 and T-6 training aircraft.
CAE will manufacture a -130J full-mission simulator capable of reconfiguring between the C-130J-30 airlifter and KC-130J tanker aircraft for Lockheed Martin as Evreux-Fauville Air Base in Normandy, France. Besides CAE will also provide a C-130J fuselage trainer to be used for training loadmasters.
An aircraft engineer must analyse and solve the problems of aircraft and sign the Flight Releasing Certificate (FRC) for the safety of passengers and crew, only then an aircraft can take flights. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Course is related to maintenance and repair of aircraft means working on the most exciting and advanced technology in the world. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer repairs, check operating engines & electronics systems, troubleshoot the problem, conduct inspections and analyze airplane parts and help them to build better ones. They deal with the safety and security of civil aviation. It is one of the most fascinating careers for young talented students who have an interest in machines and modern technology and wants to travel the world.
