Aviation Technicians Find Employment in a Number of Areas
Avionics maintenance technicians (also known as aviation technicians)
work in many areas of the industry including: manufacturers, military,
airlines, operators, aircraft, electronic and avionics maintenance
companies; aviation repair and overhaul, and other Canadian aviation
operations. The jobs of these professionals entail a number of duties
including: maintaining engine operations, flight patterns, navigation
systems, radio communications and weather radar systems. In addition,
they inspect, test and double-check electrical power distribution and
control as well as flight instrumentation.
In order to enter the field, those who are interested must first attend Aviation Technician Schools
or an aviation technician program such as Centennial College’s Aviation
Technician – Avionics Maintenance undertaking. The application process
includes having completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or General
Education Development or equivalent or being 19 years of age or older.
They must also have completed the compulsory English 12C or U or skills
assessment or equivalent and Math 11M or U or 12C or U or skills
assessment or equivalent. The requirements, however, don’t stop once
students are accepted. In order to graduate from the aviation
technicians program, they must achieve a minimum C grade in all courses
to graduate. Please note that Transport Canada accreditation requires
both a minimum B grade in every course and an absentee rate of less than
five per cent of the total program hours.
The program is both
Transport Canada (TC) approved and Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council
(CAMC) certified as a recognized avionics maintenance training program,
which proves its credibility. In addition, faculty is highly skilled,
with years of experience and extensive technical expertise, with a deep
commitment to the program, its students and their success. Assisting the
faculty members in their job is Centennial College’s aerospace
facility, which is housed with modern equipment reflecting the current
trends in the industry. As a result, students spend much of their
program time working with modern tools currently being used in the
industry and obtaining hands-on practice to ensure that they are ready
for the field upon graduation. Through these shop activities (as well
as theoretical courses) students gain both theoretical and practical
knowledge that makes them employable upon graduadtion.
Specific
courses in the aviation technician program include: Theory of Flight
(students learn the principles of flight, including atmosphere, aircraft
aerodynamics/control and stability and high-speed flight. The course
also provides study of the principles of helicopter design, flight
characteristics, stability and control); Hangar – Maintenance Procedures
(students apply the theory of aircraft reciprocating engines to include
the lubrication system, ignition system, carburetors, fuel injection
and propeller maintenance); Aircraft Instruments (students learn the
principles and concepts of Pitot Static, pressure measuring, temperature
measuring, navigational and digital instruments); and more.
In
addition to an Ontario College diploma, successful graduates who meet
the accreditation requirements are eligible for an 18-month experience
credit and technical examination credit towards the regulatory
requirements for issue of a Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Licence.
