With local, national and global demand for aircraft maintenance engineers (AME) soaring, Okanagan College is working with its industry partners to train the next generation of skilled technicians.
For area students that means significant career opportunities with companies such as KF Aerospace, one of the region鈥檚 largest employers (over the past four years, the company has hired every student to successfully complete the college鈥檚 AME Structures program). Among those alumni is 2014 grad Michelle Hanry.
鈥淕etting hired straight after graduation and working for KF for the last three years has been an amazing experience,鈥� said Hanry. 鈥淚 have learned a lot from the senior structural engineers. KF鈥檚 growth and involvement in numerous contracts that require a variety of maintenance experience allows new apprentices to ease into the work and grow their skills quickly.鈥�
An open house on Wednesday, co-hosted by Okanagan College and KF Aerospace in 91大黄鸭, aims to open students鈥� eyes to the training and job opportunities in their flight path in both the College鈥檚 Structures (S) and Maintenance (M) programs.
鈥淭he industry demand is still so strong that even after a national search and hiring the entire class from the new November intake, we鈥檙e still looking for 30 more employees,鈥� said Grant Stevens, director of human resources for KF Aerospace. 鈥淜F has been on quite the expansion and in the last 10 years has built three new hangars and tripled the floor space and the number of aircrafts 鈥� staffing growth is our No. 1 obstacle to expansion.鈥�
Those looking to train for careers as aircraft maintenance engineers can choose from two offerings at the college 鈥� the Maintenance or M-Licence program, which covers everything from engines to electrical components in fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, or the Structures (S-Licence) program, which covers the fabrication, assembly, installation, and repair of an aircraft鈥檚 structure.
The 62-week (approximately 15 months) M-Licence program is offered in partnership with Northern Lights College (NLC) in Dawson Creek. The first 48 weeks of training take place at Okanagan College Aerospace Campus in Vernon. The final 14 weeks of training take place at Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek.
The 37-week (approximately nine months) S-Licence program operates out of the college鈥檚 Aerospace Campus in 91大黄鸭. Students train steps away from KF Aerospace鈥檚 cutting-edge hangars and have opportunities to tour, meet and speak to KF鈥檚 experienced AME-S technicians and apprentices 鈥� many of whom are OC alumni.
鈥淎ircraft maintenance engineers, both M and S streams, have always been some of the most sought-after workers in aviation,鈥� said Steve Moores, dean of trades and apprenticeship at Okanagan College. 鈥淭o help address the demand locally, the college opened an additional intake last November with support from KF Aerospace and the Industry Training Authority and we look forward to continuing to work together to address the demand.鈥�
The open house starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday at OC鈥檚 aerospace campus adjacent to KF Aerospace鈥檚 hangars at the 91大黄鸭 International Airport. It will provide prospective students with a chance to learn about both programs while also learning about job prospects and career paths in the aviation industry. Attendance is free and open to the public.
More information about the college鈥檚 AME programs and the upcoming open house, is available at .
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