AME S apprentice...13 years ago.

[Chris81]

So i graduated from Transport Canada approved Aircraft Maintenance Course with BCIT in november 2000. worked a brief period with an AMO doing composite repairs before they fell on hard times and had to lay people off.

Couldn't find work at that time, so started doing other things, found stable employment, married, sold my house, moved to brasil where i've been operating a small farm and now have two kids. Im moving back to Canada because i want access to better education, be closer to family etc...

I have employment contingencies, but i would like to get back into the aerospace industry with the goal of aquiring my AME certification. Im just curious if i even have a chance to land an apprentice type job, or if its just been way too long...am i knocking on closed doors?

[cramer604]

Not busy in b.c. however calgary is busy for structures.

[jsmetalbashers]

Try. If you have the right attitude and some skills you might get on with someone. The problem with the course you took in 2000 is, I think it was an unapproved course then. Meaning the time you put in at school will not count towards your S licence and you will not be able to get an S licence. Transport clamped down on the schools right around the time you took your course and the schools had to redo their curriculum to get approved. You might want to look into this before pursuing a job. Without a licence you will never make anything near enough to support your family.

[azimuthaviation]

I would call transport and confirm that a class that ended in 2000 is acceptable to meet the training requirement to get licensed today. Curriculum changes and if you werent "grandfathered" by getting licensed within a window of time you may be out of luck.

[dashx]

I will say that as long as you have graduated from a recognized S course program, and fulfill the time requirements TC should have no issues letting you write the exams.

But as was already mentioned it all starts by contacting TC.

[azimuthaviation]

According to TC, BCIT S program received approval in September 2001. The OP may have missed the boat. the required syllabus changes over the decades, Ive known guys who have been burned by that before.

[Chris81]

thank you for the replies. ill look into it and call TC when i arrive in canada.

[Cat19]

Keep in mind that job prospects for S guys aren't too good. Not in my neck of the woods anyway. BCIT doesn't even offer the S program anymore so that should give some indication of what the future is like for the trade. Not to mention the Aveos collapse has flooded the market with thousands of experienced guys looking for work all across Canada. Cascade is laying people off, Avcorp isn't hiring right now blah blah blah. Lots of work for the M and E guys but it just seems like structures isn't a critical part of any AMO anymore.

If you're happy doing what you're doing right now...better to just keep doing it.

[jsmetalbashers]

Wow, umm wrong. Cat19 where have you been? Structures can't be erased from heavy maintenance MRO and AMO's. I know many a contractor out there bashing rivets across the country. The demand for S guys is only going up with less training centres offering the program. Contracting rates have been going up as well showing the demand is there. The Aveos crew is not much of a factor anymore, those guys have moved on by now. My personal experience and opinion.

[conehead]

Agreed. Structures guys are in demand everywhere.