Terry Holowaty, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

I can fix it!

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I've learned so much here. I take pride in the fact I can fix anything.

"I can open it up, I'll take it apart, I'll put it back together and if it doesn't work, well heck, I'll take it apart again."

Where I work

SK Aero is a local company that does the maintenance for the Winnipeg Flying Club and any private aircraft that come in.

In business for over twenty years, SK has been the service provider for the WFC for 12 years.

With a trained staff of 3, they work on a variety of smaller aircraft, both rotary and light fixed wing designs, and occasionally on larger models like 9 or 11 seater Navahos and helicopters. The hangar is big enough to hold several aircraft with wingspans of 50' plus.

More than an engine

People often think that airplane repair is all about the engine. But it's more than that. It's the body of the plane too

If your engine fails that's too bad because you know it's going to make it a little difficult to get to where you're going. But if a wing falls off it's going to be even harder.

So our time is spent 50-50 between bodywork and engine repairs.

Unpredictable pace

The pace here is usually fairly steady, but it can get hectic. One plane will come down because it's got a problem. Then another plane will come down that has a problem, and another plane, and so on.

And all of a sudden you've got a line-up. People are waiting, they've got somewhere to go or get back to.

So it can go from a nice steady pace to a fast pace just like that.

Reliable technology

In aviation they tend to rely on technology that they know works.

A larger aircraft, like an Airbus, will have some of the newer technologies that have been proven but they won't put in a lot of unknown technologies that they can't rely on yet.

The reliable, older technology is easier to understand and to work with and so it's not too difficult keep up with. Any change in technology is usually gradual.

Safety first

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"AME is basically responsible for the safe operation of aircraft that he's working on. It's our responsibility to make sure anything that fails is not going to be catastrophic; wants to make sure it stays in the air all the time and doesn't come down too hard."

Easygoing

I'm a really easygoing, sort of stress-free type of guy. I think it's a good fit for the industry because if you're high-strung and you stress easily it can be difficult to do this kind of job.

There are some people that are like that and you can tell it really takes a toll on them.

So I'm glad I'm not like that. Life is meant to be fun, man. Let's enjoy it!

Flying

I do have some flying hours under my belt, but it can get kind of expensive to maintain flying as a hobby so for the moment I'm not doing any. I'm looking forward to getting into it in the near future though.

Plus, it helps to have had some piloting experience so you can talk about things with the airplane owners you're working for.

Ambition

To start as a mechanic is one thing; to stay as a mechanic is another. It's completely up to the individual how they see themselves and their career.

Some people are happy staying where they are in life and coasting through. I'm not. I want to keep climbing and moving forward.

The great outdoors

"Well I love to bike ride, I love to camp. I'm always out and doing stuff. I love snowboarding. I love to golf; anything that's outside. I like the outdoor things. Manitoba's got a lot of good outdoor stuff."

Former carpenter

Before this career, I owned my own business called Creative Carpentry. I was working seven days a week, 12 hours a day.

My girlfriend at the time felt I was working too much and wanted me to change careers.

I'm glad I did because I've far more opportunities as an AME than I did running my own business as a carpenter.

Prioritizing the day

First thing in the morning I check for any new aircraft repairs that may have come in overnight; any aircraft that had problems and were grounded.

I look over the work load for the day, including any jobs the Flying Club needs me to do, and then take the list to my boss. We look it over together prioritize the jobs for the day.

Open environment

If there's a problem, a pilot will come to the hangar and report to the first individual they see.

It's not uncommon for someone to report a problem to Brad, who's a third level apprentice. He'll pass along the information either to me or to Sid or whoever.

There's not a lot of macho stuff going on in the hangar here. It's basically a very open, free environment. Whoever is easiest and most accessible at the time handles the customer.

Team effort

We work as a team here. Brenda is our Quality Assurance Manager and she lets us know if there are problems. Dorothy, the General Manager of the Flying Clubwill also come to us if there are things she needs us to do.

Sid, the owner of SK will come to me to talk about repairs, etc. too so there's not just one person who does all that.

No one really reports to anybody as much as we work together.

Inspection first

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"Once I have my day laid out, I'll go out and run an aircraft for 5, 10 minutes, checking for problems myself.

"Depending on the inspection it can vary from take the cowling off and look at the engine, change the oil, check the lights and often it goes to inspecting every bolt, every piece of the wing, every piece of the metal that there is on the aircraft."

Safety precautions

You deal with a lot of chemicals, like aviation fluids, in this job, and you have to be aware of where the dangers are.

I wear gloves and safety glasses whenever I'm in a situation involving chemicals. I also take care not to breathe in too many fumes or the flakes from filing aluminum or steel.

It may add a few minutes onto the job, but I want to live to a ripe old age so I take all the precautions I can.

Challenges

I love learning new things. There are always new problems to solve, ones you've never come across before.

It might be a part that has worked fine for 20 years and all of a sudden it doesn't. It's the first time you've come across that part.

But you have to be able to figure out what to do with this part that you've never seen or ever thought about until then and how to fix it.

Reading schematics

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"You've got to be able to read schematics and understand a parts diagram or a service diagram 'cause lots of them are very difficult to read, hard to understand.

"And you have to be able to compare what you're looking at on paper to what you're looking at in real life, 'cause a lot of times it's not the same and you have to be able to figure out what 's going on and why it's different, and work from there."

Listening skills

You've got to be able to listen to the aircraft owner. You have to be able to understand what they're saying about what's wrong.

Often a pilot will explain something but it's not actually happening that way. You have to sort of decipher it and get the true facts.

You need to be approachable too. You don't want someone to have a problem and not want to come and talk to you about it.

Important abilities

For this job, you really need dexterity. If you can't hold a little nut in a tight confined spot then it's going to be a tough job for you.

Also, if you're at all claustrophobic it would be difficult to do some of the work here.

You also need to know about all the different tools used for this job and how to use them safely.

Final exam

You get tested throughout the nine weeks of school, and at the end of the nine weeks you get a final exam.

You have to pass that exam with a minimum 70 percent grade. If you don't pass that minimum, you're not considered to move up to the next level.

I found the requirements to be fairly easy. Most people don't have any problems because they lay it out quite simply for you.

Getting started

When you first start out, you're not even considered to be a level one apprentice until after you've completed your first year of schooling and you've got some work experience under your belt.

You'll work for the next year as a level one apprentice, at a level one wage, and then they'll call you up for school.

Lots of hands on

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"As the years go on you start to learn more stuff about the engines and the air frames and basic training, like that: lots of hands-on. They get you to build stuff and work on stuff, take engines apart, put them back together, make sure it's running.

"Then they get you more into learning about the books, 'cause once you become licensed you have to understand all the requirements that Transport Canada wants."

Apprenticeship requirements

You need a certain number of hours and you have to complete a certain number of tasks in order to be licensed.

The apprenticeship board follows your progress from year to year and as you go through school, they make sure that you're taking all the required courses in each level.

You're assigned an apprenticeship co-ordinator who is available to you one-on-one so you can discuss your progress and any problems you might have.

Orientation progam

The Aviation Manufacturing and Maintenance Orientation Program at Tec Voc is an all round introduction to aviation. It covers every aspect from sheet metal to the physics behind how a plane actually flies.

You study practical applied math, technical reading and writing, aerodynamics and about aeronautical hardware and materials, inspection and ground servicing.

The course also includes 110 hours of work experience as well as health and safety training, problem solving and team skills.

Wave of the future

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"The Winnipeg Flying Club is an expanding school. They're going to get bigger, they're going to be busier. If Sid wants to he's going to expand with them. He's going to get bigger; more maintenance going on, more people.

"There's lots of opportunity in small aircraft. I think the small aircraft is the wave of the future."

Customer contact

I'm not really interested in working for a major airline or manufacturer in the future.

I like the smaller hangar atmosphere and the personal contact with customers. It'd be a bit boring to see only engines and parts all day and never get to talk with pilots and other folks.

There's also a lot of variety in the types of planes I get to work on and in the work that needs to be done on them. I think it's much more interesting.

Problem solving

I like responsibility and I love problem solving. That's probably the best part of this job.

So in the future, I'd like to maybe teach somewhere, or possibly go into administration.

I have already done some teaching for the AMMOP program. I taught riveting techniques; how to rivet different types of metals and how to go through the manuals - things that were not in the regular program. I enjoyed that a lot.

Go for it!

Too many people are afraid to try new things.

I say, get out there and do what you want. Have some fun and don't be afraid.

And if you fail, oh well, there's always something else for you to try!

Job market info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official name for Terry's occupation is "Aircraft Mechanics and Aircraft Inspectors" and its *NOC code is 7315.

Manitoba Job Futures

Who Hires - Manitoba Labour Market Information

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupational Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

High School

Useful High School Subjects:

- Mechanics
- Physics
- Math
- English
- Physical Education

Source: Job Futures.ca

For those out of school, Adult Learning Centres can help you get or upgrade your high school diploma, including adding subjects that are required for work or further education. All Manitobans are normally entitled to 4 free courses.

Below are links to various programs and courses that will put you on the path to a career as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

Vocational High Schools

The Manitoba Aerospace Human Resources Coordinating Committee supports courses in aerospace disciplines at several Winnipeg High Schools.

Post Secondary

Red River College

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Stevenson Aviation Technical Training Centre

University of Manitoba

Skills

Useful Experience/Skills*

- Mechanics
- Hydraulics
- Diagrams/schematics
- Decision-making

Source: Job Futures.ca

There is not yet an Essential Skills* profile for this occupation.

*Essential Skills provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.

Professional associations

Manitoba Aerospace Human Resources
Works with industry leaders, educational institutions and governments to provide a trained workforce for Manitoba's aerospace sector, developing courses, apprenticeship programs and ongoing training for those currently working in the industry and to promote careers in aerospace to Manitoba's youth

Manitoba Aviation Council
A provincial organization that promotes, facilitates and protects the development of all facets of aviation in Manitoba

Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council
A national, not-for-profit organization responsible for the human resources strategy for aerospace manufacturing

Related careers

Aircraft Assemblers and Aircraft Assembly Inspectors (NOC 9481)

Aircraft Engine Fitters and Assemblers (NOC 7216)

Aircraft Instrument, Electrical and Avionics Mechanics, Technicians and Inspectors (NOC 2244)