Apprentice Program
News came this week that Lufthansa Technik will add 280 apprentices to its training program this summer.
The largest training centers are in Hamburg (137 new apprentices), Frankfurt (105), and Munich (30). Under the heading of “Technics Students,” Lufthansa Technik is continuing to expand its collaboration with institutes of higher education by offering 33 places in six practically oriented courses of study. The most recent addition is a “Bachelor of Engineering Aircraft Maintenance,” for which 10 places have been allocated.
In support of the program, an official said, “Training is a social responsibility . . . and ensuring the best possible qualification and motivation of our personnel is the foundation on which the commercial success of Lufthansa Technik is built.”
For the full release
Thanks for reading and Have a Safe Fourth.
Barb Zuehlke, Managing Editor
The only place that program can happen is Europe. The US would never put enough of company money in a program that won’t see a payoff for next quarters earnings report
Canada has always had an Apprentice Program as part of its licensing system. As both an FAA A&P mechanic and a Canadian licensed AME, I found the apprentice program prepared me to be a good aircraft technician far better than the 2 years of college training I received for my A&P. In Canada you have to do both, go to school and apprentice. There is really no great additional cost associated with this, as it is simply a New Hire category of employment where apprentices are paid an apprentice wage and graduate up levels until reaching licensed status. Sure the company has employees that are not able to “sign out” aircraft, but really what newly graduated A&P mechanic should be signing out aircraft. I would bet that in many US companies, freshly graduated A&P mechanics are handled much like apprentices but without the formal title and systems in place to manage that. Formalizing a graduated in-house on-the-job training program often makes great business sense, whether it is called an “Apprentice Program” or something else.
And what does this have to do with A&P mechanics, other than the fact that Lufthansa technic, a foreign corporation, is doing its best to take honest work from American maintenance operators a la Jet Blue. Barb, you are definitely out of touch. Joe Escobar would have taken a position supporting mechanics in the United States.
While Lufthansa has a very nice and structured program, you are missing the “apprentice” program which is contained in the US regulatory structure:
§ 65.77 Experience requirements.
Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must present either an appropriate graduation certificate or certificate of completion from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school or documentary evidence, satisfactory to the Administrator, of -
(a) At least 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes, or powerplants appropriate to the rating sought; or
(b) At least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both the airframe and powerplant ratings.
This powerful tool has been and continues to be the training and education source of thousands of aviation maintenance professionals in the US.
This has a lot to do with A&P mechanics. Barb is sharing information; she is not talking about outsourcing she is talking about training. Although outsourcing is a problem, our aviation maintenance educational system is a mess. I have been doing research on our aviation maintenance educational for the past 5 years. The issues being brought up today were talked about 40 years ago and nothing has changed. I have research that shows many of the A&P graduates of today are unprepared for the work force. A trusted source recently told me about a certificated A&P who could not set a torque wrench and follow proper torque sequencing, another did not know what an ATA code was to be able locate maintenance tasks in the AMM. We have had to start re-enforcing the basics in our classroom general familiarization classes, when I should be concentrating on our specific aircraft systems, not how hydraulics work.
I once asked a fellow A&P why aviation maintenance does not have a formalized apprenticeship program like plumbers or electricians. And what he said was, “mechanics can’t teach”. I was appalled; did he think plumbers and electricians were better the aviation mechanics? My experience with mechanics is “nobody showed me, why should I show them”, “I don’t get paid to teach someone”, “I don’t have time”, etc. etc. etc. - more reasons why formalized OJT is difficult to implement. There some great A&Ps who love to share their knowledge and are good at it; but sadly, they are the exception not the rule.
AMT educators need to do a better job, but I understand industry must also help. At my company we are trying to formalize On-the-Job Training, but it is harder than it should be. Anything above mediocrity (i.e. FAA minimum standards) is rarely sought. A formalized, structured OJT is not required although FAR 65.81 could be construed as one. Maybe the industry should start looking at how other apprenticeship programs work, such as plumbers and electricians, as well as including programs from other countries. Yes, Yes, I love my country, but we are not perfect and we can learn from others.
When I got out of school, and I went to one of the better schools, I did not know how to do anything. I passed my classes with high grades/honors, my written, oral and practical tests the first time…but still did not know how to grease the landing gear without being shown. There was documentation, but it was not formally tracked, nor did it determine if I was competent only that I was showed once how to do it. Now, I’m smart enough to ask for help if I get stuck but there are those that don’t. So showing competency would prove more effective.
I am waiting to see what the ARAC for the re-writing of PART 147 has come up with, but I’m sure an apprenticeship program is not part of it. I am hoping we can get some real educational reform started. Industry alone cannot solve all the issues facing aviation maintenance today, but if we cannot get quality graduates from an AMT school with the basic minimum requirements for our modern aircraft, I’m not sure what will happen.
PS – Part 65.77 only applies to those who do not attend an FAA approved Part 147 school. There are no other experience requirements once you receive you’re A&P except 65.81 and again there is nothing formalized.
Howie, I was sharing information on the value of training. Some companies invest in their employees some don’t. As the A&P is a “license to learn” I thought it important to share the information in hopes that it would encourage more training. here or abroad.
i have completed 2and half years of ame cource in heavy aeroplane with jetengine stream from india. i need apprentice in your org.under your ame