Training to be an engineer with AST

AST has over 75 years experience of training Aircraft Engineers to the highest standards using teaching and training methods that are as current as the aircraft our students will be working on when they qualify.

Throughout that time, it has successfully tailored its courses, or designed new ones to meet the specific and changing needs of the industry.

If you decide to train as an Aircraft Engineer with AST you can be sure of the highest quality training, by professionally qualified lecturers, using the latest teaching technology in modern classrooms and training facilities or, in some cases, using an online approach to learning.

Although AST is a UKCAA approved training provider, it also meets the wider needs of the industry by providing a broad range of courses covering the skills and knowledge required for all levels of engineering training from introductory to fully licensed.

The following is a list of the course offered by AST:

• Aircraft Mechanics Course
• Aeroplane Fundamentals Course (Fixed Wing)
• Helicopter Fundamentals Course (Rotary Wing)
• Foundation Courses
• IR Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence Category A, (Aeroplanes, Helicopters, Piston or Turbine)
• IR Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence Category B, (Aeroplanes, Helicopters, Piston or Turbine; and Avionics )

Additionally, AST can offer articulation to and from the following courses through its partnership with Perth College UHI:

• National Certificate Aeronautical Engineering
• Higher National Certificate Aeronautical Engineering
• Higher National Diploma Aeronautical Engineering
• BEng(Hons) degree in Aircraft Maintenance

 

Courses for certifying staff

Approved IR Part 66 Courses

AST is approved by the UKCAA under IR Part 147 for training and examination to meet the knowledge requirements of the IR Part 66, Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML) in Categories A1, A2, A3, A4, B1.1, B1.2, B1.3, B1.4 & B2. Further details of these courses are given below.  

IR Part 66 Licensing Routes

To become a Licensed Aircraft Engineer, there are 3 licensing routes that candidates may follow, all of which have both basic knowledge and experience requirements that must be met before the regulating authority will issue a licence.

These are:

• The approved course
• The self-improver
• Designation as a ‘skilled worker’

The Approved Course

• must be taught by a training provider holding IR Part 147 approval issued by the relevant National Aviation Authority. AST is approved by the UKCAA.

• must provide a minimum number of training hours, 800 for Category A and 2400 for category B.

• must provide the required percentage of training hours for the development of practical skills on representative aircraft and systems, This includes On-the-Job-Training (OJT), at an IR Part 145 approved maintenance organisation. AST organises and supervises such OJT as well as providing basic skills training in its Hangar teaching facility.

UKCAA approved training providers such as AST provide examination of all IR Part 66 modules and formal assessment of practical competence during the course.

On successful completion graduates are issued a Certificate of Recognition of Approved Training. The Certificate of Recognition certifies that the holder has passed all the requirements of the course including each module examination and has also been assessed practically to be competent and safe when working with aircraft.

The benefit of undertaking an approved course is that the students are given a thorough knowledge of aircraft structures, systems and operating phenomena, and the experience requirement following graduation is reduced.

For example the normal minimum experience requirement prior to application for an IR Part 66 Category B licence is reduced from 5 years to 2 years for approved course graduates.

This experience may be gained before, during or after the approved course, although those entering an approved course, having already gained the 2 years experience must complete some further experience following graduation before applying for licence issue, the actual amount of additional experience required can only be decided by the licensing authority.

The Self-Improver Route

This route to licensing is for those people with appropriate experience in the industry, possibly through service with the Armed Forces or in civil aviation in a non-certifying role. Evidence of 5 years of appropriate experience AND passes in all relevant IR Part 66 modules must be provided to the National Authority. This route is also known as the modular route.

Whilst normal holidays taken during the 5 years will be allowed, any periods of training and assessment will, in effect, stop the clock, so licensing by this route will inevitably take longer than 5 years.

Nevertheless, the licensing candidate must secure passes in all modules relevant to the licence category being sought within a period of 5 years or re-examination will be required.

The ‘Skilled Worker’ Route

Anyone with engineering skills and qualifications from outside an aircraft engineering environment, that are deemed appropriate by the National Authority, may apply to the National Authority for skilled worker status. If granted, this reduces the industry experience requirement from 5 years to 3 years. This route is also known as the modular route.

Candidates for licensing following this route will still be required to gain passes in all relevant IR Part 66 modules within a period of 5 years, as for the Self-Improver route.

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