AME Schools in Canada

[thenewbie]

Any recommendations?

[aintsaying]

Look at Transport Canada's web site for a list. Do the "E" licence first and after you graduate and get some experience, do the "M" licence.
I want to do the "E" licence but the new rules wont allow me to hold the "E" licence as I cannot provide avionic basic training.
Even though I hold "EIR" on my other licences.

[thenewbie]

Thanks aintsaying, that is helpful. What do you think of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology - SAIT?

[H721]

know not much about SAIT. However YYC should be a nice city to live, lower tax, booming economy. Also with westjet based here.

[thenewbie]

Thanks for the reply H721. What do you think are the employment prospects in general for AMEs in Canada?

Aintsaying, do you think there is a higher demand for AMEs holding E licenses instead of M?

[aintsaying]

there is a big demand for AME avionics trade world wide in general.
The way aviation is going, is to have one person with both"E" and "M" ratings, this makes for a more flexible work force and as usual, cheaper labour costs.
If you want to earn a high wage and get noticed publicly, then become a pilot. In the early years you will be scrounging around but in the long run you will be better off, both pay and living standards. depends on the individual.
As and AME you will be joining a seceret society that no one really understands or visually 'sees'. The people who decide your pay and working shifts generally end up to be non-aviation people who don't know who you are, what you do and will never work in your environment.
If you want to be at home with your family become an AME. If you want to be on the road all the time become a pilot. This is just general, not all positions are like this.
So if you choose to become an AME, then try to get a really good basic training done, this will set you up for the future. To do your "E" first means you can do your "M" later by correspondence, as the "E" licence cannot be done by correspondence, yet.
BCIT has a good setup, with a large range of aviation products. I would suggest checking out your local school first.
Best of luck, there is a huge surplus of AME's out of work now. the competition is great.

[2FarNorth]

As an AME I spent 4 of the first 6 years in the industry on the road. Came close to wrecking my marriage.

Take a good, hard look before choosing aviation - in whatever job description. Unless, of course, you enjoy low pay, erratic shifts, lack of job security and being away from home a lot.

Good engineers leave this industry constantly due to the above. A highly adaptable lifestyle and personality is much more important to success as a mechanic than the ability to fix stuff - don't let any egomaniac tell you otherwise.

If, however, after all that you're still foolish enough to want to do this then I agree avionics is much better than mechanics (provided you have a bit of aptitude for it).

Don't get too hung up on which school. Go to the one you can afford. BCIT ain't special. SAIT is probably the best in the west but you don't really start learning until the first day you are responsible for an aircraft with your ink-still-wet brand new AME license in hand.