Originally Posted by The hippy
Gents in the years I have been in aviation I have found many standards in engineering, in fact I remember the old A8-3 system, where engineers could certify aircraft in the UK without a licence.
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In the old days of type licences course were very long. When I did the B707 airframe and PWJT3D courses they lasted for 18 weeks. As costs tightened my company reduced the length of courses (for signing under BCAR 8-13?) so for a B747 the course lasted 9 weeks for engine/airframe AND avionics extension. The only reason companies want company authorisations is down to cost. Safety comes after that. The rumour that EASA are going back to company authorisations is because the European airlines do not want the extra costs of type licensing.
Perhaps another thing to think of is that 30 years ago there were not many "type licence" holders, today there are many, so that means more type courses.