Is there REALLY a shortage of LAE's?

[Krystal n chips]

" Define skill sets,"

Dope and fabric, wooden structures...... for example..... not much call for these on a Boeing / Airbus is there.

Heavy pistons is another area.

The point I am trying to make is the variety of engineering and the resultant shortage of engineers with the ability/ experience to maintain these types.

[greatwhitehunter]

I don't see any problem with the manuals being on board and accessible to the crew. Yes you will get some who will try to direct your actions or catch you out. You should though have sufficient caracter and confidence to make it clear that that you are the one signing so you will decide the actions taken. Been there, done it and worn the T shirt so it would be nothing new. It's more likely that it would assist the crew to give you more accurate data to work from. Most pilots I have met have always tried to be as helpful as possible.
There is one other benefit modern pilots are trained much more on procedures and less on technical matters so anything that might increase their understanding of the aircraft and it's systems is a good thing. I'm not denigrating pilots here it is a matter of fact caused by the bean counters need to reduce costs. The same factor which has reduced the quality of engineering training.
I'll wait for the screams now.

[Krystal n chips]

" The same factor which has reduced the quality of engineering training "

OK, as it has a relevance to the topic, I'll bite.

Would you care to exemplify your statement and quantify as to whether you refer to mil. or civilian.....or both.

And what evidence do you have to demonstrate this reduction on quality, is affecting the supply of engineers ?

Nothing like a serious debate is there.....

[shedhead]

Would you care to exemplify your statement?

I recently spent some time doing component level work in an Avionics workshop. the average age of the people in that workshop was approaching the 45 year old mark. In the past most Avionic LAEs understood the systems they worked on down to component level. Now? not many do. in fact so few people now have the level of skill and knowledge required for that level of fault finding that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain manpower levels in workshops outside of the OEMs. In fact some of the shiny new B2s have less systems knowledge than quite a few of the unlicenced avionics mechanics they supervise. not a good situation is it?

[greatwhitehunter]

Well crystal that was simply my view based on 42 years experience in the civil aviation maintenance business. I base it on my day to day observations of the capabilities of the people I see around me and the quality of the training they and I now get. Many courses are conducted by presenters who turn and read pages and cannot go into detail when requsted. It's important to know the how and why as well as the what of a system.
Over the years the technology changes and the skill set required changes. The aim is to produce a 'well rounded engineer'. I'm sorry if you think I am denigrating these people, I'm not. Neither am I an 'it was better in my day' merchant, I am reflecting the fact that the length and quality of training has been cut. I see an increasing decline in basic hand skills and ever more clear failures in basic understanding of the systems being worked on. You can not seriously expect me to deny my experience and say all is well? It isn't.
With adequate training and commitment the youngsters of today are just as good as any in the past. The question is will they be trained well enough when overseen by cost concious managers who quite often have no operational experience and consequently no idea of what is required.
I have always done my best to bring these younger engineers on but with demands for more production with less staff there are limits.
As I move towards leaving the industry I wish all my fellows well but I am worried by the dip in competency I see.

[Krystal n chips]

GWH

Thanks for a very perceptive reply....

[grounded27]

GWH

In my 18 years experience I have always felt that the real training happens on the line. The DC-10 for example was an aircraft I was taught from my mates and more importantly the TAFI, a year later I had formal training and gained a bunch of both "gee wiz" and practical information from. Many courses later I realized just how much the classroom training has it's limits.