Looking for some help to understand the best pathway to becoming an Engineer.
 

Hi all,

Im hoping that members of this forum can help me to gain a better understanding of the best way to become a AME/LAME and understand the differences properly.

A little about me, Im 28 and currently live in Australia, working as Workshop Foreman/Head Technician at a Mitsubishi Dealership. Over the next month or two I should have my Citizenship here which I guess opens some doors for career prospects in the future. I will be going back to the UK, at least for the short term around January/February.

I have always been interested in the Aviation Industry and Im considering the prospect of becoming an AME/LAME. Ive done a little research and I'm hoping to clarify a few things.

1. What is the difference between an AME/LAME?

2. Do all AME/LAME's study part 66 basic, then decide which area they would want to work in? fixed wing/rotary?

3. When I come back to the UK, I would like to study at my own pace around my current work. I have looked at lrtt and Virgin Engineering Academy and they say they provide "ad hoc" exams each month. Would I be right in thinking this is studying a module at your own pace and then going to them to sit a particular module examination?

Thanks you to everybody in advance for you guidance.

Nathan1986

Just Testing...
 

Hi Nathan, welcome to the forum. Can I just test you and ask you to go away and find out the difference between an AME and a LAME. If you are serious about transferring from automotive to aviation you'd need to be at a level to find that info out! ;)

I am ex-motor industry and had to restart as an Apprentice Aircraft Mechanic and work up from there to L.A.M.E.

That was in South Africa, though, and I can't speak for the EASA or Oz systems beyond that they are pretty stringent in their requirements. It will probably differ a lot depending on whether you did it in UK under EASA or in Oz under Oz CAA, too.

Either way, I'd say go for it. I have found it to be a very rewarding career choice and have seen parts of the world I would never have seen.

Welcome to the forum, Nathan.

Either way, to become an AME/LAME, you need to do an apprenticeship. No two ways about it. So look for companies that offer apprenticeships.

You'll need to decide what trade to go for and also whether you want to work in GA, regional, rotary or the airlines, although that may be dictated by who will offer you a job.

And yes, read up about the industry and ask questions (which you're already doing, so well done!).

I'd recommend starting here: http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_asset...areerguide.pdf

Cheers,
John

Nathan, you may want to have read of this before you make a decision.......

QANTAS REDUNDANCIES

Turin:
Nathan may be more interested in GA or helos. The universe doesn't revolve around Qantas Engineering, even though most Qantas LAMEs like to think it does.

Forget about the chip on your shoulder E000. Yes QF is NOT the centre of aviation maintenance in Australia - but never the less they HAVE provided the market with some very good engineers.


I think he is referring to the Australian aviation maintenance market being flooded by 'already' qualified people.

I've joined up here to ask a similar question.

For some reason my daughter seems keen on fixing aircraft for a living. This is something I know zero about so have started scanning the internet. Be grateful for any pointers on how career paths work in the UK.

There seem to be apprenticeships and degrees in various forms of technician work - are these both pathways that lead to licencing (and how do the various grades of that all work?)?

She's also said that joining RN/RAF/Army is something she'd consider as a route - is it? And is there a difference between the services?

She's 17, got good GCSEs (As in sciences, maths etc) is waiting on A level results (inc maths) and has a place at university for a not-quite-science subject. But she's bored rigid with academia so probably won't take it up.

Many thanks for any comments - and I hope this (my first) post is in the right area (if not, let me know and I'll repost elsewhere).