ICS Aircraft Maintenance Course

[Banjo]

Anyone on here done the course? I have a few questions.

[jetdoc]

A number of years ago, but I am sure I can still help. What did you want to know?

[timart]

yeah ive done the course a few years ago... whats the question??? better off o go to college!

[Strega]

In my opinion,

It would be better to get a job with an AMO as a floor sweeper or parts dood, and do the ICS course at the same time, and EARN money for 2 years when all others are PAYING!.. If the AMO that employs you likes you, you will be helping on AME stuff early on, and in 4 years time, the only difference between you and the bloke that went to the college is they will have debt, and you wont...

[Bullet Remington]

In my opinion,

It would be better to get a job with an AMO as a floor sweeper or parts dood, and do the ICS course at the same time, and EARN money for 2 years when all others are PAYING!.. If the AMO that employs you likes you, you will be helping on AME stuff early on, and in 4 years time, the only difference between you and the bloke that went to the college is they will have debt, and you wont...

Strega:

Wow! For two reasons, I'm impressed! Firstly, this is "probably" the only post I've seen here in some time from you, that haven't been condesending and insultuous to AME's!

Secondly, this is (again) probably the only post I've seen on this site , from you, that was a completely, honest, straight forward and solid advise to a person seeking it!

Just goes to show, assuming you weren't be sarcastic) that there's a bit of good in everybody!!

Oh, and I agree whole heartedly with your statement/s!

Without sarcasam, on behalf of all the AME's on this site, Thanks!

BR

[Banjo]

I don't have the option of doing a hands on college program or going to work at an AMO as I fly full time already. However the AMO idea sounds like a decent way to go about it for someone who wants in.

My question is, what's the next step after the ICS program is completed - as far as how many hours need to be logged. I know college programs count towards some of the 4800hr apprenticeship, does the ICS course count as well?

[jetdoc]

I don't have the option of doing a hands on college program or going to work at an AMO as I fly full time already. However the AMO idea sounds like a decent way to go about it for someone who wants in.

My question is, what's the next step after the ICS program is completed - as far as how many hours need to be logged. I know college programs count towards some of the 4800hr apprenticeship, does the ICS course count as well?

The ICS course does NOT give any experience credit, you are required to do the full apprenticeship time. The course only give the theory portion.

If you are working in the industry, even as a pilot, you should be able to start logging time & tasks, if you can work a deal with your company or at another AMO.

Good Luck... and welcome to the DARK SIDE!!!

[mag check]

I haven't looked into it in along time, but I thought that the ICS course wasn't approved anymore.
I could be wrong, but I thought it said something about needing to be enrolled before a certain year for it to be valid.

[HS-748 2A]

The ICS course will not give you credit for practical like a '566 Aproved' college course will. It therefore only knocks 800hrs off the aprenticeship rather than the 24 months credit you get for 18 months of school if you take the aproved course.

Drop Lyndon Walker at N.L.C. an email. He's the dept. head. Excellent guy. That's a great facility they have there and they treat the class like an AMO for the last term.

Its a good deal and tuition is relatively cheap. If you're serious about it, college is the way to go. AMOs are great for real-world experience but to learn the background and the theory is important too. Most of the old hands on the shop floor have forgotten more about airplanes than you'll learn in the next 20.

There are many ways to skin a cat. I just think school is preferable + it shaves time off your apprenticeship. In these 'recessed economic times' as well, I think it'll give a leg-up when it comes to the job-hunt.

my 2 Cents

'48

lwalker@nlc.bc.ca

[iflyforpie]

TC is really pushing 'Approved' maintenance courses of which ICS is not. The advantage of ICS as Strega pointed out is to work in the industry while you are learning. But there is a bit more than that.

ICS doesn't offer you any practical training on a variety of aircraft. Those of us who took full-time courses were exposed to virtually every facet of aircraft maintenance from pistons to turbines, fixed wing to rotary wing, sheet metal to avionics. Doing all of your training at one particular company is great if you plan on being there forever (and if the company has the same plan too). I found myself more trusted and given more interesting jobs compared to ICS guys who had been there longer than I had.

There are also other options that let you 'work as you learn' so to speak. Stevenson college (I believe it is part of Red River College) offers an AME program stretched over four years with one semester each year. This allows you to work the other 2/3 of the year.

I got my tuition amount forgiven from my student loans, so in effect it didn't cost me anything to take the course and I had a trivial amount of debt left at the end of it.

[log sheet]

TC is really pushing 'Approved' maintenance courses of which ICS is not.

Check out Table t566s12

If the ICS they are talking about is International Correspondence Schools, Ltd, it does meet basic training requirements.
Cheers!

[culver10]

TC is really pushing 'Approved' maintenance courses of which ICS is not.

but I thought that the ICS course wasn't approved anymore

These are just a few examples of folks stating their misinformed opinions based on no fact. Aviation is full of people who will gladly share their uniformed opinion. The Transport Canada website is the only source of accurate information, so please do not believe stuff written on a forum like this.

[iflyforpie]

There is more than just the CARs.

AN C002 Edition 9. Basic Training Courses for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.

AME applicants are required to provide the necessary documentation to demonstrate that they have successfully completed this type of training. Acceptable structured training courses do not provide experience or technical knowledge credit. Applicants who graduate from these types of courses are required to successfully complete the applicable TC technical knowledge examinations as well as meeting all other requirements of STD 566 for licence issue.

The fact that TC doesn't give you any experience or knowledge credit would seem to me that they would rather have you go to an Approved Training Organization. The bold was in the original AN.

ICS is not under the Approved Training Organization Appendix.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/maint ... /C002b.htm

[culver10]

Cut and pasted from this site http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/maint ... /basic.htm
Approved Training Organization (ATO) List - Basic Training (Currently Active)


ATO
International Career School EFFECTIVE DATE
Approved December 2006
FACILITY LOCATION
Montreal QC TC APPROVAL NUMBER
N/A
COURSE TITLE
Aircraft Mechanics
NOTES:
Basic training only - no credit.


So it appears that TC still accepts ICS as and approved course for the book learning part. You still have to prove 4 years of varied maintenance experience. I got my M1 this way back in 1999 and another friend got his in 2003 this way also.

[Wburns]

in 4 years time, the only difference between you and the bloke that went to the college is they will have debt, and you wont...

And San Diego means a whales vagina in German.
Agree to disagree.

[skydrolboy]

ICS is not under the Approved Training Organization Appendix.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/maint ... /C002b.htm

Actually it is but its listed under Thomson Education Direct, which changed there name to ICS.

[fortis risk]

Whether a person turns out to be a good engineer has a great deal more to do with the individuals intelligence, attitude and willingness to learn. Some engineers never really move past their primary training and stay as parts changers. Fewer still have good training but have poor personal standards. If you have a good attitude, are intelligent, then taking the ICS course and working at a quality AMO is a good choice. I've met plenty of Trade school graduates who were brain dead, just like any other field.

[snagbuster]

Any correspondence course is good for the soul, will teach you stuff that may be useful in the future but can never beat live classroom instruction., where you have the opportunity to discuss and challenge myths and mysteries. Believe me ,I have been in aviation for 32 years as Mechanic, AME, Supervisor, Manager and Technical Instructor and loved every minute of my career. I have seen it all. One thing for sure Learning from folks at the AMO/MRO is good if you want to learn some very few , specialised tasks & skills which may not be very useful if you move to another organization working on totally different aircraft. A college training will not only impart technical knowledge but also develop inter-personal and time management skills which will come in handy 10 years down the road when you want to move up. Of course not everybody will have the guts to move into management but those skills will surely help in life. Good luck

[brownbear]

Don't forget Stevenson for college either. Saves doing the 2 year college thing. 4 years apprenticeship with 9 weeks a year school.

[bombardierfixer]

The best part of the going to college bit is that you will only be faced with the CARS exam. If your the kind of person that is disiplined and confident enough to study and not go into heart palpitations exam time then ICS is a good chioce, if you're not (be honest with yourself) than poney up the cash and do the course at a ATO. You're debt wont be that big and the ATO's also train you how to work a bit as well, but hands on experiance is the most valuable in the end.