Military to Civilian AME-M

[busterbrown]

Hey guys, I've graduated from a TC approved training course and am ready to start my apprenticeship. My field of interest is rotary wing and I can't seem to find a job and I've been applying for 5 months now. Now since I've been so discouraged trying to find a job i've been looking into the military at the Aviation Systems Technician. It says right now that they are in demand but what is the likelyhood that I would end up working on rotary wing? Also on the forces.ca website it says I would have to do the 3 month Basic Military Qualification training then after that do the year long Basic Military Occupational Training. My question is that since I've already done the TC approved training course would I be able to get past or at least shorten the basic military occupational training? Because I most definetly don't want a year of training on stuff I just recently learned about.

Secondly, if for some reason I decide to leave the military and try to get my AME-M license and work on rotary wing, I'd need 6 months work on civilian aircraft correct? Then I could take the CAR's exam and get licensed or am I missing something still? I know there's a lot of questions but thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Busterbrown

[ourkid2000]

If, by the time you left, you've worked on military aircraft for at least a year and a half, you'd need 6 months working on civilian aircraft to get your AME-M. You will always need this 6 months. In addition, you'd have to write CARS and have your logbook approved. You have it right on......you're not missing anything.

I have a few friends who graduated school with me who went into the military. They had to do bootcamp like everyone else and they still had to do that one year training.....I know they tried to get out of it considering we did 3 years training at our school but had no luck.

[Human Factor]

I believe that Transport Canada will only give ex-military techs 6 months credit towards a civilian AME license regardless of how long they were in the service. That 6 months comes off of the required 48 months apprenticeship (actually 30 months since you've successfully completed an approved college AME-M course) so you'd still have a long way to go to get your civvy license after leaving the military.

[ourkid2000]

From CARS 566.02:

iii) Maintenance of military aircraft, or parts intended for installation on military aircraft, may be counted toward the total and specialty experience requirements, but not toward the civil aviation experience requirement.

According to Chapter 566 Appendix A Table Of Requirements:
Civil experience is 6 months, so someone coming out of the military would just need the 6 months civil because their time would count towards the total & specialty experience.

One thing to keep in mind though is this: (iii) Applicants who claim previous maintenance tasks on military aircraft in accordance with clause (ii)(B), are required to perform a representative selection of maintenance tasks on civil registered aircraft. The tasks shall comprise not less than 10 percent of the items listed in Appendix B that are applicable to the rating sought and the aircraft, systems or components for which the experience is claimed.

[acidgambit]

ourkid. A nice and clean answer. I like it. Plus it also clears up my questions in my head. Thanks

[roncoldlake]

Hey to help you out with this. Once you are in military you are required to do the training regardless of what you bring to the table. The military does things a little different then civilian. There is no guarantee where you will end up. You most likely end up where you are most needed. Then if you wish to get out prior to you contract expiring you will require to give them six months notice. Once out if you meet the requirements ie TQ5 journeyman status then you will only have to do six months to get your licence. You will still have to write all 4 exams even though you wrote them in the military. My experience is 23 years with the military and am now working with a civilian company. If have more questions pm me. r

[ourkid2000]

It is very likely that he will only need to write the CARS exam to get his M2.

Most schools these days have their exams qualified as Transport Canada exams. I myself, for example, only had to write CARS as my schools exams were Trans. Canada certified. Chances are his school has this as well.

[roncoldlake]

You are correct if in fact he went to college. If his TC approved course is the ICS course then yes he will have to write those exams.

[crazy_aviator]

there is a gulf between military experience and civilian experience, MOST civi companies dont want to take on ex-military aircraft mechanics. there are many factors, one is the inability for a military AME to think on his feet, another is the fact that civi ops actually have to produce a profit ,,,there are other reason , but i wont go there ...

[The Tool]

http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/maint ... Msi_18.htm
Look at Apndx "B" for all your answers.

[conehead]

there is a gulf between military experience and civilian experience, MOST civi companies dont want to take on ex-military aircraft mechanics. there are many factors, one is the inability for a military AME to think on his feet, another is the fact that civi ops actually have to produce a profit ,,,there are other reason , but i wont go there ...

"Inability to think on his feet"??? Yer out of yer mind...

[ourkid2000]

Indeed.......

I have worked, and still do, with some fantastic ex-military technicians.

[Pat Richard]

The ones I worked with back in the day at KFC, were mostly bed wetter's. Old F.S. being the king.

That being said, I've worked with some excellent ones in the north, better than a lot of civilian AME's.

[FE_PLT]

If you join the military with a recognized AME training diploma you will then be consisered "semi-skilled". You will have to do bootcamp like anybody else joining the CF, no bypass available on that one. However since you are already trained as an AME, once you arrive in Borden you will only need to attend a few classes before being posted to your unit and aircraft type. Expect classes on stuff like military aircraft paperwork, aircraft armement/weapons, aircraft survivalibility equipement, etc...Towards the end of it you will then be asked 3 postings preferences, if you want to go helos ask for TAC HEL (403, 444, 430, 438, 427, 400, 408 squadron). Now we have the CH-147 Chinook coming online which opens up greater helos opportunities. Forget about the CH-149 Cormorant since it's a non-AME civvy contracted maintenance support. Good luck.