Study Aircraft Maintenance Abroad!

Introduction to Aircraft Maintenance

If your passion lies in discovering how planes work, you can explore the world of aircraft maintenance! In this major, you will learn all about optimising an aircraft’s condition to ensure that it is safe for flying. This includes hands-on skills like inspection, modification, repair, and replacement of aircraft parts and equipment.

Airplanes and helicopters go through maintenance routines after a duration of flight hours. A malfunction is highly risky especially when it involves aircraft that is flying 30,000 feet above the ground. Aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians are tasked to fix and maintain aircraft by inspecting their airworthiness and repairing and replacing worn components. They will conduct engine tests occasionally to ensure that the aircraft is safe for flying.

This field requires you to understand aircraft systems and components. This knowledge helps you to diagnose and solve aircraft-related issues efficiently and professionally. It is also important to obtain certain licences to be able to offer your services legally, which you will read about below.

Fields of Aircraft Maintenace

There are five fields of Aircraft Maintenance that you can choose from as your major. You can pick from these specializations:

Aircraft Maintenance (Mechanical)

A mechanic in this field works closely with engine components after they are removed from an aircraft. The mechanic also conducts inspection, repair, and modification on the brakes, wheels, landing gears, propellers, and many more aircraft components.

Aircraft Maintenance (Structure)

This field involves maintaining and repairing the structure of an aircraft. Engineers in this field must know their ways with airframe, electrical components, components of different aircraft types, and many more. This is a highly hands-on field, so be prepared to handle plenty of hand and power tools.

Avionics

Avionics are the electrical equipment found in aircraft. Pilots rely on aviation electronics like navigation, radio communication, and weather radar while flying. Engineers in this field design, build, and test these instruments to ensure the quality and safety of aircraft.

Aviation Management

Aviation management is a constantly evolving field. Aviation managers are required to be skilled in both technical and management areas as they will coordinate changes in the field as a whole, ranging from aircraft manufacturing and maintenance to air traffic control.

Aviation Safety

Lives are at risk if an error occurs to a commercial plane that is flying. This field plays a huge role in ensuring that aircraft could operate safely to prevent injury and loss through inspection and maintenance. Aviation safety involves many other professionals within the field such as aerospace designers, operations research analysts, aircraft maintenance engineers, and technicians.

What are the skills needed?

Good with Your Hands – You prefer hands-on activities over classroom activities, especially when it involves taking apart and assembling items. The aircraft maintenance industry needs professionals who are confident with their repairing and maintenance skills.

Organized –  You are used to being meticulous at keeping track of things. This field requires you to keep an inventory of aircraft components which require thorough documentation.

Observant – You never miss even the slightest details. This skill is valuable especially when it comes to detecting errors and replacing components of an aircraft.

How long will I study this program?

The study duration could vary from one institute to another. However, as a general estimate, we have compiled a general estimate of the duration according to the study levels and qualifications.

  • Foundation/Diploma: 1 – 2.5 Years
  • Bachelor’s Degree: 4 Years
  • Master’s: 2 – 4 Years
  • PhD: 1 Year

What are the entry requirements for this qualification?

  • Diploma:
    • SPM: Minimum 3Cs including Mathematics and a science/technical/vocational subject
  • Degree:
    • STPM: Minimum 3Cs including Mathematics and a science/technical/vocational subject
    • A-Levels: Minimum Grade C in Mathematics and a science/technical/vocational subject
    • Diploma: Minimum CGPA 2.5
    • Foundation: Minimum CGPA 2.0
    • UEC: Grade B including Mathematics and a science subject, and a pass in English
  • Master’s:
    • A relevant Bachelor’s Degree (CGPA 2.5) with honours or equivalent
  • PhD:
    • A Master’s Degree in relevant field with evidence of adequate research or work experiences to satisfaction of Senate

 

Professional Aircraft Maintenance Licence

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) issues the DCAM Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML) to aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians for them to carry out licensed aircraft maintenance work. There are 3 different types of licenses available:

1) Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Category A)

  • You can issue certificates of release to service (CRS) after scheduled line maintenance and simple defect repairing with limited certification privileges.

2) Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

  • Mechanical (Category B1) You can issue certificates of release to service (CRS) and certificates of aircraft fitness after the maintenance of aircraft structure, engine, mechanical and electrical systems. Category A certification privileges are covered.

3) Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

  • Avionics (Category B2) You can issue certificates of release to service (CRS) after the maintenance of avionic, electrical, and electronic systems for navigation, communications, and flight control. Category A certification privileges are not covered.

What are the job opportunities?

  • Aircraft Maintenance Technician
  • Avionics Technician
  • Aircraft Maintenance Technician – Electronics
  • Quality Assurance Inspector
  • Aerospace Technician

Are you interested to study this subject in Malaysia?

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