Mechanic Or Engineer?

Fong asked;

if i go miat for easa part 66 program. i passed all the module, what do i call myself? mechanic or aircraft engineer?

My answer;

Once you got your licence, you already an engineer but without type rating. Once you received type rating from any authority or company approval then you are an engineer with type rating. Without type rating you dont have any previleges that you can exercise as an engineer. Probably depend on the organisation that you currently employed, since you cannot exercise any previleges as an engineer, the company might assign you as mechanic. So my advice is, get your type rating ASAP.

B1 or B2?

From Safuan,

Hi Bro,
i think it's not to late to wish u selamat hari raya..:)
from what have u see after work long time, wht do u think about B2 avionic?..urm, is it true b1 work have lot of work than b2 avionic?..i'm asking this question since i'm interested on b2 avionic..hopefully if it meant to be to get pursue for easa b2, i will go on that..

My reply:

Selamat Hari Raya to you to. B1 more on mechanicals and B2 is more towards avionics. B1 normally handling the components or parts such as actuators, wheels, hydraulic pipelines, structures etc. of the aircraft while B2 mostly on avionics boxes, wiring and so on. Cross responsibility also happen such as after replacement of parts where the replacement done by B1 and the testing done by B2.

To make statement that B1 have more jobs for me is not really correct. The best job is in the field that we really interested in, wether it will have a lot of work for me it should not be a concern. You can do less job but if you dont like it, no point doing it. Whether it is B1 or B2, both held same responsibility which is to make sure aircraft is safe for people to fly. Since you interested on B2, go for it.

Is It Too Late For Me?

En Ahmad asked:

I'm 26 years old and would like to apply for AME course in Glamorgan Univ in Cardiff.

After doing some research on internet,i found that Glamorgan Univ offer B Sc Aircraft Maintenance Engineering + EASA B1.

I need to hear your opinion and advise regarding this matter.

Do you think its too late for me to be in this field?

I'm looking forward to hear from you as soon as possible.

My reply:

Dear En Ahmad,

There is never to late to learn, as well as turning your life directions from where you are now. The main important thing is whether you sincerely like it or not. When you like what are you doing, age is not a concern anymore.

With regard to the requirement of the authority, in your case i refer it to CAA UK, the min age is 20 for LWTR and 21 for Type rating (Refer BCAR Sect L CAP 468), with regard to age limit as mentioned in Age Discrimination and Aviation Safety Legislation, the age limit is proportional to safety concern.

I encourage you to pursue it and establish as LAME, there is a lot of demand for LAME in a future ahead. Good luck.

B2 Flying Engineer

Mohamad Nurul Nizamzari Ismail asked,

"Here i have a few question for flight.I'am graduate in Bachelor of Science Industrial Engineering. I got the offer to further my study in EASA B2 Avionics at MIAT..It's possible to be a flight engineer. What your opinion about this program?"

My answer:

My job description is Licensed Aircraft Engineer but i'm flying with the aircraft because of of i'm working in charter company. Unlike an airlines, flying to all airports around the world satisfying the customers, placing LAE onboard is the best solutions to make sure maintenance aspect of an aircraft will be well taken care off.

In airlines environment, in most of destination there will be a station engineer or contracted certifying engineer who will inspect the aircraft during turnaround and issue CRS (Certificate of Release to Service) before aircraft return back to base. There is no flying engineer onboard.

Unless aircraft fly to destination where frequency of flight is very low or there is no contract company available to do the task. In this case, line maintenance engineer will fly with the aircraft to issue the CRS.before return back to base.

But i can assure you that it will not be as adventurous as flying onboard vip business jet.

In current practices, only B1 engineer are allowed to issue a CRS to release the aircraft for flight. B2 is avionic and no previlege as far as i know yet for them to issue it, so chances that B2 engineer will join flying team are very slim, unless if you working with charter company where the avionics LAE were given a company approval to fly with the aircraft.

MIAT is a good place to learn aircraft maintenance & later getting the licence as aircraft maintenance engineer but you have to choose B1 or B2 so that you will know where you will be heading.

Hope this will help.

im really interested in aviation industry

Yusuf Jadid asked..

-what is the minimum qualification to be a LAE?
-MAS still ada buat program recruit Trainee Aircraft Mechanic ke?
-abg kerja dgn which company? (Which company are you working with?)
-when can i start as a trainee aircraft mechanic? i've just finished my spm 2008 thanks.

My reply..
1. To qualify to be LAE you need to comply with the requirement of Airworthiness Notices No 5 of Malaysian DCA however for person who never had an experience on aviation, they need to enrol in a training program to be an LAE.
2. As per MAS career pages, unfortunately no.
3. I'm working with private charter company, Royal Jet based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
4. You can start anytime as early as posible but of course you have to start applying for the position. Chk out some leading airlines career page or ask friends who work with an airline for any opening for the trainee program.

Thank you and all the best.