Become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with a B1 or B2 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) License. with the aircraft maintenance college in Netherlands

Aircraft Maintenance College 66 (or AMC66) is an aircraft maintenance training organisation.The Aircraft Maintenance College 66 is located in the Dutch Province of Limburg in  netherlands.  the college is an EASA certified training centre under EASA APPROVED REFFERENCE: NL.147.7366 it supports international organisations and educational centres with trainings which meet EASA Part-147 training standards and it provides Part-66 approved module examinations to Africa through Kenya Aeronautical College as its  training partner

The Aircraft Engineer is also known as an Aircraft Technician at times. While engineer is the commonly used term, technician means the same thing within the aviation industry.

Civil Aviation is a highly regulated and respected industry controlled by national aviation authorities. To maintain the enviable safety standards that have been established, people working within the industry must be licensed. In other words, just as Pilots are trained and then licensed to fly aircraft, Engineers must be trained and licensed to maintain aircraft and then release those aircraft into service.

A student wishing to establish a career in the Aviation Industry must undertake professional training leading to the appropriate qualifications and certification.

The Aim of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

By ensuring that all maintenance work and all maintenance engineers are fully trained and regulated, the Aviation Industry (and its governing bodies) aims to maintain;

"the safety of the aircraft and all passengers"

This aim is not simple to achieve. Aircraft are a complex mixture of systems maintained by an equally complex workforce. For this reason, it is worth your while taking time to understand the licensing process for certifying Aircraft Engineers and the training that you will undertake if you choose Aircraft Engineering as your career.

Qualifications for Aircraft Engineering

What type of Engineer do you want to be? What qualification will you require?

To help you choose, you will first need to understand something of the process of certification.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the organisation that regulates all aviation activity within Europe and it delegates authority for implementation of its regulations to National Aviation Authorities.

To ensure safety within the industry, engineering personnel are licensed in the same way as pilots and air traffic controllers. If suitably licensed an engineer can certify the work that has been carried out on an aircraft and return it to service.

There are several categories of licences which cover different levels and disciplines and, as in other professions, a variety of routes exist to achieve them.

What Is an EASA Part 66 Engineer responsible for?

The Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME) assumes “legal” responsibility (by means of a certification) for all or part of the line maintenance which is required to be performed on aircraft or helicopters to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to remain serviceable. (He/she also acts as support staff for aircraft which are receiving “heavy” means base maintenance – typically C Checks.

The Licenced aircraft engineer will hold an authorisation approval issued by an EASA Part 145 Organisation. (The Validity of this approval is conditional on the maintenance of the licence)

Typically the Aircraft Licensed Maintenance Line Engineer will be employed by an EASA Part 145 organization and will either certify aircraft maintenance based on the scope of the Aircraft maintenance approval issued by the organization on the basis of the Certifying engineers license, or act as supervisory and support staff during base maintenance activities.

The different Aircraft Licensed Maintenance Line Engineer jobs include B1 Engineer specializing on Airframe Engineers and Electrical Systems and B2 Engineer specializing in Avionic Systems.

Certification Duties vary from routine simple maintenance typically turn around checks, daily checks or even weekly checks through to troubleshooting on aircraft system defects depending of course on your specialty.

For example structural, mechanical system Engine Flying control or Avionic systems to identify Defects or problems and take the appropriate actions in accordance with the approved maintenance data.

The primary difference between “A” certifying Engineers and B1 or B2 is that A certifying Engineers may only certify their own work whereas B1 and B2 can also inspect and certify the work of others. 

Aircraft Licensed Maintenance Line Engineer have specific responsibilities and have to work often on their own to the highest standards. Working hours may be unsociable with requirements to work on weekends or night shifts.

Among the various attributes of an EASA Part 66 Engineer include the need to be self reliant, highly motivated, and to be able to communicate effectively. they should as  well be self disciplined with good administration and housekeeping skills.

The role of Aircraft Licensed Maintenance Line Engineer needs to be very familiar with approved maintenance data and be very competent at the interpretation of approved data whether issued by the Aircraft or Engine Manufacturer or OEM – Original Equipment Manufacture.

Aircraft Licensed Maintenance Line Engineer will be very familiar with the who aircraft and its systems, however he is likely not to be so involved in heavy tasks which are typically transferred to Base Maintenance.

aircraft maintainance college  with our sister partner kenya aeronautical college offer a range of regulatory training in support of the EASA Part 66 licenced aircraft Engineer. Including support to work towards obtaining your basic licence........

The following information introduces the different Aircraft Maintenance Engineers license types which are available to European EASA Part 66 Licensed aircraft Engineers.

 

The Basic, non-type rated license also known as a Category “A” License does not in itself convey certification rights, directly but allows the holder to certify “limited and simple maintenance tasks only” as specified on his (or her) “personal authorization Document”.

 

A Category “A” license holder may only certify his (or her) own work and cannot certify the work of other individuals.

 

In general the Category “A” based approval is a task based approval which is restricted to the mechanical systems, although simple and limited avionic tasks as for example which may be found on a daily inspection or a weekly check, can be included with the approval of the Competent Authority.

 

Category “B1” & “B2”

 

“B1” licensed engineer may certify more complex tasks and has a type rating on the aircraft type. Covers Airframe Engine and Electrics  

“B2” licensed engineer may certify more complex tasks and has a type rating on the aircraft type. Covers Avionics and Electrics

 

The Basic “B1” & “B2” License alone, does not convey certification rights, an aircraft type rating needs to be added to the license, prior to the holder gaining an authorization. But note that a B1 license (only) includes the privileges of a Category “A” license so it is possible for the BI not holding a Type rating to have limited approval on a particular Aircraft Type.

 

On the basis of the “B1” And “B2” Maintenance Engineers License, together with Type Training and Rating plus satisfactory demonstration of competency and knowledge of organizational procedures, the personal authorization document is issued by an approved Part-145 organization.

 

The privileges of a “B1” typically include Certification privileges on aircraft structures, power plant, mechanical systems and electrical systems. Including replacement of avionic line replaceable units (LRUs) requiring simple tests to prove serviceability. Either by the use of BITE (Built in Test Equipment).

 

The privileges of “B2” typically include certification privileges on Aircraft Electrical and Avionic systems.

What Disciplines Do the Licences Cover?

If you decide that you would like to be a Mechanical Engineer specialising in scheduled maintenance, restoration and re-fit of airframes, power plants, fuel systems and associated pneumatic, hydraulic and air-conditioning systems then you can select from both category A & B licence routes.  however, we shall go into details about the B category.The licence will show which category of aircraft it applies to - which will be one of the following:

B1.1 Fixed Wing: Aeroplanes with Turbine Engines

Turbine Engines: (often referred to as jet engines) and also called combustion turbines, are rotary engines that extract energy from a flow of combustion gas. It has an upstream compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between. Turbine aircraft may be propeller or jet driven.

B1.2 Fixed Wing: Aeroplanes with Piston Engines

Piston Engines: (otherwise known as reciprocating engines) use fundamentally similar technology to those used by cars and motorcycles where pistons in cylinders are used to generate motive force for propulsion by turning pressure into a rotating motion. These engines always drive a propeller.

B1.3 Rotary Wing: Helicopters with Turbine Engines

This licence category will allow the mechanical engineer to service to base maintenance level, helicopters with one or more Turbine Engines and all associated systems including power plants, fuel systems and associated pneumatic, hydraulic and air-conditioning systems.

B1.4 Rotary Wing: Helicopters with Piston Engines

This licence category will allow the mechanical engineer to service to base maintenance level, helicopters with a Piston Engine and all associated systems including power plants, fuel systems and associated pneumatic, hydraulic and air-conditioning systems.

B2 Avionic: Electronic systems fitted to all aircraft

If you are more electronically orientated and decide that you would like to be an Avionics Engineer specialising in scheduled maintenance, restoration and modification of communication, navigation, radar equipment; guidance and control systems including auto-pilot/auto-land and cabin entertainment then this license is the one to choose, Note: this qualification is only licensed at category B level.

 

Category B3

Category B3 is applicable to piston-engine non-pressurized airplanes of 2 000 kg MTOM and below.

 

A category B3 aircraft maintenance license shall permit the holder to issue certificates of release to service and to act as B3 support staff for:

 

Maintenance performed on airplane structure, power plant and mechanical and electrical systems, plus work on avionic systems requiring only simple tests to prove their serviceability and not requiring troubleshooting.

 

Category C

 The Basic License alone, does not convey certification Rights, an aircraft type rating needs to be added to the license prior to the holder gaining an authorization.

 

When an EASA Part 145 approved organization issues a “personal authorization document” to a holder of a “C” type rating he (or she) is permitted to sign the group Certificate of release to service in accordance with EASA Part 145.A.50 following the completion of Base Maintenance Activity.

 

“C” certifying engineers may not certify Line Maintenance defects or minor maintenance.

 

modules covered in the Part 66 

Module 1 - Mathematics

Module 2 - Physics

Module 3 - Electrical Fundamentals

Module 4 - Electronic Fundamentals

Module 5 - Digital Techniques Electronic Instrument System for cat. B1.1 and B1.3

Module 5 - Digital Techniques Electronic Instrument System for cat. B2

Module 6 - Materials and Hardware for cat. B1

Module 6 - Materials and Hardware for cat. B2

Module 7 - Maintenance Practices for cat. B1

Module 7 - Maintenance Practices for cat. B2

Module 8 - Basic Aerodynamics

Module 9 - Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Activity

Module 10 - Aviation Legislation

Module 11 - Airplane Aerodynamics, Structures and Systems

Module 13 - Aircraft Aerodynamics, Structures and Systems

Module 14 - Propulsion

Module 15 - Gas Turbine Engine

Module 16 - Piston Engine

Module 17 - Propeller

where shall classes  exams be conducted in Africa?.

lessons and Exams shall be conducted at the Kenya Aeronautical College in Nairobi at Wilson airport. this shall be the training and examination Centre in the region. A candidate shall choose the modules to undertake and their after book an exam to take.

OJT (On Job Training )

On-the-job training (OJT) is a practical approach to acquiring new competencies and skills needed for a job in a real, or close to real, working environment.

It is often used to learn how to use particular tools or equipment in a live-work practice, simulated, or training environment.

Rather than showing employees presentations or giving them worksheets, they learn about the job by doing it. This training happens at the workplace, with guidance from a supervisor, manager, or another knowledgeable employee.

New employees that undergo on-the-job training get a firsthand look at all the work procedures they can expect to encounter. They learn workplace expectations, equipment operation, and any other skill they need to complete their job successfully.

The importance of on the job training

There are all types of learners: some are visual, some are hands-on, and some do better by reading instructions. However, on-the-job training has incredible importance in today’s workforce.

On-the-job training allows employees to gain experience working in situations very similar to those they’ll encounter on a daily basis. Employees will use the same tools and equipment they need for their job while being guided by an experienced trainer.

This allows employees to learn and practice their job while still in training.

where shall the students be going for the OJT?

 upon succesful completion  of the module exams that will be conducted at the kenya Aeronautical college at wilson airport, through its collaboration with different airlines world wide provides candidates with an oppotunity to go for OJT in different countries. these include; France, netherlands, Turkey, Malta, Dubai in middle East. 

students visa process shall be worked upon by the school.

What is the intention of the requirement regarding the assessment of the OJT. What is the nature of the assessment for an OJT? What are the differences between practical assessment and OJT assessment? What are the objectives of the OJT assessment?

The practical assessment addresses the practical portion of any type training whereas the OJT assessment addresses the additional practical experience necessary to gain in a true

How tasks for OJT shall be selected for different licences?

The AMC states that the tasks are representative of the licence (sub)category applied for. This means that:

the tasks should identify whether they relate to a B1.1, B1.3 licence …, to a B2 or L5,

and be adapted to the privilege of each licence category / subcategory as defined in 66.A.20(a):

for a B1 licence: aircraft structure, power plant and mechanical and electrical systems + work on avionics system with simple test but not including trouble shooting;

and those related to a B2: avionics, aircraft electrical system tasks and avionics/electrical tasks within mechanical and power plant systems; or

and those related to a L5: aircraft structure, power plant, mechanical and electrical systems, radio, Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT), transponder systems and other avionics systems requiring simple tests to prove their serviceability.

since the OJT is intended for the first aircraft type endorsement within a given licence (sub)category, does this mean that it can be performed on different aircraft types typical for that (sub)category?

OJT shall be performed on the aircraft type for which the applicant is seeking type endorsement. The objective of the OJT is to gain the required competence and experience in performing safe maintenance on that particular aircraft type.

However, a certain number of tasks may be performed on other aircraft type(s) (typically from the same manufacturer), only in the cases where such tasks are very similar to the tasks applicable to the aircraft type for which the candidate seeks the type endorsement. 

The AMC to section 6. of Appendix III to Part-66 states: “Tasks should be selected among those applicable to type of aircraft and licence (sub)category applied for.” 

Tasks applicable to the aircraft type may be found also on other aircraft types, perhaps not many, but some may fulfil the requirement. A good example would be same engine types installed on different aircraft types (i.e. CFM56 installed on A320 Family and B737).

 The location of LRUs, oil servicing, IDG, generator, filter change, engine standard practices, etc., those tasks often do not depend on the specific aircraft type (even could be performed off-wing or on spare engine), except the tasks belonging to the airframe - engine interface. 

The similar can also be applied for the same type of APU installed on different aircraft types or a limited number of other components/systems. Consequently, this may be acceptable, if properly justified to the competent authority within the MOE Chapter 3.15. This flexibility provision is applicable for a limited number of tasks and should not be used to conduct the entire OJT on other aircraft type(s) showing similarities.

Describe in details the process of obtaining a Part-66 Basic License & then describe how you can obtain an extension to the basic license & how you can obtain a type approval & how you can add additional types?

Basic license

There are 3 main requirements that you must meet before you can obtain a Part 66 basic license. The 3 main requirements are as follows;

1) Age;

The minimum age to hold a part 66 license is 18 years old. In order to certify however you have to be 21 years old.

2) Knowledge;

you would need to have successfully completed all the exams that is required based on the syllabus in EASA part 66. The amount of exams would depend on the modules required based on which category that you are applying for. you must have  trained at an approved 147 training organization. our students will be in position to sit their exams under the aircraft maintenance college which is one of the 147 approved training organization. 

3) Experience;

After satisfying both the age and knowledge requirements, you would need to submit your  proof of work experience in the form of logbooks. This  would depend on the category that you are applying for. Reductions in experience requirements are given to people who have trained in a part 147 training organization or skilled workers.

Once all 3 requirements have been meet, an application via form 19 together with the logbook showing experience and course completion certificate. then acandiate shall be awarded a license.

Type rating

The basic pre-requisite for a type rating is the basic license itself. The type rating only applies to category B1, B2 & C as the category A license does not contain type ratings. There are 3 main requirements which you have to meet.

1) Appropriate Training.

you must have attended a type course at an approved 147 organization which cover both theory and practical aspects.

2) Examination

you must have passed all the required examinations in the type course

3) Experience

you must submit experience logbooks with a minimum of 4 months of working on that particular aircraft type

for more information, visit kenya aeronautical college in kenya at wilson airport. 

or call +254708374257

0r visit our website kac.co.ke