TAFE NSW is offering aviation maintenance training that is expected to offer skills and experience for an RAAus Level 2 Maintainer authority.
The Certificate II in Aeroskills (MEA20418) is run from Tamworth and is being promoted by RAAus as assisting people to develop the knowledge, theory and practical skills required for a basic Level 2 Maintenance Authority.
"This course offers a comprehensive blend of self-paced study, knowledge assessments, and practical training, with face-to-face skills assessment days proposed to support students," RAAus says. "Participants will receive hard copy practical journals and textbooks on USB, as well as access to weekly Teams catch-ups with subject specialists."
Training is delivered as self-paced aircraft maintenance theory using provided textbooks and knowledge assessments submitted by email, mail or in person. Students will also need to complete a Journal of Industry Experience that can be achieved in the field and/or at TAFE, with entries verified by industry certifiers.
A total of 12 units are required to qualify, chosen from eight core units and 12 specialty units. The core units are:
- sustainable work practices
- applying quality standards
- industry documentation
- maintenance manuals and specifications
- health and safety practices
- organising work activities
- applying self in the workplace
- basic skills, trade practices and fundamentals.
Skills like maintaining piston engines, turbines, non-primary structures, sheet metal work, electricals and hydraulics are among those offered as specialty units.
All tutors and lecturers are either CASA Part 66 engineers or VET qualified engineers.
RAAus is keen for potential maintainers to take advantage of the training, but points out that the final qualification is only part of what is needed for a L2 authority.
"Applicants are required to apply to RAAus for a maintenance authority and meet all requirements for the initial issue, which, further to the Certificate II in Aeroskills (MEA20418) qualification, is the completion of the L1 assessment, evidence of 12 months of practical maintenance experience and two referees," RAAus explains.
"Completion of the Certificate II in Aeroskills (MEA20418) qualification significantly aids in meeting the minimum requirements for a Level 2 maintenance authority."
Although delivered from Tamworth, TAFE NSW says it is prepared to deliver the course in other locations if the numbers justify it.
RAAus has been working for some time to encourage tertiary institutions to offer training as a way of increasing the skills of aircraft owners and address the shortage of qualified maintainers. However, negotiations are thought to have been difficult due to practicality and course costs.
Using different providers also introduced an issue of inconsistent training, which has RAAus believing that the TAFE NSW training as a single provider is the best option.
Whereas most tertiary institutions were asking around $7-8000 course fees per student, TAFE NSW is delivering the course as subsidised training for as little as $1580 for people that qualify.
More information on the Aeroskills training is on the TAFE NSW website.