A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General Aviation John Eagles AMRAeS

A New Maintenance A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence Engineer’s Licence

for General Aviationfor General Aviation

JohnJohn Eagles Eagles AMRAeSAMRAeS

A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General AviationGeneral Aviation

Health Warning Health Warning

What I am about to describe is the What I am about to describe is the state of the art as we think we know state of the art as we think we know it today.it today.

Rules and proposals are changing Rules and proposals are changing almost on a daily basisalmost on a daily basis

So tomorrow will be different So tomorrow will be different

A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General

AviationAviation HistoryHistorySince just before WWII when the Since just before WWII when the

Ministry of Aviation and the ARB set Ministry of Aviation and the ARB set up the Licensed Aircraft Engineer up the Licensed Aircraft Engineer system to delegate aircraft system to delegate aircraft certification, we have had A,B,C, D, X certification, we have had A,B,C, D, X and R licences and R licences

These were specified under British Civil These were specified under British Civil

Airworthiness Requirements Section LAirworthiness Requirements Section L

A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General AviationAviation

Respectively A and C, engineers Respectively A and C, engineers certified limited airframe and certified limited airframe and engine maintenanceengine maintenance

B and D engineers looked after B and D engineers looked after major Airframe and Engine workmajor Airframe and Engine work

Additionally X and R engineers Additionally X and R engineers covering Instruments and covering Instruments and AvionicsAvionics


We still require these licences for We still require these licences for some 200 odd Annex II aircraft.some 200 odd Annex II aircraft.

These are older or historically These are older or historically important aircraft, still in service important aircraft, still in service and likely to remain so for many and likely to remain so for many years to come. years to come.


These licences were originally These licences were originally restricted to specific types of restricted to specific types of aircraft. aircraft.

Later licences could be gained for Later licences could be gained for groups of aircraft or engines. groups of aircraft or engines.


The CAA also granted organisations The CAA also granted organisations or individuals Authorisations to or individuals Authorisations to certify specific aircraft certify specific aircraft


With the introduction of large With the introduction of large complex aircraft it was believed complex aircraft it was believed that a single engineer couldn’t that a single engineer couldn’t possibly cover the whole aircraftpossibly cover the whole aircraft

The authority decided that only an The authority decided that only an approved organisation would be approved organisation would be suitable for the tasksuitable for the task


In fact they attempted to take it a In fact they attempted to take it a stage further having all stage further having all maintenance carried out by maintenance carried out by approved companies using approved companies using certifying staff approved by that certifying staff approved by that companycompany


Engineers did not take kindly to Engineers did not take kindly to these proposals and so these proposals and so collectively campaigned to retain collectively campaigned to retain the licence the licence

This culminated in a demonstration This culminated in a demonstration by the Association of Licensed by the Association of Licensed Aircraft Engineers at the CAA Aircraft Engineers at the CAA headquarters then in Redhillheadquarters then in Redhill


The licence was savedThe licence was saved


Where do we get these engineers?Where do we get these engineers?

Traditionally the industry relied Traditionally the industry relied heavily on trained personnel heavily on trained personnel joining the industry from the joining the industry from the armed forcesarmed forces

A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General AviationA New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General Aviation

Larger companies started their own training Larger companies started their own training schools and apprentice schemes schools and apprentice schemes

Some engineers made it on their own Some engineers made it on their own starting on the floor, trained by qualified starting on the floor, trained by qualified staff and by self study from books either staff and by self study from books either purchased or borrowed from the company purchased or borrowed from the company or from colleaguesor from colleagues

Other engineers succeeded with a Other engineers succeeded with a combination of courses, self study and combination of courses, self study and experience experience

A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General

AviationAviation

Present situationPresent situation

Under part 66 of EASA RegulationsUnder part 66 of EASA Regulations

We have A, B1, B1/B2.and C. We have A, B1, B1/B2.and C. licenseslicenses


The A licence is a self certifier within an The A licence is a self certifier within an approved organisation approved organisation

The B1 is the replacement for the old A and The B1 is the replacement for the old A and C with major airframe and engine work C with major airframe and engine work being carried out within approved being carried out within approved organisations. organisations.

B1/B2 includes AvionicsB1/B2 includes Avionics The C licence holder clears the whole The C licence holder clears the whole

aircraft in a large approved company and is aircraft in a large approved company and is really only an administratorreally only an administrator


This is the system that we have to work This is the system that we have to work with today and it works for the with today and it works for the airlines.airlines.

It has to work for light aircraft too but it It has to work for light aircraft too but it is totally inappropriate. Engineers is totally inappropriate. Engineers need to know subjects only used on need to know subjects only used on large aircraft and conversely subjects large aircraft and conversely subjects applicable to small aircraft are not applicable to small aircraft are not taught or tested. taught or tested.


Across Europe there are similar systems and Across Europe there are similar systems and eventually all countries of the EU will have eventually all countries of the EU will have to have the licence system in place. The to have the licence system in place. The UK has just about complied but several UK has just about complied but several countries still do not have a licence countries still do not have a licence system. system.

Germany and France didn’t have licensed Germany and France didn’t have licensed engineers on light aircraft but Switzerland engineers on light aircraft but Switzerland has licensed engineers for most aircraft has licensed engineers for most aircraft including sailplanes and balloons. including sailplanes and balloons.


Consequently when a GA Engineer Consequently when a GA Engineer has obtained the licence he/she has obtained the licence he/she will not stay in light aviation, but will not stay in light aviation, but will leave for the airlines where will leave for the airlines where the wages are higher, the shiny the wages are higher, the shiny jets beckon and the travel jets beckon and the travel concessions are irresistible. concessions are irresistible.


Consequently when a GA Engineer Consequently when a GA Engineer has obtained the licence he/she has obtained the licence he/she will not stay in light aviation, but will not stay in light aviation, but will leave for the airlines where will leave for the airlines where the wages are higher, the shiny the wages are higher, the shiny jets beckon and the travel jets beckon and the travel concessions are irresistible. concessions are irresistible.


So we have the situation where GA, a So we have the situation where GA, a rapidly changing and growing industry, rapidly changing and growing industry, is experiencing a shortage of engineers. is experiencing a shortage of engineers. With not much chance of encouraging With not much chance of encouraging new blood, dedicated engineers who new blood, dedicated engineers who just wish to stay in light aircraft. just wish to stay in light aircraft.

We have had to consider a different We have had to consider a different approachapproach


In cologne we are working on new In cologne we are working on new licences designed specifically to licences designed specifically to redress this problem. redress this problem.


In cologne we are working on new In cologne we are working on new licences designed specifically to licences designed specifically to redress this problem. redress this problem.

The B3 +The B3 +


The B-3 is intended to be a ‘lighter’ The B-3 is intended to be a ‘lighter’ B1/B2B1/B2

It will contain an avionic module It will contain an avionic module insomuch as if it works OK. If not insomuch as if it works OK. If not then the box may be changed. then the box may be changed.

Anything further must be certified Anything further must be certified by a B1/B2 engineer. by a B1/B2 engineer.


The B3 has been proposed to The B3 has been proposed to redress this deficiency the idea redress this deficiency the idea being that a simpler licence would being that a simpler licence would be more suited to the lighter end be more suited to the lighter end of GA and it is this that we are of GA and it is this that we are working towards in Cologne. working towards in Cologne.


. .

The licence will cover aircraft, The licence will cover aircraft,


. .

The licence will cover aircraft, The licence will cover aircraft, sailplanessailplanes


. .

The licence will cover aircraft, The licence will cover aircraft, sailplanes balloonssailplanes balloons


. .

The licence will cover aircraft, The licence will cover aircraft, sailplanes balloons and hot sailplanes balloons and hot airships. airships.


The system that is beginning to The system that is beginning to crystallise is that there will be, in crystallise is that there will be, in fact, 2 new licenses fact, 2 new licenses

The B-3 from zero to 2000 kgs The B-3 from zero to 2000 kgs MTOWMTOW

This licence may be used as a This licence may be used as a stepping stone towards a B1 or stepping stone towards a B1 or B1/2 andB1/2 and


The system that is beginning to crystallise The system that is beginning to crystallise is that there will be, in fact, 2 new is that there will be, in fact, 2 new licenses licenses

The B-3 from zero to 2000 kgs MTOWThe B-3 from zero to 2000 kgs MTOWThis licence may be used as a stepping This licence may be used as a stepping

stone towards a B1 or B1/2 andstone towards a B1 or B1/2 and

The B-ELA. from zero to 1000 kgs MTOWThe B-ELA. from zero to 1000 kgs MTOWAbove 2000 kgs will still be certified by the Above 2000 kgs will still be certified by the

B1B1 Balloons and hot airships may be limited Balloons and hot airships may be limited

by number of persons (as we don’t work by number of persons (as we don’t work in negative figures)in negative figures)


The system that is beginning to crystallise is The system that is beginning to crystallise is that there will be, in fact, 2 new licenses that there will be, in fact, 2 new licenses

The B-3 from zero to 2000 kgs MTOWThe B-3 from zero to 2000 kgs MTOWThis licence may be used as a stepping stone This licence may be used as a stepping stone

towards a B1 or B1/2 andtowards a B1 or B1/2 and

The B-ELA. from zero to 1000 kgs MTOWThe B-ELA. from zero to 1000 kgs MTOWAbove 2000 kgs will still be certified by the B1Above 2000 kgs will still be certified by the B1 Balloons and hot airships may be limited by Balloons and hot airships may be limited by

number of persons (as we don’t work in number of persons (as we don’t work in negative figures)negative figures)

ELA ? ELA ? EEuropean uropean LLight ight AAircraftircraft


The B-ELA licence is a based on the The B-ELA licence is a based on the German Aero Club system and is German Aero Club system and is further divided into 2 levels further divided into 2 levels

B-ELA Basic B-ELA Basic B-ELA Full B-ELA Full


QualificationsQualifications The B-ELA basic. After 2 years experience The B-ELA basic. After 2 years experience

and exams on Air Law, Human Factors and and exams on Air Law, Human Factors and a module on either Metal, Composite or a module on either Metal, Composite or Wooden airframes, Powerplant or Balloons, Wooden airframes, Powerplant or Balloons, the engineer can certify his own work, but the engineer can certify his own work, but not the complete aircraft. not the complete aircraft.

Each module can be a stand alone licence Each module can be a stand alone licence


The B-ELA Full. After a further 2 years The B-ELA Full. After a further 2 years experience, further training and experience, further training and examination on chosen modules to examination on chosen modules to include radio, transponders and include radio, transponders and ELTsELTs

To be able to clear a powered To be able to clear a powered aircraft this engineer must hold both aircraft this engineer must hold both the airframe AND the powerplant. the airframe AND the powerplant.


Training for GATraining for GA

It is early days yet and until the It is early days yet and until the requirements are in place the requirements are in place the training establishments cannot be training establishments cannot be advised. advised.

However, we are looking at training However, we are looking at training levels and duration of moduleslevels and duration of modules


Further adviceFurther advice

There are courses provided by aircraft There are courses provided by aircraft manufactures and these are always useful.manufactures and these are always useful.

Both the PFA and the BGA have in the past Both the PFA and the BGA have in the past

organised several such courses each year. organised several such courses each year.

Colleges and seats of learning should be made Colleges and seats of learning should be made aware of the new requirements and aware of the new requirements and encouraged to provide suitable modular encouraged to provide suitable modular courses. courses.


Keep checking the EASA web siteKeep checking the EASA web site

This will keep you up to date on This will keep you up to date on developments.developments.

You can even take part and You can even take part and comment on NPA’s and influence comment on NPA’s and influence your futureyour future




Thank youThank you


Thank youThank you

Documents

A New Maintenance Engineer’s Licence for General Aviation John Eagles AMRAeS