Apprenticeship
AvJam Aviation's apprentice program provides an opportunity to students interested in aircraft maintenance who do not meet the minimum experience and requirements required by numerous airlines. AvJam Aviation requires all applicants hold at least a high school certificate to join the Apprenticeship program. The apprentice will receive training that is identical to a technician's training, but will not hold any qualifications until they have successfully passed the required maintenance course as agreed to by AvJam Aviation and Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority. After passing the course, the apprentice may be assigned a task that they have previously performed, as documented in their on-the-job-training logbook with any participating airlines.
Levels
- Intermediate Level Apprenticeships
Apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifications such as a Level 2 Competence Qualification, Functional Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge-based qualification.
- Advanced Level Apprenticeships
Apprentices work towards work-based learning such as a Level 3 Competence Qualification, Functional Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge based qualification.
- Higher Apprenticeships
Apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifications such as a Level 4 Competence Qualification, Functional Skills and, in some cases, a knowledge-based qualification such as a Foundation Degree.
Details
AvJam Aviation apprentice program is under development at this time. If a participant passes the apprenticeship program, the participant will be offered a full-time tech position with an airline. If the apprentice does not pass the program, employment is not guaranteed. This program lasts for 18 months. With small classes of 5 technicians or less, the apprentice receives a tremendous amount of individualized instruction. The number of participants will depend on the airline capability to accept the students.
The program is broken up into three-months training segments. For the first three months, the technician will gain valuable hangar and line maintenance experience. During this part of the apprenticeship, the technicians work side by side with qualified technicians, and face real-time testing, honing their skills along the way.
During the next part of the apprenticeship, the three to five month period, the apprentice attends the aircraft line maintenance course, where they are entrenched in the study of the aircraft systems. AvJam Aviation will implement labs with its own designs for Avionics, EFB and both hydraulic and electrical troubleshooting desktop trainers.
The apprentice must wait three months before taking this line course and must pass the exam with only one retest available to them.
During the program, the technicians become well versed and familiarized with the company's policies and procedures. After they have passed the line course, in months four to six, they spend time with the material specialists while performing line maintenance alongside qualified technicians.
Working as a Team
During months six through nine, they work for a week at a time in the maintenance control center, planning/routing, engineering, quality control and quality assurance departments. While working in these other areas of the company, they learn the inner workings of the entire company and how they are networked together.
The last nine months of their training is spent working on the line and taking various classes. After 18 months, the apprentice may take the final test. Once they have passed this exam, the technician may be offered a full-time tech position within a major airline depending on availability.
The first class of AvJam Aviation apprentices is due to graduate in January 2015. Everyone at AvJam Aviation is excited to find out if their new apprentice program is going to work as anticipated.