Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Maintenance Technology

BS in Aircraft Maintenance Technology (BSAMT) is a four year ladderized degree program designed to prepare students for becoming aircraft technicians.

The BS in Aircraft Maintenance Technology program provides students with knowledge and skills in the field of aircraft maintenance. Specifically, the curriculum trains students to be able to construct, inspect, operate, maintain and repair structures, systems and power plants for aircraft and other aerospace vehicles. 

Since BSAMT is a ladderized course, a student who finishes two years of the program is given a Certificate of Completion in Aircraft Maintenance Technology and becomes eligible to take a licensure exam at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). However, completion of the four-year course entitles a student a full BSAMT degree, which will qualify him/her for higher positions in the aircraft maintenance field. 

Subjects and Curriculum
The BSAMT curriculum is divided into a few categories:

• Mathematics:
  • College Algebra
  • Plane Trigonometry
  • Analytic Geometry with Solid Geometry
  • Differential Calculus
• Natural/Physical Sciences:
  • Applied Physics and Chemistry
  • Engineering Physics
• Basic Engineering Sciences:
  • Engineering Drawing
  • Computer Fundamentals and Basic Programming
• Professional Courses:
  • Aircraft Propellers and Rotary Wings Fundamentals
  • Aviation Safety
  • Aircraft Maintenance and Inspection
  • Aircraft Materials and Processes
  • Aviation Thermodynamics
  • Aircraft Structures
  • Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention
  • Theory of Flight
  • Air Laws and Civil Air Regulations
  • Aircraft Materials
  • Construction and Repair
  • Aircraft Powerplant
  • Aircraft Assembly and Rigging
  • Aircraft Electrical System
  • Aircraft Materials
  • Construction and Repair II
  • Aircraft Fuels and Lubricants
  • Aircraft Systems and Instrumentation
  • Aircraft Systems Overhaul and Trouble Shooting
  • Airplane Ground Operation
  • Introduction to Rocket Propulsion Systems
  • Subsonic Aerodynamics
  • Meteorology and Navigation
• Non – Technical Courses:
  • Social Sciences: Social Science (1 to 4)
  • Humanities: Humanities (1 to 3)
  • Languages: English (1 to 3) , Filipino (1 and 2)
  • Mandated Subject: Life and works of Rizal

The BSAMT program is taught through a variety of teaching methods: Classroom lectures, field observations and hands-on practicum exercises. In addition, students are also exposed to an on the job training (OJT) in an affiliate flight or aviation company. While on duty, the student is supervised by a senior personnel in the company as well as a faculty adviser. 

Is Aircraft Maintenance a profession?
A graduate of Aircraft Maintenance Technology will most likely be employed as an Aircraft Technician or an Aircraft Mechanic, which are considered to be professions, with highly specialized knowledge and skills.

Here are some of the responsibilities of an Aircraft Technician/Mechanic:

• Assembling and installing electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and accessories, using hand tools and power tools.
• Checking for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
• Examining and inspecting aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and de-icers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problem.
• Trimming and shaping replacement body sections to specified sizes and fits, and secure sections in place, using adhesives, hand tools, and power tools.
• Inspecting airframes for wear or other defects.
• Inspecting completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation.
• Servicing and maintaining aircraft and related apparatus by performing activities such as flushing crankcases, cleaning screens, and lubricating moving parts.

What are the admission requirements for the BS in Aircraft Maintenance Technology program?
Requirements at each school may differ, but these are the common requirements:

• Must be a high school graduate.
  Those who did not complete high school education may opt to first attend Alternative Learning System (ALS) and pass the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) to qualify for college. However, some universities only offer selected courses for PEPT passers.
• College entrance exam: must pass the college entrance examination with a specified rating set by the school.
• Interview: must pass the interview conducted by the college dean/faculty.

What skills, traits and attitude will help you succeed in this course?

• Strong technical skills – the knowledge and ability required to achieve specific tasks such as repairing complex aircraft systems, the maintenance of aircraft equipment, troubleshooting and diagnosing aircraft problems
• Problem solving skills – the ability to identify problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Being detail oriented – the ability to notice and identify even the most minute problems in a system or process
• Basic mathematical skills – knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Analytical skills – the ability to determine how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes
• Organizational skills – the ability to prioritize and manage time to give equal attention to each task at hand.
• Time Management – able to divide time equally and accomplish tasks on time.

How difficult is BS in Aircraft Maintenance Technology?
BS in Aircraft Maintenance Technology is fairly difficult. The course contains engineering and technical subjects which can be quite difficult to understand. It is a highly technical course so you have to be able to follow and understand instructions related to the repair and maintenance of the systems and parts of an aircraft.

How long does it take to complete the BSAMT program in the Philippines?
The BSAMT program takes four years to complete. The program may be completed in less than 4 years in schools that follow the trimestral curriculum. 

On the Job Training (OJT)
A student of the BSAMT program is required to attend an on the job training (OJT) in an aviation or flight company. During the OJT, students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and practice their skills in actual settings. The on the job training program is done under the supervision of a faculty member as well as a designated authority in the company. 

The number of hours required for the OJT varies from one school to another. 

Aviation Maintenance Licensing Exams
The licensing examinations for aviation maintenance are not considered board examinations. A graduate of BSAMT can still work as an aircraft technician without passing any licensing exam; however, taking the licensing examinations would give one an advantage in terms of employment. The licensing examinations for aviation maintenance are conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). 

These are the Aviation Maintenance Licensing exams available for BSAMT graduates in the Philippines:

• Aviation Maintenance Technician license (AMT)
  This exam can be taken after completing two years of the BSAMT program. 
  
  First, you need to pass a written exam covering topics on air law and airworthiness, natural science and aircraft general knowledge, aircraft engineering, aircraft maintenance and human performance. 
  
  Second, for the skills requirement, an applicant must pass an oral and a skill test. The test covers the applicant's basic skill in performing practical projects on the subjects covered by the written test. 
  
  Finally, after passing the knowledge and skills requirements, an applicant for the AMT license must accomplish the experience requirements of either a practical experience or training in an Air Transportation Office (ATO).
• Aviation Maintenance Specialist license (AMS)
  The AMS license is a more advanced licensure than the AMT. 
  
  The knowledge and skills requirements for the AMS License are more or less the same with the AMT license. One difference is that the AMS license is not exclusively given to Filipinos; it is also applicable for foreign nationals who come from countries that grant the same rights and privileges to citizens of the Philippines. 
  
  An applicant for the AMS license must be employed in a specific job requiring specific qualifications. The applicant must obtain a certification for the employment from a maintenance organization approved by the CAAP. Lastly, the applicant must also obtain a certification from his/her employer that he/she has satisfactorily maintained an aircraft or its components, appropriate to the job for which he/she is employed.

Career Opportunities for BS in Aircraft Maintenance Technology graduates
Note:
Even without passing the AMT or AMS exams mentioned above, a BSAMT graduate can still practice as an aircraft technician. Generally, those who don’t have any license can hold the same positions as those who have, except for the most advanced positions. 

• Aircraft Machinist Technician – maintains and repairs the avionic and mechanical equipment needed to make planes and helicopters operate safely.
• Aviation Maintenance Instructor – teaches Aircraft Maintenance Technology at a College or University
• Aircraft Load Master Technician – responsible for supervising the loading and unloading of cargo, vehicles and people on the airplane; mathematically preplan the correct placement of the load on the airplane to ensure it can safely fly
• Aircraft fuel system technician – responsible for overseeing that all aircrafts are serviced with fuel; additionally, automotive and ground support equipment is serviced. They are also trained to handle non-routine situations, such as defueling and fueling aircraft with inoperative fuel quantity indicators.
• Hydraulic Mechanic – also called pneumatic or fluid power technicians, operate and repair equipment that use oil and water, pressurized gases or air as a power system.
• Landing Gear Mechanic – checks, repairs and maintains landing gears of aircrafts
• Aircraft Body and Bonded Structure Repairer – checks and repairs sheet and extruded metal structural parts of aircraft.
• Aircraft Maintenance Planner – forecast and schedule routine maintenance of aircraft using approved aircraft maintenance programs.
• Aircraft Air Conditioning Mechanic – diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Aircraft Restorer – restores and maintains a variety of historic, military aircraft to include: washing aircraft, corrosion control and preservation, painting, maintenance support and administration.
• Aircraft Rigging and Controls Mechanic – assembles as well as installs rigging plus control assemblies systems that actuate aircraft structures, like rudder, elevator, canopy, and also wing surfaces.
• Aircraft Steel Fabricator – work with large panels of metal, attaching them together with fasteners or welding, either by hand or machine.
• Aircraft Structure Mechanic – repairs, replaces, and rebuilds aircraft structures, functional components, and parts, such as wings and fuselage, rigging, and hydraulic units.
• Airplane Tester – check the airworthiness of aircraft through inspection, flight testing, and evaluations of flight performance, engine operation, and flight characteristics of either prototype aircraft or modifications of production aircraft and aircraft components
• Experimental Aircraft Mechanic – inspects, tests, repairs, maintains, services, and also modifies experimental prototype aircraft, engines, accessories, and also components according to governmental, company, and also customer requirements
• Trouble Shooter – locates and eliminates sources of aircraft trouble

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