职业描述：Aircraft Mechanics and Aircraft Inspectors (7315)

At Work
People in this group are employed by aircraft manufacturers, maintenance and overhaul organizations, and also by airlines and other aircraft operators.
Aircraft mechanics install, maintain, repair and overhaul aircraft structures and mechanical and hydraulic systems. They may specialize in specific aircraft systems such as engines, airframes or hydraulic systems, particularly in large organizations.
Aircraft inspectors inspect aircraft and aircraft systems following manufacture, modification, maintenance, repair or overhaul.

Education, Training and Experience
People in this group must complete high school. Most recent entrants have a trade/vocational or community college diploma.

Completing a college program makes it easier to enter the industry.
Aircraft mechanics must have several years' on-the-job training. Those who sign maintenance releases also require an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's (AME) licence issued by Transport Canada.
Aircraft mechanics may progress to supervisory positions with experience or, if they have an AME licence, to aircraft inspector.
Aircraft inspectors need several years' experience as aircraft mechanics and an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's (AME) licence with endorsements for specific aircraft types and aircraft systems issued by Transport Canada. They may acquire further endorsements to this licence to inspect and certify a broader range of aircraft and aircraft systems.

About this Occupation
16,000 persons were employed in this occupation in 1996, an increase of 12.9% from 1986. Over the same period, employment in all occupations grew by 13.1%.

4% of aircraft mechanics work part-time, well below the average of 19% for all occupations.
16% of aircraft mechanics are women, well below the average of 45% in all occupations.
The unemployment rate in this occupation averaged 3.3% from 1994 to 1996, well below the average of 6.7% for all occupations. These rates are among the lowest for technical, paraprofessional and skilled occupations and for occupations in trades, transport and equipment operation.
Average earnings of year-round, full-time workers in this occupation in 1995 were $34,800, compared to an average of $35,700 for all occupations.
Employment in this occupation is moderately sensitive to overall economic conditions but is not seasonal.

Full-Time Earnings

1995 Full-Time Earnings*
$47,700 Highest
$34,800 Average
$19,500 Lowest

* Full-time earnings of the highest 10%, the average and the lowest 10% of workers. $35,700 is the average for all occupations.

Looking to the Year 2001
Current labour market conditions for new entrants in this occupation are good. Labour market conditions for new entrants will remain good through 2001.

The skill level required of these mechanics will increase, as aircraft mechanical and control systems become more and more complex and increasingly computerized.
Most of the increase in labour requirements through 2001 for this occupation will occur in the aircraft and air transportation industries.