Now, if you thought that flying was difficult, I don't know what you'd say about aeronautical engineering. Maybe you calculus and linear algebra lovers out there would feel at home doing this course! ;p
However, I give props (pun intended) to those 'brave' men and women who have taken to pursue this line of work. Without these guys, we would not be able to experience the joys of flying and confirm what Leornado Da Vinci once remarked, that "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you will always long to return".
Speaking to a brilliant engineer all the way from the Land of the Maple leaf aka Canada, Engineer Amy Rhodes shares with us her story of how she ended up in this field.
[ Images courtesy Amy Rhodes]
Amy is a licensed aircraft engineer working with Air Canada and she is currently endorsed on the Airbus A220, (one of the new aircraft currently making huge strides in the 100-150 seat market according to Airbus), among many other aircraft. She gives us a glimpse of what it is like to work as an engineer at a World Class airline. Check out this interesting interview!!
First things first Amy, please tell us briefly about yourself, what sparked your interest in aeronautical engineering and how your journey has been like right from when you set foot in your first class to where you currently work
I was born in Norway, raised in Canada. I started off my post secondary education by getting my bachelor's degree in psychology. That was a 4 year program and after I graduated, I realized I wanted something a lot more hands on. Both my parents are in the oil field but that didn't spark my interest. I have always loved cars and looked into car mechanics but the wait time was long.
So, I opted for aircraft maintenance and chose the electrical side of it. When I first enrolled, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into.
The course was very enjoyable and I could tell early on I was going to enjoy this career but also I would be learning more and more every day.
I learned quickly after graduating that I would have to be flexible on where I was willing to live because jobs were scarce at the time. I moved to Calgary and got my first job in manufacturing at Viking. We manufactured the 400 series Twin Otter and I couldn't have picked a better place to start the long road in my career. I learned all the basics of terminating wires, basic tool usage, running wire bundles, soldering and lots of useful knowledge that I have carried with me to every new job after that.
Because there might be prospective students reading this who are considering training abroad, what are the entry requirements, cost considerations and other miscellaneous factors that they should consider before joining institutions such as the one you trained in? Are there any scholarships for foreign students?
The entry requirements for the program I chose is to have your high school diploma with the equivalent to grade 12 mathematics. I took the avionics program at NSCC (Nova Scotia Community College ). The program at the time cost $22000 CAD but there were lots of opportunities to get scholarships or sponsorships through different companies.
Which other institutions would you recommend for training in Canada?
I would personally recommend SAIT in Calgary, Alberta as a prime place for training. I have heard their facilities are amazing and a lot cheaper. BCIT in BC (British Colombia) is also a good place.
Usually, after completing the foundation phases of aeronautical engineering, how does one decide which aircraft they would like to get rated on, and do factors such as marketability of a particular aircraft or training costs for a particular aircraft rating come into play?
After completing school, it's really up to whichever company you apply for which will dictate what aircraft type you work on. At Air Canada when you get hired, they will typically assign you Narrow body or Wide body and from there you can start applying for whatever courses you are interested in. Sometimes you don't get to choose and instead you will just be assigned. I applied for the MAX for my first endorsement since I saw it was going to be quite a popular and fuel efficient aircraft.
Now, you recently hit a huge milestone by getting endorsed on the A220. What did it take for you to get this (tell us about ratings you had to do etc) and what challenges did you have to overcome?
I recently got endorsed on the A220 which means that I have completed the hours required in class and practical portion according to Transport Canada. The only requirement you have to do the endorsement is having your AME license and passing every exam by a mark of 70% and only being able to miss 8 hours of class time total.
How does the Airbus A220 compare to other aircraft that you are rated on what do you like about this aircraft seeing as more and more airlines are considering adding it to their fleet?
After Viking my second job was for the regional airline Jazz. With Jazz, I got my endorsement on the CRJ705/900 and Dash 8 100/200/300. The A220 has a lot of similarities to the CRJ since they are both Bombadier products so it feels like I know a little bit about it already. I love the fact that it is such a smart aircraft and is very avionics heavy.
What is it like working for a world class airline such as Air Canada and when preparing to work for such a company, what skills, knowledge should one have at their fingertips?
I had always had the goal of eventually working for the #1 airline in Canada and am proud to say I accomplished that goal. Coming into the company I honestly think the most important thing to have is an attitude that you are willing and wanting to learn. There are a lot of people who have been with the company for so long that have so much valuable knowledge that you can only gain from experience, not books, so I take every opportunity to soak every ounce of it up when I can.
Would you like to share any crazy incidences that have happened in your experience as an engineer?
I would say the craziest thing I did at work so far was crush my fingertip on the handle of a 767 haha...It was very painful and I leaned quickly how not to close a door handle on a 767.
Are there any perks to pursuing aeronautical engineering from your point of view.
There are so many perks!!! I absolutely love what I do, I get to see the world and learn so much every day. It feels so rewarding.
Lastly, a bit of a tricky question here........Boeing or Airbus:P?
Boeing all the way ;)
Any words of advice or insights ( could be based on realities on the ground with respect to the job etc)
Don't let anything about this industry intimidate you. It's an amazing world to be a part of and I encourage anyone who wants to try it just to give it a shot. You won't be disappointed!!!!
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