Five years ago, almost to the day, I went onto the SAIT website and downloaded an application to study aircraft maintenance as the first step in getting my AME license. At 39 years, I wasn’t the oldest guy who had ever applied, but I was certainly the oldest in the class! Today, I received that little piece of paper that states that I’m a licensed M1 AME!

As you can imagine, a lot has happened in between the day I submitted the application and today. However, the story actually started before that. After graduating high school, I waffled back and forth between a career in aviation (pilot and/or AME) and an engineering degree. My parents suggested that an engineering degree would provide more options for me, so I traveled down that path and received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering.

However, even while studying at Ryerson in Toronto, I spent my summers working on airplanes: first with the Government of Newfoundland on their water bombers, King Air, and Cessna 337; then later with City Express Airlines on their Dash 8s, Dash 7s, and Saunders ST-27. Even after I graduated, I wondered if I had made the right choice.

I moved back to Newfoundland and started working in an engineering company, but my career took a turn, and I ended up becoming a computer nerd instead. Sixteen years later, I found myself working for Encana as an IT manager in what could best be described as a successful career. Successful or not, I wasn’t happy. I was now a desk jockey and seldom did any “real” work. I began to realize that I was happiest in my job when working on the nuts and bolts of computer hardware and software. Then, there was also the experience I had building and servicing the Christavia and Cessna 150 I owned. My mind was made up: I would leave my IT career and go back to school.

So, I submitted my application, and in January 2007, I heard that I had been accepted to the AME course. I finished up at work at the beginning of May 2007 and spent the summer working on the cabin. In September, I went back to school!

Going back to school at age 40 was a weird experience. I was a student, but in many cases, I was older than the instructors! I was learning, but in some cases, I think the instructors learned as much from me as I did from them!

Of course, I was there to learn; and learn I did. With my experience and educational background, I found that the course filled in blanks rather than taught me new concepts.

Unfortunately, there were a couple of courses that were of no value at all. Let’s face it, after four years of aerospace engineering and years of flying, the aerodynamics course was a complete loss for me. The math course wasn’t much better.

There were a couple of courses that were especially useful, though. The sheet metal and composite courses really improved my building skills. The electrical and electronics lab courses were helpful in learning the practical side of wiring and electronics troubleshooting. Of course, my favorite course was the engine rebuilding lab where we got to disassemble a brand-spanking-new Lycoming O-320 and put it back together, then finally run it! Other highlights included running a genuine Pratt and Whitney R-1340 on the nose of a Harvard, running a PT6A on a King Air, and a Bell 206.

In April 2009, I finally graduated from SAIT and started job hunting. I had started looking before graduating but hadn’t found much. Most of the class was in the same boat as I, but a week after finishing up, I came across Klarenbach Aviation at Springbank Airport.

At Klarenbach, I started out with simple tasks such as oil changes, tire replacements, and helping out with inspections. It didn’t take long to realize that Klarenbach’s clientele had some really nice planes. Before long, I was working on the latest Diamond aircraft and even a couple of new Piper Malibus. Even the “old” airplanes were relatively new.

Some of the noteworthy aircraft I have had a chance to work on include the DA-42 twin Diesel, the Cessna 195 (our very own Brian Byl’s), the Cessna turbo 206 on amphibs, the Piper Malibu, and the Malibu JetProp conversion, and yes, even a Mark III Harvard.

Another unique experience I’ve had while working at Klarenbach has been in the avionics field. The company also owns Canadian Avionics & Instruments Ltd. As well as my normal tasks of airframe and engine maintenance, I’ve had the opportunity to install radios, transponders, EFIS systems, and engine monitors.

So, as I mentioned, I recently received my license. One would think that a logical place to start exercising the license would be on a simple little oil change or tire repair. Instead, I’ve jumped into the deep end by signing off a Piper Malibu JetProp that was abandoned for more than two years and needs to be ferried back to Calgary in the middle of winter, with unserviceable landing gear retraction, unserviceable cabin pressurization, and under VFR conditions only. Despite this, it was really cool to finally sign off my own work. By the way, signature number two was a simple oil change on a DA-20.

As you may have noticed, this month’s issue is a bit on the slim side. Please, if you have any interesting stories, I would be more than happy to publish them in the Skywriter. I am in desperate need of articles.

Well, that’s it for this month… and this year. I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!