If you think you have what it takes to build and repair complex electronic navigation, guidance and communications systems, or repair the instrumentation and flight controls of an aircraft, Centennial College's Aviation Technology - Avionics Maintenance & Management program can help.
Why this program?
Accredited by Transport Canada (TC), the Aviation Technology - Avionics Maintenance & Management program is geared to the aircraft industry's needs, and the College's highly skilled faculty members and instructors are some of the best in the business. They bring with them years of industry experience and extensive technical expertise as well as a deep commitment to your success.
Beyond faculty support, aviation industry giant Bombardier named Centennial its trainer of choice in the manufacturing and maintenance of its aerospace products. External program partners and supporters are members of Centennial's advisory committees and participate as guest speakers and panelists, sharing their wealth of knowledge and expertise with students. That means you'll not only learn first-hand where your career can take you, but you'll also receive invaluable insight from those who have shaped the industry.
The combination of essential theoretical knowledge and the practical skills to apply that knowledge on real aircraft and aircraft systems, under the focused direction of industry-seasoned faculty and instructors, with industry support, will result in a 360-degree education.
What can I expect?
By the time you graduate, you'll be fully prepared for work as a bench technician in avionics-approved shops at a variety of aviation organizations.
You'll learn the essential theory and broad base of knowledge for complex electronics and electrical systems related to the navigation, guidance, communications, instrumentation and flight controls of an aircraft. Working in labs, shops and a large aircraft hangar, you'll practice the tasks and skills associated with shop bench work, and the testing, troubleshooting, repair, removal and installation of electrical, electronic and instrumentation systems. This program will also give you the opportunity to obtain additional business and management skills related to and required by the industry at large.
An aircraft maintenance engineer is responsible for the certification of aircraft electrical and electronic systems after the completion of maintenance, inspection, repair or replacement. The importance of that responsibility cannot be understated. To that end, this program will be comprehensive and will require you to be dedicated and focused throughout the learning process.
What will I have when I’m done?
Diploma
You'll graduate with a coveted diploma from a highly respected college, with the required knowledge and skills needed for a career in organizations that will include general aviation, manufacturing, repair, overhaul and airlines.
Accreditation
With TC accreditation, the program will provide you with the basic training required to become a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer. If you meet accreditation standards, you'll be exempt from writing the TC technical examinations for issue of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Licence and will be granted 18 months experience credit toward the issue of an AME “E” rated licence.
The passing grade for all technical courses is 60 per cent. To be eligible for accreditation, you must meet the following mandatory grading, attendance, and practical performance requirements in all technical courses:
95 per cent attendance level (over the two-year program)
70 per cent (B) grade in all technical courses
Successfully complete all mandatory practical tasks
Degree credit
As a graduate, you may be eligible to participate in pathway programs with partnering institutions or articulated programs with select universities. These programs will allow you to receive degree and academic credit for your work at Centennial College and apply that credit toward further study (e.g., Technology Management degree).
Program Highlights
The program is structured to run in seven-week blocks, allowing you to concentrate your studies on a set number of courses within that time frame. At the end of the training block you'll complete your final test(s), have a one-week break period and then move on to the next set of training courses.
If you don't meet any/all of the accreditation criteria, you may be eligible to graduate from the program provided you successfully complete all the requirements for graduation.
Notes:
Due to the technical nature of the curriculum, you must be able to read, write and comprehend the English language at a level exceeding basic conversational English.
Classes may run between the hours of 7:30 am to 8:30 pm.
- Minimum Passing Grade: a "C" grade in all courses, except COMM/GNED, is required to graduate
- Minimum Passing Grade COMM/GNED: a "D" grade is required to graduate.
Air Canada, Kelowna Flight craft, Porter Airlines, Air Georgian, WestJet, Air Transat, Jazz, First Air, Bombardier, Magellan Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Messier Dowty, Transport Canada, IMP Group, Mid Canada Mod Centre, Kitchener Aero, Cascade Aerospace, Department of National Defense, Flight Safety Canada Aviation
Educational Partners
Qualified graduates may be eligible to participate in pathway programs with partnering institutions. These pathway programs allow you to receive degree credit for learning obtained at Centennial College. Our partners include:
Athabasca University, Alberta
Seneca College, Ontario
Wilfred Laurier University, Ontario
Algoma University, Ontario
Professional Associations
Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA)
Placement Partners
Centennial’s Aerospace and Aviation department working in partnership with Air Canada, Air Georgian, Bombardier and other industry organizations, provides eligible students with the opportunity to take part in both work integrated learning and job shadowing opportunities where and when available.
Accreditation
The program is accredited by the Federal Government Licensing body (Transport Canada) and the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace. Students that meet accreditation standards are:
Exempt from having to write the TC technical examinations for issue of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME),
Granted 18 months experience credit towards the issue of a TC AME “E” rated license, and
Recognized as having met the basic training requirements for CCAA occupational trade certification as an AVT (avionics maintenance technician).
To be eligible for accreditation students must meet mandatory grading, attendance and practical performance requirements in all technical courses, which include an absenteeism rate of less than five percent (of the total program hours), a 70% (B) grade in every course and successful completion of all mandatory practical tasks.
Career Outlook
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME)
Avionics maintenance technician (AVT)
Avionics/Electrical/Electronic mechanic or technician
Mathematics Grade 11 M or U, or Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take a Centennial College Math Skills Assessment for Admission
Due to the technical nature of the curriculum, you must be able to read, write and comprehend the English language at a level exceeding basic conversational English.
You will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (clear safety glasses, cotton coveralls and CSA approved safety boots/shoes) for all practical shop, lab and hangar activities.
You will be expected to invest extra time on study, mandatory project completion and exam preparation.
Training in this program may be scheduled between the hours of 7:30 am through 8:30 pm.
Transfer Credit
Due to Transport Canada accreditation requirements, the option for transfer credit is only applicable to certain General Education (COMM, GNED elective) courses in the Aviation Technology - Avionics Maintenance & Management program. Applicability and approval is subject to review.
Safety Requirements
Students are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (clear safety glasses with side shields, cotton coveralls and CSA approved safety boots/shoes) for all practical shop, lab and hangar activities.
If you are applying through the Second Career Strategy, please apply at the Employment Training Centre for Second Career (Progress Campus). Second Career Strategy is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Second Career Strategy.
If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $95 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
International Students
If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS).
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
Fall registration begins mid-July January registration begins mid-December May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.