March 19, 2024 | By Matt Jones 
Air Canada have announced an agreement with seven colleges across Canada to provide financial assistance to students who self-identify as women or visible minorities who are looking at a career as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME).
“Air Canada is committed to fostering the next generation of AMEs and we are proud to collaborate with these schools from across Canada,” said Joshua Vanderveen, Vice President of Maintenance at Air Canada. “This scholarship is in addition to other programs we have in place, such as workplace integrated learning, and will help traditionally under-represented students move forward with their education in this exciting, professional STEM field.”
The seven schools are the British Columbia Institute of Technology and BC’s Northern Lights College, École Nationale d’Aérotechnique in Quebec, and Centennial College, Fanshawe College, Canadore College, Mohawk College and Northern Lights College, all of which are in Ontario. One student from each school will receive a $1,500 scholarship to assist with education costs. Those awarded the scholarship will also be offered an opportunity for a work placement with Air Canada Maintenance.
“Today’s AMEs are highly skilled people who require technical expertise, critical thinking skills, effective, collaborative problem-solving abilities in working with some of the most complex and advanced commercial aircraft,” said Vanderveen. “Through initiatives like this, Air Canada is working to help the Canadian aviation industry continue developing skilled AMEs to support commercial flights.”
Women and minorities are typically underrepresented in the aircraft maintenance field – in 2022, Transport Canada noted that only 2% of licensed AME are women. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 89.3% of aircraft mechanics and service technician were Caucasian in 2021. Air Canada’s agreement with the colleges lasts three years, there is no word on whether they intend to continue the scholarship beyond that.
