Media

4 February 2009: The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and FÁS have signed an agreement which allows the IAA to give credit against examinations undertaken by Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Apprentices as part of their apprenticeship training with FÁS. The credits apply to Mathematics, Physics and Basic Aerodynamics at this time.

This move will benefit FÁS Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Apprentices, who for the first time, will no longer have to sit two examinations in these subjects. Previously, it was necessary to sit FÁS exams together with those of an approved maintenance training organisation, approved under EU rules.

(l-r) Patricia Curtain – Assistant Director General, Corporate Policy & Standards, FÁS, Kevin Humphreys, Director Safety Regulation, IAA, Sinéad Quirke, Assistant Director Regulatory Performance & Personnel Licensing Department, IAA.

Speaking on behalf of the IAA, Sinéad Quirke, Assistant Director Regulatory Performance & Personnel Licensing Department, said; “this agreement is the result of many months work on behalf of both organisations and is a very welcome initiative. It will help ensure the continuation of the highest safety standards that already exist in the area of aircraft maintenance engineering while at the same time smoothing the qualification process for the individuals involved.”

Tony Power, Director Apprenticeship at FÁS added, “I wish to extend my congratulations to everyone involved as it was a challenging task that has resulted in a significant achievement for FÁS.  More importantly, this will be of huge benefit to Aircraft Apprentices as they will now be issued examination credits by the IAA for assessments undertaken in FÁS”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Lilian Cassin
Corporate Communications Manager
Irish Aviation Authority
Tel: 061 366 226 / 087 647 4079

Maria Walshe
FÁS Communications
27-33 Upper Baggot Street,
Dublin 4
Tel: (01) 6070521 / 087 2074280

Notes to the Editors:

• The IAA is a commercial semi-state organisation responsible for the safety regulation of the Irish civil aviation industry and the provision of air traffic management services in Irish controlled airspace. The IAA ensures that Irish civil aviation operates to the highest international safety standards. 

• The regulatory functions include aircraft airworthiness certification and registration; the licensing of personnel and organisations involved in the maintenance of aircraft; the licensing of pilots, air traffic controllers and aerodromes and the approval and surveillance of air carrier operating standards and of general aviation.

• The IAA is amongst the most cost-effective providers of air traffic management and regulatory services in Europe.

• The IAA receives no funding from the Government or the Exchequer. It is a limited liability company and all shares are held by the Departments of Finance and Transport.

• In order to become a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, candidates must demonstrate levels of knowledge, skills and experience established by EASA. The IAA is responsible for issuing Aircraft Maintenance Engineer licences and does so in accordance with European standards set out in Part 66 of the European Commission Regulation 2042/2003. The IAA is also responsible for approving maintenance training organisations.

• Apprenticeship is a demand-driven, workplace and classroom, educational and training programme for employed people aimed at developing the skills of the apprentice to meet the needs of industry and the labour market.

• The apprenticeship system is a modular standards-based system generally comprising of seven alternating phases of on-the-job and off-the-job training and development. These alternating phases of training consist of three off-the-job (Phases 2, 4 & 6) and four on-the-job phases (Phases 1, 3, 5 & 7). The duration of the three off-the-job training phases does not normally exceed 40 weeks but in the case of aircraft maintenance engineer apprentices this increases to 71 weeks.