Aircraft maintenance engineer scholarship

We are offering 3 scholarships to help aircraft maintenance engineers (AME) toward earning their licence.

The scholarships encourage aspiring engineers to pursue a career in aviation maintenance and engineering.

Scholarships are open to anyone who meets the criteria. Each scholarship is to the value of $5,000 (plus GST).

Applications for the scholarship are now closed.

Read about our previous year’s winners in our online magazine, Flight Safety Australia:

General scholarship conditions

The following conditions apply to the scholarship:

  • An eligible recipient can claim the scholarship amount by providing us with proof of costs to achieve competencies associated with AME licencing.
  • The scholarship applies to only the recipient and cannot be transferred to anyone else or redeemed in any other way.
  • CASA will reimburse the recipient for qualification costs up to the scholarship amount. We will transfer the amount to a nominated bank account. The scholarship amount excludes the cost of tools.

Each scholarship will reimburse a recipient's costs towards achieving a CASA Part 66 AME licence by:

  • successfully completing progressive competencies through a maintenance training organisation (MTO). Make sure the MTO is a CASA approved organisation under Part 147
  • using a CASA approved alternative training pathway and demonstrating successful completion of competencies.

You must demonstrate successful completion of competencies by the end of the scholarship period to claim the scholarship amount. We do consider special circumstances.

Scholarship guidelines

The aircraft maintenance engineering scholarships are for anyone looking to become a licenced aircraft maintenance engineer (LAME). Our scholarships provide financial support to AMEs to help them progress towards achieving their CASR Part 66 AME licence.

Prerequisites

There are several prerequisites you need to meet before you are eligible for our scholarship. To be eligible, you will need to have:

  • started structured training towards a licence outcome or working in the industry gaining experience but haven’t participated in a structured training program
  • a minimum of 2 years in the industry with a developing journal of experience
  • you don’t have a CASR part 66 B licence.

Preference

Our scholarship prerequisite requirements are broad to allow for a diverse and wide range of applications. This way we have a larger pool of suitable and deserving applicants we can select from.

We will apply a preference to applicants who are closer to meeting the requirements for applying for issue of an initial CASR Part 66 AME licence.

We want to help those that have demonstrated:

  • an interest in aviation maintenance
  • made progress through initiative
  • portrayed a high standard of aptitude
  • promotes a positive safety culture.

While the scholarship may not cover all the costs of CASR Part 66 AME licence training, it does encourage continuing education and training to achieve one.

Category B licence

We prefer scholarship applicants who are aiming for a Category B licence. Category B licences best meets the requirements of the broader aircraft maintenance industry.

Scholarship process

  1. Application

    You submit an application form to us. Our panel will shortlist applicants and notify unsuccessful applicants by email.

  2. Shortlisting

    Shortlisted applicants submit a conflict-of-interest declaration. We will then start our verification checks.

  3. Interviews

    Our panel will begin applicant interviews. Shortlisted applicants need to provide required supporting documentation. We will then complete referee checks.

  4. Outcome

    Our Legal Advisory and Drafting Branch prepares an agreement between the successful applicants and CASA. Successful applicant confirms and signs the agreement. We will then notify unsuccessful applicants.

Evaluation criteria for the panel

Applicants will have to demonstrate they:

  • have completed the online application in full
  • can supply required supporting documentation (supporting documents provided at step 3 of the process)
  • have at least 2 years' aviation maintenance experience
  • have made reasonable efforts in their theoretical and practical training towards a CASR Part 66 AME licence. Or they can demonstrate professional hardship in being able to complete the theory and/or practical aspects
  • have an exemplary aptitude and a positive attitude towards aviation safety
  • are an Australian citizen or have permanent residency.

Interview process

The interview process of the shortlisted applicants includes:

  • reviewing their documentation
  • verifying they meet the criteria
  • assessing their:
    • communications skills
    • engineering aptitude and a commitment to aviation safety
    • ability to explain their plans and summarise their application and supporting documentation
    • ability to articulates a pathway or process intended to achieve an AME licence.

Required supporting documentation

Each applicant will need to provide supporting documents prior to their interview as part of the scholarship process. Documentation includes:

  • evidence of theory training that would contribute to CASR Part 66 licence
  • evidence of practical experience that would contribute to CASR Part 66 licence
  • 2 professional referees (non-family members), such as a previous or current employer, community leader or similar.

Application form requirements

Candidates will first need to complete the scholarship form to start their application. You will need to include:

  • personal details
  • training details
  • referee details
  • employment details
  • questions to assess suitability.
    • why should CASA award you the scholarship?
    • how do you plan to use the scholarship funds to achieve an AME licence?
    • why did you decide to become an aircraft engineer and what do you hope to achieve in the future?

Shortlisted applicants

Shortlisted applicants interviewed for the scholarship must provide details for:

  • conflict of interest declaration (pre-interview)
  • referee check (post-interview)
  • agreement entered with successful applicant.

Selection panel

A panel will assess all applications. The panel will include a CASA senior manager and technical specialists.

The panel’s decision is final. The panel will not provide further details about their decision.

We reserve the right not to award the scholarships if our selection panel finds there were no applicants who met the selection criteria.

Last updated:
4 Mar 2024
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//about-us/sponsorship-and-scholarship/aircraft-maintenance-engineer-scholarship
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