CAE has expanded its Master Technician programme for organisations and individuals that seek to attain the highest standards of technical excellence and professionalism in business aircraft maintenance. The programme builds on the previous programme by offering technicians the flexibility to enhance their skills and competencies along two distinct tracks: specialist and people leader.

The new Master Technician programme addresses the need for independent certification of technical and leadership skills as the industry faces unprecedented demand for aircraft maintenance technicians. CAE's 2023 Aviation Talent Forecast predicts a need for 402,000 new maintenance technicians industrywide over the next 10 years, 74,000 in business aviation.

“The CAE Master Technician programme gives technicians two structured paths to build their skills and advance along a career path, recognising competency development, not just aircraft-specific training events to bring them closer to their ideal career,” says Alexandre Prevost, CAE division president, business aviation and helicopter training. “As a large proportion of the existing aircraft maintenance technician population approaches retirement age, the Master Technician programme addresses the challenge of developing the next generation of professionals and ensuring they have the skills and knowledge needed to keep the industry flying safely.”

The new programme provides trainees access to a wide array of skill enhancement and training to advance their skills together with multiple pathways to becoming a Master Technician, including a specialist track and a people leader track. With three levels of achievement, namely Certified, Advanced and Master, trainees can reach a Master Technician status in less time than in previous Master Technician career development programmes.