An AMT View from Europe

Lufthansa Technical Training (LTT) has for years been a leader in training aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) to work for Lufthansa Technik (LT), the MRO division of Lufthansa, and other airlines. CAT’s Robert W. Moorman interviewed Harald Schween, Head of Sales, Key Account Management and Marketing at LTT.

CAT: Most commercial airliners built today are composite as opposed to aluminum structures. Has AMT training changed in this area?
LTT: Indeed. New skills and advanced knowledge is required for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, especially since the introduction of the latest aircraft generation, such as Boeing 787 or Airbus A350. Further, to the handling of complex composite structures on modern aircraft, new system architectures, layouts and structures in the technical publication have to be covered in the work scope of AMTs. All these new requirements are reflected in modern training and qualification programmes.

CAT: Are there other areas of enhanced expertise worth noting? For example, are AMTs today expected to be able to troubleshoot software problems, in say, avionics?
LTT: AMTs have to deal with complex electronic and avionics systems, in the sense of troubleshooting and fault isolation. There is a key benefit of comprehensive training that enables AMTs to not just replace “black-boxes” to rectify a fault iteratively, which can be very expensive and time consuming, but to fully understand the system behavior instead and to identify the solution right away.

CAT: What qualifications must an AMT have to get hired by Lufthansa?
LTT: Beside formal authorisations, such as having an EASA CAT B1.1 licence or other specialised authorizations, we strongly believe that a broad fundament of general skills and “soft” skills are beneficial for AMTs in a modern MRO environment. For example, skills in technical aviation English, practical experience in demanding technical trades and cultural competencies are some of the required qualifications.

CAT: Is LTT’s training standardised for all of Lufthansa’s partner airlines, such as Swiss International Airlines, Eurowings, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines?
LTT: Training for formal authorisations, such as EASA licences and programmes for initial and recurrent training, are derived from the MOE (Maintenance Organisation Exposition) of each EASA Part-145 maintenance organisation within the Lufthansa Group. Hence, some deviations among the partner airline’s MROs exist. But there is a strong commonality on the general skillset and qualifications of AMTs.

CAT: Any new maintenance-related news for Lufthansa or its partner airlines that you could share with CAT readers?
LTT: The coronavirus pandemic changed the working lives of colleagues in maintenance organisations worldwide. Beside the assurance of hygienic measures in the physical work environment, the digitisation of processes and tools got a significant “push” in the last few months. LT, for example, implemented a virtual table inspection in engine overhaul that allows customers to align the engine workscope with its experts without the need of travelling to LT’s engine shop. Maintenance training is conducted in a distance mode through OnlineDistanceLearning (ODL). We are the first EASA-certified training organisation to introduce this methodology in order to continue training within the pandemic. Just recently, we got final approval for ODL from the German aviation authorities.

CAT: Does LTT provide AMT training for other airlines?
LTT: Our vast training portfolio, comprising more than 1,500 different products for basic, type and competence training, is available for maintenance organisations, airlines, schools and universities all over the world. Beyond our training centres in Germany, we provide AMT training at our international branches in the Philippines, Taiwan and China. Furthermore, we deliver tailored training solutions at customer premises upon request.

CAT: Are there new or pending regulations that will require additional training of AMTs under the Lufthansa banner?
LTT: EASA just released a preview of an amendment to the Part-66 that has a significant impact on the maintenance industry, such as new requirements on the type-rating endorsement for aircraft without a Part-147 type training, referred to as ‘legacy aircraft’, enhancement of the efficiency of on-the-job training (OJT) and reduction of the deficit of the practical skills of maintenance staff. All these contemplated new requirements will be implemented into Lufthansa Technical Training’s training programs, where relevant.

CAT: Are there new training solutions worth noting? Example, does LTI use virtual reality devices to help AMTs learn to work on airframes and powerplants?
LTT: We continuously elaborate on tools and devices that improve the quality and efficiency of training programs, such as but not limited to virtual reality. Besides using complex and expensive virtual reality devices, which are limited in the sense of a broad learning experience for the AMT, we strongly believe in the benefit of “blending” traditional and digital learning methodologies. For example, there is our tool for spherical panoramic views of aircraft, systems and sub-systems within the instructor-led class, and the provisioning of eLearning modules for the self-paced exam preparation. Without a doubt, the experienced instructor remains the key for successful learning.

CAT: What is the difference between AMT training in Europe and North America? Are there certain areas on which LTT focuses?
LTT: Without going into the details, the major difference lies in the lack of a broad theoretical knowledge and the practical skillset required to gain an FAA AMT license, compared to the EASA. I am convinced that this is a limiting factor for AMTs working under the FAA regulation to cope with all technical aspects of advanced modern aircraft in a complex maintenance environment efficiently.

CAT: What new education/training techniques has LTT developed that might aid other airlines?
LTT: The OnlineDistanceLearning (ODL) tool. We are the first EASA-certified training organisation to introduce this methodology in order to continue training during the pandemic. Just recently, we got the final approval for ODL from the German aviation authorities. We are working continuously to enhance this and other education and training techniques to cope with new and changing requirements of our customers in their maintenance environments.