A.I.R Engineer

AIR Engineer
Airworthiness Inspection Representative of the Canadian Air Board - Department of Militia, 1919.
By 1922, under the provisions of the National Defence Act, 1922, the powers, duties and functions given the Air Board under the Air Board Act of 1919 are vested in the Minister of National Defence. The executive duties previously carried out by the Air Board are now performed by the Canadian Air Force . The Air Force includes a directorate in the Chief of Staff's Branch of the Department of National Defence, headquarters at Ottawa.
Headquarters branch is charged with:
1) the inspection and licensing of aircraft for airworthiness;
2) the examination of Pilots for competency,
3) the examination of AIR Engineers for competency. Engineer's Licences (5 types) were issued by the NDN under the Air Regulations in the following categories:
1) Division 'A' - Inspection of aircraft before flight
2) Division 'B' - Inspection of aircraft undergoing construction or complete overhaul
3) Division 'C' - Installation and inspection of aero engines before flightt
4) Division 'D' - Inspection of aero engines undergoing construction or complete overhaul
5) Division 'X' - Inspection and certification of other work (i.e electrical / compass)
4) the examination of Air Navigators for competency
Commonly spelt "Air Engineer" or air engineer.
Distinct from the "Flight Engineer" - a position and role created by RAF Bomber command in 1943.
Military aeronautics did not exist in Canada prior to World War I.
During World War I, Canadian military personnel flew with British military units of the Royal Army, Royal Engineers / Royal Flying Corps.
17 January 1920 : Canada - Air Board issued Air Regulations for 1920 come into effect establishing Air Regulations that required all Pilots, AIR Engineers, and aircraft to be licensed with the Air Board.
The Air Regulations also empowered the “Air Board” to conduct flying operations using government-owned aircraft and to form the first true CAF post WW1.
The first chairman of the Canadian Air Board, Colonel Oliver Mowat Biggar, 2nd Canadian Judge Advocate-General, & Vice-Chairman brought to his duties knowledge of overseas air policies gained while he attended the Paris Peace Conference as a Canadian delegate;
20 April 1920 : Robert McCombie is issued with the one of the first Canadian “AIR Engineer” licences.
26 June 1921 : Air Accident : Type : Curtiss JN-4, registration : Canada C-GAAM, Fatalities : None. Board of Inquiry noted that "closer inspection of aircraft of this age and more Air Engineer courses are recommended"
September 1927 : Canadian Department of National Defence policy for approved "Canadian Flying Clubs" is that the Department will issue to any duly incorporated club or association approved by the Minister of National Defence for this purpose, two light aeroplanes free of charge. The club or association will be required to:
1) make proper provision for the housing, maintenance and repair of the aeroplanes,
2) to arrange for the use of a flying field (or a seaplane base)
3) to arrange forthe services of a qualified instructor to be approved by this Department to supervise the flying, and
4) to arrange for a licensed AIR Engineer for the maintenance of the aircraft in an airworthy condition
Standard Conditions for Light Aeroplane Clubs and Associations Canada circa 1928 specify that the club provide:
1) a flying field which filled the requirements of the Air Regulations ;
2) storage for the aircraft and equipment from the Department of National Defence;
3) arrange for an air instructor and licensed air engineer;
4) have a roll of at least thirty members prepared to qualify as pilots, and
5) at least ten members who have already qualified and were "desirous of continuing to fly".
The Department of National Defence would then provide:
A) two aircraft and additional necessary equipment;
B) a $100 grant for each student who qualified for a pilot's license;
C) periodical inspection of aircraft;
D) a board of inquiry to investigate any accidents. (source ref: - Canada Gazette, Order in Council 24 September 1927 P.C. # 1878)
1940 : G.A. Thompson, General manager of Canadian Airways Limited, writes the Chief of Air Services to complain about technical / maintenance personnel "poaching” by the RCAF and continued to complain of personnel shortages after the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan began to fall into stride: In order to fulfill our contract to operate No. 2 Air Observers' School at Edmonton it will be necessary for us to draw on Canadian Airways' engineers for key positions and for training of other mechanics at the 0bservers' School. This means that on some of our longer runs it will be difficult for us to send as crew men licenced air engineers to certify the aircraft and engine airworthy each day as required by Air Regulations.... To take care of this situation might we suggest that our experienced pilots be granted temporary air engineers' certificates for the duration of the war, so that they will be in a position to sign out any aircraft and will only require a helper with them as crew men.... This would materially assist not only Canadian Airways northern operations but most probably the operations of all companies operating in the north.... I understand a very similar arrangement has been made to provide B and D licensed air engineers for the elementary pilots training schools.... “
05 January 1952 : Canada Gazette : Aircraft Mechanic, Grade 1. Department of Transport, Edmonton, Alta. $214-9242 per month.
Open to qualified male residents of the Edmonton Air Services District (which consists of the Province of Alberta, the Northwest Territories west of the 110th meridian, Yukon Territory and that part of British Columbia north and east of a line ten miles west of the Alaska Highway).
Qualifications:
1) High school education;
2) At least five years of experience in the maintenance and repair of aircraft and aircraft engines;
3) Personal suitability and satisfactory physical condition conforming to the requirements for a Private Pilot's Licence;
4) Possesion of an Air Engineer's Certificate endorsed in categories “A " and "C" or
5) Possesion of the new Aircraft Maintenance Engineers " M " licence under Category “A” for at least one of the following aircraft; Douglas DC-3; Lockhead 1848. 10-A or 12-A; Beechcraft C-18-VS or D-17-S; Avro Anson V ; DeHaviland DHC-2.
AIR Engineers are the Canadian equivalent of the British Ground Engineer their training and licencing follows the British format and guidance materials.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu