– There is a shortage of aircraft technicians, and we are facing a major generational change. At the other end, we are unable to fill the study places, because the young people see that they do not get anything in return for seven years of education before they can get the license. This is how the leader Jan Skogseth of the Norwegian Aircraft Technician Organization (NFO) explained the background for the wage demands, which have affected air traffic throughout the country since the weekend, to E24 this week. The aircraft technicians demand a salary increase of about 18 percent. The NFO justifies this, among other things, with the fact that an aircraft technician must have at least seven years of education. But these are divided into three years of upper secondary education and two years of practice as an apprentice. Thereafter, one to two years of specialization are required to obtain a certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority as an aircraft technician, which is required to be able to approve aircraft for use after maintenance. It is thus not an education at college or university level. Aviation at Bodø upper secondary school is located at the Aviation Museum in Bodø. Photo: Ingrid Gulbrandsen Årdal / news Waiting lists for aeronautics Jon-Tore Henriksen is the department manager for aeronautics in Bodø. It is one of four schools in the country that have this education. There, the waiting lists are long to get in, Henriksen explains to news. – This year there were 137 on the waiting list in Bodø. There are three intakes and the last one we took in was in 50th place. This means that more than 80 applicants are left on the waiting list. – To take the aircraft technician certificate, you must have a minimum of four in grade. There are quite high demands and that is perhaps where the challenge lies, says Henriksen. Henriksen also points out that increased salaries do not provide more educational places. – But the salary will have something to say for young people applying for the education. Figures from the Directorate of Education show that 130 students study aviation at the four schools in Bardufoss, Bodø, Sola and Skedsmo. The number of applicants is about double. In 2021, the education had 249 applicants, while the number was 265 this spring. This earns them Night to Saturday, the first aircraft technicians were taken out on strike. On Tuesday, the number is 106 technicians, and towards the end of the week it was announced that another 39 could be taken out on strike. Statistics Norway operates with an average salary for aircraft technicians of NOK 771,840, without overtime. – If the basic salary for an aircraft technician is lower than an electrician, perhaps the young people apply there instead. Part of the recruitment will also be a salary issue, Henriksen points out. As a fully trained aircraft mechanic, you earn NOK 686,280 a year, according to figures from Statistics Norway. But flight technicians often work night shifts, on weekends and holidays. It is because it is at these times that most planes are on the ground and can be serviced. Need experienced flight technicians NFO, for its part, believes that the average salary is less than NOK 600,000 for an aircraft technician, without supplement for unfavorable working hours. After seven years of schooling at upper secondary level and apprenticeship, you will be able to get approval as a technician on one type of aircraft. During the apprenticeship period, you earn 274,080 kroner a year according to Aftenposten. But you have to expand with new courses to get approval for several aircraft types. – You are an aircraft technician after seven years, but not an experienced aircraft technician. It takes several years before you are at the level. It is the experienced aircraft technicians who solve the problems in everyday life. This saves hours of delay, compared to a new aircraft technician, according to Jan Skogseth in NFO. In Europe, the following are required to become an aeronautical technician: Pass all relevant aeronautical engineering exams at an approved upper secondary school. Approved schools in Norway are those that have an aviation subject line. These are Bardufoss, Bodø, Skedsmo and Sola. 3 years of practice Aged 21 years Passed course in an aircraft type, e.g. Widerøe’s propeller aircraft, or SAS’s jet aircraft. There are no restrictions on how many types of aircraft you can become a technician on. Source: Utdanning.no
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This is what the aircraft technicians earn after seven years of schooling – news Nordland
