Overview
Study for a career as an aircraft repair or structures technician, leading up to your Aircraft Maintenance Engineer license, through this program that teaches the modification and repair of aircraft, helicopters and their structural components.
The Aircraft Structures Technician program offers the student the knowledge and skills required to enter a career to become an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) “S”. As an “S” licensed aircraft maintenance engineer, you will be responsible for the manufacture and repair of aircraft and aircraft components.
This program covers all the aspects of aircraft structure repair to general aviation, corporate, charter, transport category aircraft, and helicopters. Training includes traditional aluminum sheet metal structure as well as advanced composite material manufacturing and repair.
All classes scheduled in this two semester program are located at the Art Smith Aero Centre for Training and Technology, located at the Calgary International Airport.
Some of the courses in this program are web-based and will require the students to access information from the Internet. These courses are delivered in one of the two computer labs available at the Art Smith Aero Centre. Students are not required to purchase a laptop for this program.
Is this the right fit for me?
Most successful students spend approximately one hour each day doing homework and review, with additional study required to prepare for exams.
The material is presented at a fairly rapid rate so for the greatest level of success students must be present and take responsibility for their learning experience.
Students must be able to read, write and comprehend the English language at a level exceeding basic conversational English. Students with higher grades usually experience more success in SAIT programs.
Accreditation
The program’s accreditation is ongoing and subject to periodic audits from Transport Canada.
To receive Transport Canada credit towards the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers "S" license, graduates who are in compliance with the required attendance (95%) and minimum marks of 70% receive 10 months credit towards the "S" Category AME license.
Credential
Upon successfully completing this program, graduates will be awarded a SAIT Certificate as an Aircraft Structures Technician.
Get more information about this and similar programs
Career opportunities
Graduates can pursue job opportunities as a(n):
- aircraft structures technician
- aircraft maintenance engineer (AME)*
* Upon completion of their AME “S” license.
Related careers include:
- aerospace engineer
- avionics technician
Tuition and fees
Estimated cost per year:
Domestic total 2023/24
- Year 1: $9,994
International total 2023/24
- Year 1: $26,199.67
Final costs are dependent on the number of courses a student takes per semester.
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
Government of Alberta invests $10.8 million in SAIT to fund high-demand programs
Investment in SAIT allows more students to pursue programs in growing industries
Admission requirements
Program requirements
Applicants must meet the following or equivalent:
- at least 50% in Math 20-1 or Math 20-2, and
- at least 50% in English Language Arts 30-1 or English Language Arts 30-2
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.
SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada. SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
When should you apply?
Visit our Apply page to see when applications open and close for upcoming semesters.
To see which semesters this program has intakes for, look at the Available Intakes information at the top of this page.
Direct entry: four-step process
Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.
Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the admission requirements listed above.
Step 3: Apply to the program and submit your transcripts.
Admission will be extended on a first-qualified, first-offered basis until the program is full.
Step 4: Continue to monitor your application status through mySAIT.ca.
You must submit final transcripts/grades to show you have completed the courses and met the minimum admission requirements by the transcript deadline or your seat will be rescinded.
This program meets the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program for international students as long as the student is enrolled in the on-campus delivery mode or completes more than 50% of the courses on campus (for the blended option). International students attending all classes online will NOT be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. International students are responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.
Communication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the transportation.info@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
When do classes start?
Classes for this program adhere to the following year start and end dates based on the semester the student begins their program.
| Classes begin | Year start date | Year end date |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2022 | May 9, 2022 | Dec. 16, 2022 |
| Fall 2022 | Sept. 6, 2022 | April 28, 2023 |
| Winter 2023 | Jan. 9, 2023 | August 18, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | April 26, 2024 |
Courses
Program update
This program is currently under review and is subject to change for the upcoming academic year. Please check back for updated information.
Program outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
Semester 1
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| AERO-203 | Aircraft Wood and Fabric Repair | 1.5 |
| AERO-204 | Aircraft Windows and Lenses | 1.5 |
| AERO-207 | Aerodynamics for Aircraft Structures | 1.5 |
| AERO-300 | Interpretation of Aircraft Drawings | 1.5 |
| AREG-250 | Introduction to Canadian Aviation Regulatory Requirements | 1.5 |
| EMTL-224 | Intro to Aircraft Metallurgy | 1.5 |
| EMTL-335 | Introduction to Aircraft Metal Structures | 6.0 |
| ENGN-230 | Aircraft Propulsion | 1.5 |
| INSP-203 | NDI Introduction for Aircraft | 1.5 |
| STDP-230 | Standard Practices Lab | 1.5 |
| STDP-235 | Standard Practices Theory | 1.5 |
| Semester 1 total | 21.0 | |
Semester 2
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ASYS-306 | Airframe Systems Theory | 1.5 |
| EMTL-330 | Aircraft Composite Structures | 6.0 |
| EMTL-336 | Advanced Aircraft Metal Structures | 6.0 |
| HFAC-245 | Human Factors | 1.5 |
| INSP-226 | Aircraft Corrosion | 1.5 |
| PNTG-234 | Aircraft Sealing | 1.5 |
| Semester 2 total | 18.0 | |
| Program total | 39.0 | |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring in, within or on from SAIT is available.
Learn more about program and institution partnership agreements.
Costs 2022/23
Domestic tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $197
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $7,683 | $916 | $553 | $9,152 |
International tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $619.15
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $24,146.85 | $916 | $553 | $25,615.85 |
*Maximum fee. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits a student takes per semester and whether they opt-out of health and dental benefits.
SAIT fees
- Campus athletic and recreation fee: $196
- Universal transit pass (Upass): $320
- Student support fee: $200
- Student technology fee: $200
Saitsa fees
Student Association fee
- Maximum: $291
This is the maximum amount the student will pay. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits the students take per semester.
Health and dental fees
- Health plan: $127
- Dental plan: $135
Students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Please refer to Saitsa's website for information.
Books and supplies*
Books are approximately $400 for the year.
The required tools and personal safety equipment will cost approximately $850; however, prices vary depending on the quality and brand of tools chosen.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about tuition and financial aid.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year. *
Domestic students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $8,424 | $948 | $622 | $9,994 |
International students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $24,629.67 | $948 | $622 | $26,199.67 |
*For a detailed breakdown of tuition costs per course, visit the domestic and international fee tables.
Fees
Your fees are calculated based on the number of course credits you take per semester (approximately 16 weeks of study). In most cases, your fee is determined based on whether you're taking more or less than nine (9) course credits (more than nine credits in a semester are considered full-time studies.)
Fees are adjusted for programs with start dates outside of the typical 15-week program.
Learn more about what your fees are for
Fees are subject to change without notice.
| Fees | < 9 credits per semester | > 9 credits per semester |
| SAIT fees | ||
| Campus athletic and recreation | $51.50 | $103 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| UPass* | N/A | $160 |
| Total | $157 | $474 |
| Saitsa fees | ||
| Student association fee** | $16.22/credit | $146 |
| Health plan*** | N/A | $86 ($172 annually) |
| Dental plan*** | N/A | $79 ($158 annually) |
| Total | $311 maximum | $476 |
*Additional eligibility requirements apply for students to obtain a UPass. To check your eligibility, visit our Upass page.
**Saitsa fees are paid per credit to a maximum amount of $146 per semester.
***Health and dental fees are charged per semester to an annual maximum amount of $172 for health and $158 for dental. In most cases, program fees quoted are based on students paying for a full year of health and dental coverage. International students are charged these fees regardless of course load. Domestic students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Learn more at saitsa.com/benefits.
Books and supplies*
Books are approximately $400 for the year.
The required tools and personal safety equipment will cost approximately $850; however, prices vary depending on the quality and brand of tools chosen.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation
Program orientation for students beginning in Winter 2023 will take place on SAIT campus on Thursday, Jan. 5. Look for ORNT 118 in your schedule in mySAIT for the time and exact location.*
You can also prepare by attending Big SAIT Welcome, online information sessions, international or Indigenous orientation, and completing the preparation courses below.
*If your orientation takes place on the first day of classes, you will not see a separate ORNT 118 in your schedule. Students registering in classes via open registration will need to enroll themselves in ORNT 118.
How to register for classes
Course registration opens on March 1 through March 15 for Spring 2023.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn more about how to register and the different registration methods used at SAIT.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with a standard hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
Required equipment/tools
A tool list and timeline for purchasing the items will be provided at orientation.
Required personal protective equipment (PPE)
Students will require coveralls, safety glasses and a respirator.
The industry-approved PPE you'll need will be discussed during orientation, where you can purchase these items using debit or credit.
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 100: The SAIT Experience
Get tips and insider information on time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking and more through this free, online short course for new students. Plus, learn about discussion boards, online communication and submitting assignments online. Course completion is recommended by the end of your first semester.
Both courses can be accessed through Brightspace (D2L) before the first day of classes.
Students taking a full-time course load, or more than nine (9) credits per semester, will be automatically enrolled in these courses.
They are optional for students taking a part-time course load (9 or fewer credits per semester). Part-time students can register by emailing academic.coaching@sait.ca.
Required textbooks
Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date.
Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck, no textbook purchase required this term.
Contact
Phone: 403.284.7018
Email: aerocentre@sait.ca
Academic chair
David Moody, Academic Chair
Email: david.moody@sait.ca
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Next steps for accepted students
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
