LAME numbers boosted in 2023-24

A welcome increase in the number of licensed aircraft maintenance engineers (LAMEs) entering the workforce in 2023-24 saw CASA issue 292 licences.

That was 150% higher than the 117 licences issued in 2021-22 and 128% higher than the 128 issued in 2022-23.

"We’ll be watching this financial year’s figures to see if the turnaround is ongoing but there’s hope these figures mark a return to the pre-COVID upward trend in licence numbers," said CASA in a media release.

The 2023-24 increase includes a healthy mix of domestic and foreign applicants, including New Zealanders taking advantage of access to Australia under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act (TTMRA).

Of the 292 LAMEs, 128 were foreign conversions and 30 were converted under the TTRMA.

This is a big increase on 2022-23, when the total was 31 foreign and 19 TTRMA conversions.

The latest figures included the clearance of a large backlog of foreign licence assessments by maintenance training organisations but we also believe changes we’re making in this area will give Australian maintenance providers improved access to overseas talent.

There was also an increase in the number of women taking up maintenance careers, although the figures are still low and there’s room for improvement.

A breakdown shows 3.1% of the 292 licences were issued to women, compared to an historic level of 1.2%.

Improvements to maintenance licensing introduced or being considered by CASA include:

a modular licensing system that allows applicants to join the workforce earlier by choosing to specialise in a specific area such as piston engines
a streamlined assessment framework for foreign licences
easier recognition of qualifications gained in recognised foreign states.

CASA has also introduced a newsletter aimed specifically at engineers and increased its focus on maintenance though education, webinars, seminars and a dedicated Maintenance Month.

If you know anybody interested in a career as a LAME please encourage them to visit the CASA website and subscribe to the aircraft maintenance engineer mailing list.