The Tanker Base is located at the La Ronge Airport. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

skilled workforce

Number of AMEs at La Ronge Tanker Base dropping

May 15, 2024 | 5:00 PM

A retired aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) is concerned about the lack of people entering the trade.

Shaune Lapworth, who became an AME in 1986 and spent nearly 34 years employed at La Ronge’s Tanker Base before retiring on May 4, explained there are not enough people entering the industry to replace the ones leaving.

He said in Saskatchewan, he knows of operators who are looking to hire AMEs or apprentices, but they aren’t jumping at jobs because there are many options for them to choose from.

At the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s (SPSA) Tanker Base in La Ronge, which is a major aircraft hub, he said the operation is down at least four AMEs. He said another two or three AMEs plan to leave in the fall and the provincial government has only been able to hire two apprentices to cover those departing.

“At least we were down four and, by October, I’m sure they will be down five or six licensed AMEs,” Lapworth said, adding a couple of years ago there were around 30 AMEs at the base.

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Lapworth noted the shortage is an industry-wide challenge not unique to La Ronge. He said there is only one school in the province that offers AME certification, which is the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies in Saskatoon. Each province has at least one or two schools.

Shaune Lapworth worked as an AME at La Ronge’s Tanker Base for 24 years before retiring earlier this month. (Submitted photo/Shaune Lapworth)

“How this works is to become an AME, you need four years,” he said.

“So, you do two years of school and then two years of apprenticing, or you get hired on as an apprentice and you do four years back and forth to school for nine weeks. At the end of the four years with so many hours, you can write your license to become a licensed AME.”

In order to encourage more people to enter the industry, Lapworth would like to see aircraft education at the high school level. He mentioned about 15 years ago, there was an Aircraft Maintenance Orientation Program at La Ronge’s Churchill Community High School. Some who took the class did end up in the aviation field, while others decided to join another trade.

“I personally have talked to the high school,” Lapworth said.

“With me leaving I had some time and I figured I would see if there was some interest again. It’s in the preliminary talks, they are seeing if it will fit the curriculum.”

In an email to larongeNOW, a spokesperson for the SPSA explained the agency has a suitable team of full-time AME permanent positions within the Air Operations branch based in La Ronge, noting additional term positions are held by qualified AME apprentices.

They also stated in 2024, SPSA AME’s achieved the needs of Saskatchewan during the active response season and were also available to assist other jurisdictions with mutual aid agreements, when required.

“Like other highly demanded skilled trades positions in Canada, the SPSA works to find qualified candidates when a vacancy is available,” the email read.

“Successful applicants for a permanent position must possess a valid Transport Canada Aircraft Maintenance Engineer license and meet the job requirements of the Agency. Industry-wide, hard to recruit positions are promoted by the SPSA through internal and external online platforms. The SPSA is active in recruiting at local and national events, such as career fairs.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com