Yellowknife (May 09/03) - The fact they have to apprentice for another two years before being licensed didn't quell the enthusiasm of five aircraft maintenance engineers during their graduation ceremony April 28.

The graduates, families and friends of Buffalo School of Aviation gathered at the Explorer Hotel to celebrate the completion of the two-year program.

"It's both a practical hands-on profession and an academic one," said Jim McFarlane, Buffalo School of Aviation chief instructor, before the ceremony.

"It's a mental challenge and a practical challenge. You have to work very precisely because people's lives are at stake."

The students were happy to be graduating, especially after the school lost its accreditation last year when it failed to meet curriculum requirements for the maintenance program. In April Transport Canada re-certified the school after auditors determined it met with federal requirements as an approved aircraft training organization.

Grads love their new job

Graduate Carolyn George was the only woman in the class. She recently won the gold medal at the Territorial Skills Competition for aircraft maintenance and will be representing the Northwest Territories at the national level in June. She will be doing her two-year apprenticeship at Buffalo.

"I like everything," said George of her job. "After you figure out what you're doing it's cool."

George made the career switch after spending a "miserable" year working in an office. She said it was "definitely hard" being the only woman in a male dominated profession.

"I wasn't exactly out of my element," she said, adding she grew up with three older brothers. "It was what I was used to."

Her fellow graduate James Dwojak has always loved aircraft and said he tries not to think about the stress of his new occupation.

"I don't think about the stress," he said. "I just go and do it and get somebody to check it."

Dwojak will also be apprenticing at Buffalo.