Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 07/04) - Buffalo School of Aviation continues to supply the North and points beyond with qualified air industry personnel.

From left, Amber Turnbull, Linda Bermudez and Crystalle Schumacher beside a helicopter at Buffalo Airways Ltd. While Turnbull and Bermudez are aircraft maintenance students at Buffalo School of Aviation, Schumacher is an instructor. - Stephan Burnett/NNSL photo

Crystalle Schumacher is an instructor at the school with five years experience in the industry. Amber Turnbull and Linda Bermudez are only a few weeks away from finishing their first year of a two-year course.

"It's fixed wing and rotary, landing gear, weight and balance. Basically, all the systems that go along with fixed and rotary aircraft," Schumacher says.

After the two-year course and 2-1/2 year apprenticeship, students become licensed aircraft maintenance engineers.

The ratio between men and women in the airline industry is still predominantly male, says Schumacher.

"You have to have a sense of humour," says Turnbull, of being a female in the airline industry.

"If you don't, you'll never make it," adds Schumacher.

Once an aircraft maintenance engineer becomes a journeyman, they can look forward to making between $30,000 and $45,000 a year, says Schumacher. The heavy lifting required in the trade is not a problem for her.

"It all depends on your size. If you sit on the couch on the weekend you're going to have problems, but if you do it all the time, there's no problem," says Schumacher. "Especially with the jacks," she adds.

"The class is awesome, the guys respect us and we get along very well," says Turnbull.

"I definitely think it will get us ready for industry and it's interesting. I like it," adds Bermudez.