The Ab-Initio Trainee Programme is designed to suit the local aircraft industry and its needs to meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Training Manual Part D1 Aircraft Maintenance (Technicial/Engineer/Mechanic) Doc. 7192 AN/857, and the necessity for the aircraft industry in Guyana to produce its own highly trained aircraft technicians and mechanics.

The Primary objectives of the Ab-Initio Trainee Programme are:

1. To prepare and familiarize persons, having little or no experience of engineering, especially aircraft engineering, with the basic skills necessary to perform competently on the hangar floor.
2. To expose the trainee to all the classroom training over a three year period to enable the trainee to reach L.W.T.R. (Licence Without Type Rating) standard (equivalent to the aim of the Modular Programme) at the end of three years.
3. To ensure that the hangar and workshop experience gained by the trainee is commensurate with the classroom training and that it is as thorough as possible within the trainee's environment.
   

The Ab-Initio Programme Outline:

Each Programme is broken down as follows

a) Knowledge Training - 1100 hours in classroom.
b) Practical Training - 6 weeks basic workshop.
c) Practical Training - 1300 hours - base maintenance, line maintenance and administrative procedures, which includes attachment to the

following departments:-

i) Technical Records
ii) Stores
iii) Quality Department
iv) Tool Store
v) Library
vi) Hangar Floor (Base)
vii) Hangar Floor (Line)

Selection and Course Requirements:

All prospective attendees of the Ab-Initio Trainee Programme must in the first instance satisfy the employee selection procedures adopted by his sponsoring organization, if being sponsored.

The minimum requirements for acceptance onto the Ab-Initio Trainee Programme are:

i) 3 CXC's or their equivalent in Mathematics, English and a Science Subject.
ii) Satisfactory completion of the Art Williams*Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School Psychometric Aptitude Test which identifies the prospective attendee's suitability and adaptability to the learning process to be experienced after selection.

All students enrolled onto the Ab-Initio Trainee Programme will be registered in a database and a file held which will detail, as a minimum:

• Student's initial application form
• Copies of student's CXC (or equivalent) Certificates
• All results of examinations written as a student of the Art Williams*Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School, including details of re-sits
• Details of any behavioral problems experienced during the duration of the Programme Certification

A Certificate of Achievement will be issued for successful completion of courses. The Certificate of Achievement shall contain on the front face the following information:

• Student's name
• Grade (Pass, Merit or Distinction) achieved
• Course Title
• Number of hours in course
• Commencement date and completion date of course
• Signatures of Principal and Chairman of Board of Directors

Brief details of the subjects covered are listed on the reverse side of the Certificate of Achievement

Grades are calculated as follows:
• Pass = 75 to 81%
• Merit = 82 to 90%
• Distinction = 91 to 100%

A student not achieving a minimum of 75% is given a referral. A "refer" indicates that one retest is to be attempted. Lack of success in the retest results in a "fail" and a Certificate of Attendance is issued. Success in the retest results in a "pass" being awarded, regardless of the level of success.

Upon completion of the Ab-Initio Programme in either Mechanical or Avionics Discipline, a Completion Certificate is issue. This will have a profile of all courses completed. This certificate is used for entrance to the UG Diploma of Technology- Aeronautical Engineering and for Application to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority for the Licence Examination to become a Licenced Aircraft Engineer.