Like many students preparing to leave high school, Drew Hendrickson wasn’t sure what direction he wanted to head in. He always had an interest in aviation but for some reason he can’t explain, he turned to computer science.
The 24-year-old St. John’s native says that decision caused him to struggle academically, and eventually he dropped out of university.
“I quickly found out that my skills for mathematics were pretty dismal and I struggled through a couple of semesters at Memorial University before dropping out,” he said. “I didn't have much of a back-up plan, all of my childhood dreams were professions like video game designer, musician or professional athlete. Professions that people usually started young, required a lot of skill and more importantly, luck.”
So without any idea of who or what he wanted to be, Drew set out to hitchhike across Canada to find himself. Once he was back in his home province, he says he worked a dead-end job and lived in downtown St. John’s.
“I paid all the bills, had friends and family close, but yet I still longed for my life to have some kind of definitive meaning – a goal. So, one night I just sat down at the computer and went through all of College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) programs. The one that got me was Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Technician (AMET). I saw it on the CNA webpage and started to do some research about the career.”
While Drew admits he had never picked up a wrench or screwdriver in his life prior to this program, he took a chance and hasn’t looked back since.
“I took the program because I was ready to be somebody. I had always admired airplanes, airports, etc. Traveling was always a blast for me and deep down I would have loved to learn to fly. With that being out of reach in a monetary sense, I decided to do the next best thing; fixing planes instead of flying them.”
He says the location and cost were factors in his decision to enroll at CNA.
“It was an amazing experience for me. It’s a unique program, allowing students to train in both M (maintenance) and E (avionics) disciplines. Most colleges in Canada have specific programs, focusing on only one of the disciplines. It’s a great mix of classroom and hands-on learning.”
He also has high praise for the instructors.
“The instructors make this program. They are the strongest asset that the program has in my opinion. Their love for their careers and the aviation industry is infectious. They really care about the program and try to give their students the best possible learning experience they can,” he said, adding the instructors were always available to help and genuinely care about their students.
“If someone was failing a certain course or struggling with a project, they would find time to stay after hours or during lunches to help that student better understand the topic. There were times when I thought I was in way over my head.
“I had never used tools extensively, never knew how electricity worked; didn't even understand the basic concepts of how an engine worked and a lot of my classmates did, but the instructors did such a good job teaching that I never missed a beat. They really go above and beyond for their students. I hope they all know how much I appreciate and admire their work.”
He says CNA has many assets crucial to learning about the AMET field.
“The campus has a spacious hangar with a wide variety of functional aircraft residing in it, separate shops for sheet metal, batteries, non-destructive testing, composites, engines and avionics, a fully stocked and well maintained stores department and even a Boeing 737 out back! There’s always enough equipment to go around and the facilities are always clean and well kept.”
All of these factors are important and Drew says he would suggest to anyone looking for an exciting, hands-on learning experience, to consider the college’s aircraft programs (the college also has Aircraft Structural Repair Technician).
“They teach you to do everything right; no cutting corners, no excuses. That’s very important in this industry where attention to detail matters. I've seen some very poor work on some aircraft and it makes me proud to know that I am doing things the right way, the way my teachers showed me. It gives me confidence in my abilities and lets me know that I'm on the right track for an amazing career as a professional.”
Drew completed the program in June 2013 and had a job waiting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan before he even graduated. He was snatched up by Saskatoon Avionics Ltd., a small team of four which offers avionics installations, troubleshooting and maintenance for general aviation aircraft.
“I love everything about being an AMET. I love the responsibility that comes with it and knowing that, at the end of the day, my work matters. I'm keeping aircraft in the air and people are relying on me to get it done. It’s a very rewarding career if you put the time and dedication in,” he said.
“I have gotten so much out of this program that I can't say enough good things about it. I've already started spreading the word about the wonderful program at CNA now that I'm out west. To everyone at CNA Gander campus, thank you. I love my career and couldn't have done any of it without you. I will never have enough good to say about this program.”
For more information about CNA’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Technician program at Gander campus, visit www.cna.nl.ca.
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca