Imagine waking up in the morning to a notification that your aircraft maintenance licence—earned through years of training, dedication, and hard work—has been suddenly cancelled. This nightmare has become a harsh reality for several aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) around the globe holding Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licences (AML) issued by KIWA under the authority of the Netherlands’ Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT).
These engineers, trusted professionals who have kept aircraft safe for years, are now facing career destruction due to a retroactive decision targeting their training. Even engineers trained at globally recognised and reputable organisations such as Magnetic, MyTechnic, and Adria Technics have found their licences suspended without warning or clear justification.
“This nightmare has become a harsh reality for several aircraft maintenance engineers”
WHAT WENT WRONG? A SYSTEM IN CRISIS
This unprecedented move highlights serious failures in the aviation regulatory system:
- Contradictory Actions: KIWA, the very authority that approved and issued these licences, is now revoking them, claiming issues with training organizations that were deemed compliant for years.
- Retroactive Punishment: Engineers are being penalized for circumstances beyond their control, despite holding valid licences and maintaining impeccable safety records.
- Global Impact: Many of these professionals hold licences recognized internationally and have safely certified aircraft for years. Yet, ILT and KIWA’s actions undermine their credibility overnight.
ONE AFFECTED ENGINEER SUMMARIZED THE FRUSTRATION:
“After years of working tirelessly to maintain safety, I’m now told I don’t meet standards. But KIWA approved my licence. How is this fair?
WHY THIS MATTERS TO EVERYONE
- This crisis extends far beyond the engineers themselves it threatens aviation safety, industry stability, and public trust:
- For Airlines and MROs: Losing quialified engineers worsens an already critical workforce shortage delaying maintenance and potentially grounding aircraft.
- For Passengers: If engineers who certified planes are suddenly “unqualified” what does this mean for flight safety?
- For Professionals: Today, it´s KIWA engineers.Tomorrow, it could be any aviation professional, anywhere.
These actions not only dismantle careers but also raise alarming questions about the consistency and fairness of aviation regulation across Europe.
A DEMAND FOR TRANSPARENCY AND JUSTICE
The aviation community cannot remain silent. This crisis requires immediate action:
- Accountability: Why were these licences approved if the training was non-compliant? KIWA must answer.
- Consistency: Why have other European aviation authorities not flagged the same issues with MROs like Magnetic and MyTechnic?
- Fair Resolution: Engineers, who are victims of regulatory failures, deserve their licences reinstated and their carrers restored.
THE INDUSTRY MUST UNITE
Affected engineers are taking to social media and public platforms to expose this injustice and call for collective action. This is no longer just about their licences—it’s about safeguarding aviation integrity for professionals, airlines, and passengers worldwide.
As one professional powerfully stated:
“This fight is not just ours. It’s about ensuring the system is fair, transparent, and protects aviation safety.”
Aviation at a Crossroads
If KIWA’s actions go unchallenged, the ripple effects will undermine global aviation safety, trust, and stability. The time to act is now. Every stakeholder—regulators, airlines, engineers, and the public—must demand transparency and accountability to restore confidence in a system that millions rely on to keep the skies safe.
This isn’t just a news story. It’s a global call to protect the future of aviation.
