Love Ya AME Team Day: here’s to the people behind every flight

Here’s to the people who know an aircraft from the inside out. The AMEs, LAMEs, apprentices, technicians and the wider maintenance teams whose care and judgement keep aircraft ready for the next flight.

Love Ya AME Team Day, on Thursday 12 November 2026, is a chance to stop and say thanks. At Sigma Aerospace College, we’re joining the celebration of the people we train, work with and learn from every day.

A thank-you to the whole team

Aircraft maintenance takes more than a signature at the end of a job. It takes the apprentice who asks before guessing, the engineer who finds the fault, the supervisor who makes time to explain, and the people keeping tools, parts, records and plans in order.

Whether you work on the flight line, in a hangar, in an engine or component workshop, or behind the scenes, your work matters. So does the experience you pass on.

Thank you for the early starts, the careful checks and the willingness to help the next person learn. And for knowing when to stop, check the data and ask another question.

Why 12 November?

The date has a place in Australian aviation history. On 12 November 1894, Lawrence Hargrave lifted himself above the beach at Stanwell Park using four linked box kites of his own design. The Australian Museum tells the story of that experiment and the practical work behind it.

Thanks to Angela Garvey and Navigating Aviation for inviting the industry to celebrate its maintenance teams through Love Ya AME Team Day.

Make time for a proper thank-you

It does not need to be a big event. Put on morning tea, share lunch or take a few minutes during the shift to recognise someone’s contribution. Include the night shift and the workshop team, not just the people in the office.

Be specific: thank someone for helping an apprentice, solving a difficult problem or keeping the team on track. If you share a team photo, get everyone’s agreement and check the workplace’s photography rules. Use #LoveYaAMETeamDay so others can join in.

Support that lasts beyond the day

A thank-you matters. So does having the time, support and opportunity to keep developing.

Sigma was founded by aircraft engineers. Our College is part of a group that maintains aircraft, overhauls engines and components, and helps operators find the people they need. We understand that study has to fit around real work.

For experienced engineers, our RPL and gap training pathway recognises eligible prior learning, maps the remaining requirements and provides support through the work still to do. For apprentices, workplace training combines a clear plan with trainer contact, progress reviews and workplace visits.

For employers, supporting an engineer’s next qualification, licence category, exclusion removal or aircraft type can give them a reason to see their future with your team. Our training and retention page explains how to start that conversation.

Useful resources for your next step

A few useful links to save or share with someone in your team:

If you are unsure where to start with training, talk to our training team. Tell us what you do now and where you would like to go.

About the author

Sigma Aerospace College

Aircraft maintenance training team

Sigma Aerospace College supports apprentices and experienced aircraft maintenance engineers through workplace training, RPL and gap training, and licence and type-training pathways. The College is part of Sigma Aerospace Group.

Meet the team ↗