Michael Peter Tomko
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) · Aviation Consultant · Managing Director, AFS.Institute
Transport Canada‑licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (M2‑347287) and retired aviation consultant with multiple type ratings on Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Over a 40‑year career, Michael has held airworthiness certification authority and senior technical leadership roles in airline maintenance, engineering, quality systems and aerospace education.
Career Snapshot
Michael's background covers both hands‑on maintenance and senior management, including:
- Extensive professional experience in aircraft maintenance and engineering, with multiple Airbus and Boeing type endorsements.
- Service as Person Responsible for Maintenance (PRM) under Transport Canada while Vice President of Engineering for a Canadian airline operating a Boeing 757 fleet.
- Service as Person Responsible for Training (PRT) under Transport Canada while Associate Dean of Aerospace Programs at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).
- Airworthiness certification authority in roles including Crew Chief, Base Manager, Maintenance Auditor/Supervisor, ISO 9000 Auditor and IT Manager of Engineering.
- Maintenance audits of major international maintenance organisations, including British Airways Maintenance (Cardiff), Monarch Aviation (London) and Swissair (Zurich).
Notable Investigation – Thai Airways International Flight 311
Michael was a member of a Canadian Airlines investigation team that assisted with the Thai Airways International Flight 311 accident (31 July 1992 – Airbus A310). The crash resulted in the loss of all passengers and crew.
His role involved investigating maintenance history and records and assisting with the use and dissemination of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). The work contributed to the determination that the crash was caused by the flight crew losing situational awareness in adverse weather conditions.
Professional Experience
Private consulting and research on Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins issued by the FAA, Transport Canada and EASA/CAA(Europe), with a focus on practical implications for operators and maintenance organisations.
- Pre‑ and post‑bankruptcy maintenance support for Canada 3000 Airlines (Vancouver‑based fleet).
- Aircraft repossession, maintenance and redelivery of Airbus A320 and A330 fleets to owners and leasing companies.
- Aircraft repossession, maintenance and redelivery of Boeing 737 and 757 fleets to owners and leasing companies.
- Personally responsible for all flight‑crew and ground‑crew planning in Vancouver during the repossession and redelivery period.
- Advised on airline sales and leasing agreements.
- Conducted aircraft inspections and delivery for operators and lessors.
- Worked with Aircraft Maintenance Manuals, Illustrated Parts Catalogues (IPC) and maintenance‑control systems.
- Provided airline support desk and IT consulting for maintenance and engineering functions.
- Engaged in aircraft recovery and forensic investigations.
- Supported aircraft accident and damage underwriting.
- Provided legal research and support on aviation airworthiness matters.
- Held Transport Canada designation as Person Responsible for Training (PRT).
- Accountable for educational and administrative leadership of the airport campus opened in September 2007 at Vancouver International Airport.
- Developed and implemented strategic plans and training curricula for all programs, including flight‑training and AME maintenance programs.
- Served as liaison to industry, professional groups, aerospace schools and government agencies.
- Managed campus facilities, students, instructors and support staff.
- Ensured delivery of approved training in accordance with all regulatory requirements.
- Consulted with industry, the aerospace community and airlines to address projected training needs and enrolment levels.
- Accountable for the aerospace campus budget and contributed to overall Institute planning through BCIT committee participation.
- Held Transport Canada designation as Person Responsible for Maintenance (PRM) while serving as Vice President of Engineering.
- Overall corporate responsibility for compliance with Transport Canada air regulations and standards for the Boeing 757 fleet.
- Responsible for fleet airworthiness, quality and maintenance technical operations.
- Coordinated aircraft maintenance‑control systems and technical records.
- Responsible for all training and training programs for the Engineering and Maintenance department.
- Authorised standards for maintenance and established procedures for safety, quality, reliability, engine‑condition monitoring and other maintenance programs.
- Held authority to remove aircraft from service and authorise ferry flights for positioning due to maintenance.
- Ensured technical compliance for all aircraft operating in US airspace, reporting to the FAA.
- Supervised and managed all engineering and maintenance staff, including quality assurance, aircraft stores and planning personnel.
- Negotiated and managed contracts with outside vendors, including maintenance organisations, airframe and engine manufacturers and technical support suppliers.
- Responsible for reporting aircraft deficiencies, discrepancies and service issues to Transport Canada, the FAA and manufacturers.
- Implemented the Safety Management System (SMS) for the airline.
- Responsible for aircraft registrations, licensing, engineering modifications and configuration changes with Transport Canada, including post‑9/11 security‑related modifications and Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs).
Provided aviation business and technical consulting services, drawing on extensive airline maintenance and engineering experience to support clients in Europe and North America.
- 1979 – 1985 · Various technical and maintenance roles leading to senior supervisory responsibilities.
- 1985 – 1990 · Supervisor / Instructor, Airbus A310 — Ottawa Line Maintenance.
- 1990 – 1992 · Base Foreman — Ottawa Line Maintenance.
- 1992 – 1994 · ISO 9000 Coordinator / Airworthiness Controller — Vancouver.
- 1994 – 1996 · IT Operations Manager — Maintenance and Engineering Department.
Career‑Related Training & Type Endorsements
- Airbus A‑310 Endorsement Course — Airframe and Powerplant · Airbus Industries, Miami.
- Airbus A‑319/320/321 Endorsement Course — Airframe and Powerplant · Airbus Industries, Toronto / Miami.
- Boeing 737 Endorsement Course — Airframe and Powerplant · Canadian Airlines.
- Boeing 747 Endorsement Course — Airframe and Powerplant · Canadian Pacific Airlines.
- Douglas DC‑8‑63 Endorsement Course — Airframe and Powerplant · Canadian Pacific Airlines.
- Douglas DC‑10 Endorsement Course — Airframe and Powerplant · McDonnell Douglas, Long Beach, CA.
- Quality Systems Training — ISO 9000 Series Standard · Brewer Education Services, Austin, Texas.
- ISO Implementation Program for ISO Coordinators · Brewer Education Services, Austin, Texas.
- Effective Quality Auditing — Auditor Training Course · Brewer‑Kleckner Education Services, Chicago, Illinois.
- Safety Management Systems and Compliance · Transport Canada.
- Front‑line Leadership Facilitator's / Instructor's Certification Course · Canadian Airlines Training Centre, Vancouver.
- Toward Excellence Facilitator's / Instructor's Certification Course · Canadian Airlines Training Centre, Montreal.
- Maintenance Budgeting · Canadian Airlines Training Centre, Toronto.
- Programming Techniques in Visual Environments · CA Computer Associates, New Orleans, LA.
- Management Principles for Maintenance Supervisors · Wardair Canada, Toronto.
- WHMIS and Dangerous Goods Training · Wardair Canada, Ottawa.
- Aircraft Maintenance Technician Course · Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology, Toronto.
- AFT – Aircraft Flight Technology Program · Seneca College, Toronto.
Current Focus
Through Advanced Flight Skills Institute (AFS.Institute), Michael now concentrates on selective consulting engagements where deep technical experience in airworthiness, maintenance systems and safety adds tangible value — particularly where operators, regulators, underwriters or legal teams need clear, structured insight into complex technical issues.