Aircraft Maintenance engineering vs Aeronautical engineering

[WolfAir]

Hey all, I know this says jobs and employment but this is the first step to that destination. I have been given a place at Kingston University London to complete a top up year in Aircraft Maintenance engineering, or start from the 2nd year at Salford University to do an Aeronautical engineering degree.
I am from Manchester and work in security which means affording rental around Surrey/London is difficult, plus the fact I have a wife (who is not ecstatic for me potentially moving) and a 2 year old child. Bad news is I would have to quit work which means finding part time work that would support the studies and make sure bills were paid.
The good news is Kingston course is for a year.
Salford on the other hand is pretty much down the road, I would not have to quit work which means bills are still paid without much difficulty. but the bad news is it is 2 year course.
Also I was wondering from anyone in the know which course is better, the Aircraft eng or Aero eng? Job prospects seem better for Aero graduates unless Aircraft licences are pursued.
Any help fellas most appreciated, so far I am stuck.

[edc]

WolfAir said:

Hey all, I know this says jobs and employment but this is the first step to that destination. I have been given a place at Kingston University London to complete a top up year in Aircraft Maintenance engineering, or start from the 2nd year at Salford University to do an Aeronautical engineering degree.
I am from Manchester and work in security which means affording rental around Surrey/London is difficult, plus the fact I have a wife (who is not ecstatic for me potentially moving) and a 2 year old child. Bad news is I would have to quit work which means finding part time work that would support the studies and make sure bills were paid.
The good news is Kingston course is for a year.
Salford on the other hand is pretty much down the road, I would not have to quit work which means bills are still paid without much difficulty. but the bad news is it is 2 year course.
Also I was wondering from anyone in the know which course is better, the Aircraft eng or Aero eng? Job prospects seem better for Aero graduates unless Aircraft licences are pursued.
Any help fellas most appreciated, so far I am stuck.

What are you looking to do longer term? That should determine your course of action. The course content one would presume is different too. It is easy to assume that the Aero course is more traditional engineering with a strong maths element whilst the other course implies it's more hands-on. That is not to say that one is better than the other but they will probably suit different goals.

[WolfAir]

edc said:

What are you looking to do longer term? That should determine your course of action. The course content one would presume is different too. It is easy to assume that the Aero course is more traditional engineering with a strong maths element whilst the other course implies it's more hands-on. That is not to say that one is better than the other but they will probably suit different goals.

Thanks edc, always on point. I should have just pm'd you. I understand your point, it is one I have thought of myself, in fact the modules are incredibly similar for both courses. Aircraft maintenance is aimed at just that, around an Aircraft industry whereas Aeronautical seems to open many more doors within other engineering disciplines, oil and gas, renewable energy, aircraft, rail etc.
I have done some research of my own and Salford is better ranking university than Kingston, which I am not sure if it raises my chances of employment. Also it may have been the case of 2 more years before graduation before I can really start to build a career (at 32). The financial implications of moving to London at this time I think have pretty much made my decision for me.
Thanks

[voicey]

I don't know anything about Aircraft Maintenance engineering courses but I was taught alongside Aeronautical engineering students when I was doing my Mech Eng degrees. The Aero course is going to contain an insane amount of maths. You say you have been offered direct entry onto the second year - the first year of theses courses is generally all about getting your maths up to the required standard in order to grasp the subjects taught in the final two years. If your maths isn't up to a very good standard or you dislike maths then you'll struggle (IMO).

[EC225Eng]

If you are going down the Aircraft Maintenance route then a degree is nice but not important, what is important is getting a B licence whether it's B1.1, B1.3 or B2. With approved degrees you can sometimes get access to having a C licence. To get a B licence and actually sign off an aircraft can take up to 6 years minimum what with CAA exams, logbooks and type courses. You must also have 5 years hands on experience. You might be better going on some of the zero to hero courses then get taken on as an unlicensed mech and building up experience for the logbook and taking the exams. We have some guys here with aerospace degrees and they are as useful as my structural engineering degree as the licence is the main thing. Having the B licence is when you start making the money especially up here in Aberdeen especially when you start racking up the types, I currently hold the L2, EC225 & S92 which are the big ones for O&G but would like the AW139. Having the licence will gain you access to getting a place on various Masters courses or last year Bachelors degrees.

I don't know too much about the Aeronautical route but if you have any other questions about the maintenance side just ask!

[bucksmanuk]

In my experience…
Can you do maths? – If so - do the degree. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
If you don’t – do the maintenance course. It will still lead onto very good things. Skilled intelligent people will always be in demand.
The first year of a degree course is to get rid of the dossers, and make sure you can handle what’s coming. The second year is when they crank it up. It happened to me, and my nephew (just done 2nd year civil) can confirm it’s still the case.

[Fugazi]

I have an MEng in Aerospace engineering which I did as a mature student, so if you've got any specific questions feel free to ask. But to echo the other posters here, the course is maths heavy. It's not impossible though as long as you have some ability in maths, you haven't said if you have any grounding in maths but have a look through some of the A level revision websites and if you're comfortable with it then you shouldn't have much trouble. The fact they offered you a direct entry place suggests they think you should be up to it.

The amount of work, coursework, revision and time you'll need to devote is enormous compared to other courses and it will be pretty much lectures from 9-5 most days and then spending hours at home or camped in the library and it gets worse each year. Good fun though, so don't let it put you off!

[WolfAir]

bucksmanuk said:

In my experience…
Can you do maths? – If so - do the degree. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
If you don’t – do the maintenance course. It will still lead onto very good things. Skilled intelligent people will always be in demand.
The first year of a degree course is to get rid of the dossers, and make sure you can handle what’s coming. The second year is when they crank it up. It happened to me, and my nephew (just done 2nd year civil) can confirm it’s still the case.

I am sorry I should have mentioned, I have completed a 2 year foundation degree course in Aircraft Engineering, which inluded the maths, bending moments, differentiation, trignometry etc I have completed and passed all modules, hence being allowed to "top-up" to a full degree via Kingston or Salford.
I have been the dosser and came back to education after a few years, realising I was stuck in dead end jobs with no qualifications. I did not like University the first time, did not appreciate the freedom to learn when I had the chance, but now as I have come back to education after getting the dossing, the laziness, the being broke and not being able to do anything about it all out of my system I am more focussed, its just my path is a little cluttered .

EC225Eng said:

If you are going down the Aircraft Maintenance route then a degree is nice but not important, what is important is getting a B licence whether it's B1.1, B1.3 or B2. With approved degrees you can sometimes get access to having a C licence. To get a B licence and actually sign off an aircraft can take up to 6 years minimum what with CAA exams, logbooks and type courses. You must also have 5 years hands on experience. You might be better going on some of the zero to hero courses then get taken on as an unlicensed mech and building up experience for the logbook and taking the exams. We have some guys here with aerospace degrees and they are as useful as my structural engineering degree as the licence is the main thing. Having the B licence is when you start making the money especially up here in Aberdeen especially when you start racking up the types, I currently hold the L2, EC225 & S92 which are the big ones for O&G but would like the AW139. Having the licence will gain you access to getting a place on various Masters courses or last year Bachelors degrees.

I don't know too much about the Aeronautical route but if you have any other questions about the maintenance side just ask!

This was the original plan back in the noughties when I first completed a BTec in Aerospace Engineering in 2003, to either get an apprenticeship or some sort of work experience, even a few years of working at the airport getting to know the technicians but then airport bureaucracy kicked in and nobody wanted to vouch for me so I was unable to get on the apron and shadow any engineers or get any experience.
The Aircraft engineering course was based around some modules of the PART 66 B licence but exams would have to be undertaken from our own pocket (which I have no problem with) but the fact that I was still lacking the relevant experience to qualify for the licence (I have'nt even got an A licence). To do it now, I am not sure it would be worth the hassle as I reckon I would be wrong side of 30 before I would see any serious money. The only experience I have on aircraft was 1 eastern airways jetsream (non flying) and a bristol brittania (volunteered but was essentially working for a very passionate aircraft engineer who had worked on the bristol back in its heyday and was working toward restoring it)

Fugazi said:

I have an MEng in Aerospace engineering which I did as a mature student, so if you've got any specific questions feel free to ask. But to echo the other posters here, the course is maths heavy. It's not impossible though as long as you have some ability in maths, you haven't said if you have any grounding in maths but have a look through some of the A level revision websites and if you're comfortable with it then you shouldn't have much trouble. The fact they offered you a direct entry place suggests they think you should be up to it.

The amount of work, coursework, revision and time you'll need to devote is enormous compared to other courses and it will be pretty much lectures from 9-5 most days and then spending hours at home or camped in the library and it gets worse each year. Good fun though, so don't let it put you off!

Wow let me complete the bachalors first before we start MEng . Congratulations, if you do not mind me asking how old were you when you completed it, from where and did you already work within aerospace before you completed it. Like I said I have just completed 2 year foundation degree and I'm no stranger to the long days and then 12 hour night shift to follow another long day at College, if anything my situation spurs me on to do better than I think I may have had I not been married and working where I am.

Comments massively appreciated guys

[jamiem555]

First of all, can I say good luck in whatever path you choose. I went down the licence route and certainly don't regret it. My path was different in that I did 12 years in the RAF before doing my modules and swapping over to the civilian side of things. I'm the same as EC225eng as in I went down the helicopter route and the big bucks that go with oil and gas. I assume we don't work for the same company as we don't fly L2's.

What I will say though, is a lot of our apprentices have degrees in aeronautical engineering and this certainly helps them get a foot in the door. They still start from scratch like everyone else, including myself with my RAF experience. Although it probably only took me around 18 months to get up to speed.

[Fugazi]

WolfAir said:

Wow let me complete the bachalors first before we start MEng . Congratulations, if you do not mind me asking how old were you when you completed it, from where and did you already work within aerospace before you completed it. Like I said I have just completed 2 year foundation degree and I'm no stranger to the long days and then 12 hour night shift to follow another long day at College, if anything my situation spurs me on to do better than I think I may have had I not been married and working where I am.

I didn't have any aerospace background (officially) prior to going back to university at twenty eight, I'm now thirty five. I left school with pretty poor GCSE's back in '96 (D in maths ) and no A-levels, ended up becoming a welder for the next ten or so years. But when I was fourteen I saw a Frank Whittle documentary and it changed my life and focus, I started reading about jet engines, built my first engine by the time I was fifteen and then spent all my spare time designing, building and researching them. It's partly why my exams were rubbish, well that's my excuse, not going to mention the lack of revision. Found out quickly that maths is a big deal in engineering and so had to teach myself mathematics would buy secondhand books on maths, physics, engineering.... I look at what you can do these days in terms of free lectures and course material online and it's amazing.

Like you I was in and out of dead end jobs and after ten years of getting laid off for what seemed the millionth time I decided to take a break and go to uni, not for a career, just because I wanted prove to myself I could do it. Was accepted without A-levels and had to do a foundation year prior to starting the degree proper. Eight years later and I'm now writing my thesis for my PhD. I'm not the only one either, a fellow PhD student followed a similar path after working in a shipyard after school and he's now investigating the aerodynamics of the QEC Carrier for flight simulation. We both have said that we should have done this when we left school, but that's life, and when I was younger I don't think I was anywhere near mature enough to make those decisions that would determine the path for the rest of your life.

By the way, the MEng is a four year undergrad degree, it's a three year BEng, with a fourth year added on. You should be eligible to transfer from the BEng to the MEng without much fuss, providing you're grades are ok. It opens the path to chartership and several companies now will only recruit graduates with an MEng, Rolls Royce and I think Airbus too so might be worth thinking about.

[wasiqah]

EC225Eng said:

If you are going down the Aircraft Maintenance route then a degree is nice but not important, what is important is getting a B licence whether it's B1.1, B1.3 or B2. With approved degrees you can sometimes get access to having a C licence. To get a B licence and actually sign off an aircraft can take up to 6 years minimum what with CAA exams, logbooks and type courses. You must also have 5 years hands on experience. You might be better going on some of the zero to hero courses then get taken on as an unlicensed mech and building up experience for the logbook and taking the exams. We have some guys here with aerospace degrees and they are as useful as my structural engineering degree as the licence is the main thing. Having the B licence is when you start making the money especially up here in Aberdeen especially when you start racking up the types, I currently hold the L2, EC225 & S92 which are the big ones for O&G but would like the AW139. Having the licence will gain you access to getting a place on various Masters courses or last year Bachelors degrees.

I don't know too much about the Aeronautical route but if you have any other questions about the maintenance side just ask!

Hi! May I ask, do aircraft maintenance engineers have to do flight test? Do they need to have a licence to do the flight test?

[PaulG40]

Usually, it boils down to maintenance is aircraft spannering, techies, hands on, licences etc. And an aeronautical type degree are designers etc. Off aircraft, probably never ever see aircraft in their whole career and live in an office.



Obviously, many exceptions to that rule.

[Kawasicki]

I started in aircraft maintenance and then took the advice of an older colleague and did a degree as a mature student. Worked out great. My tip - do a degree that is approved by the I MechE.

[Evanivitch]

Do the Aerospace Engineering BEng.

I graduated a few years back, and myself and my peers are all in good, gainful employment or post graduate courses.

I know a guy who works maintenance for a US carrier, it's a lot of shift work and often spent waiting for aircraft to arrive. Great if you're a young buck, probably less so for the family man.