Aircraft technical jobs ?

[J4CKO]

My eldest would like to work in a technical capacity on planes, there is a Btec course in Aeronautic Engineering at the local College, is that a good route in ?

Any pointers ? is it a good line to be in, what kind of salary could he expect. I think it would suit him as he is patient, dilligent and has good attention to detail which I would imagine are pretty much essential.

[J4CKO]

Cheers, will have a word with him, have a bit of a connection with Aberdeen through work, see all the Choppers at the airport when I go through.

[J4CKO]

That is awesome, thanks, am just doing some reading about the licenses, interesting that they are seeking apprentices, is that typical, i.e. there arent enough qualified people about, or youngsters wanting to get into it ?

[J4CKO]

Could you explain the license thing, I understand that a B is higher than and A and an A higher than unlicensed, but what does that mean in practical terms ?

What would an unlicensed tech do ? is it a case of they do the work and it gets checked and signed off by a licensed guy ?

[J4CKO]

Cheers, will explain that to him and get him doing some research, also really interesting for me being a bit of an aviation fan.

[J4CKO]

Well he has signed up for a two year Aeronautic Engineering Btec course at the local college, he is aware of the licenses but its early days yet, at least he has something to start and see if it suits him, he is very methodical, doesn't flap and is very dexterous.

I am hoping it is more interesting and enjoyable than doing A levels, which I think were pretty dry, this place has actual planes to work on, I think once he know that it is what e wants to do, he will be off and running, certainly has the aptitude, it just needs a focus. If needs be we will pay for the license courses.

[J4CKO]

nessiemac said:

British Airways run a very successful apprenticeship scheme run in conjunction with various colleges but all in the south east. A great way in if he wants to work on commercial aircraft and can work his way through from mech to licensed via in house training.
We have a lot of young guys and girls coming through lately and if you are career minded you can progress into lots of different areas around the airline.

Edited by nessiemac on Saturday 30th August 00:11

Thanks, will pass that on to him.

[J4CKO]

Mr Classic said:

I am starting an Apprenticeship tomorrow as a helicopter technician basically. 400 applicants, down to 40 interviewed and assessed. 8 of these final 40 had just finished Aircraft Maintenance courses at Farnborough Technical college, and were trying to join the apprenticeship, where they would have done exactly the same course as they had already done. Only 1 of these 8 got a place, so a two year college course can't even help you that much, just go straight for an apprenticeship.

So, he needs to not bother based on potentially getting something where there is such competition ?

Point being, his University plans didn't happen, grades were not high enough, to be honest I don't think he could see the point, A levels are a bit dry.

He seems fairly fired up and enthusiastic about this so I don't want to tell him it isn't worth bothering with, could just be a different way in, get this done then go on to train for a license. Potentially whilst doing this he could look into apprenticeships, he was a bit stuck and needed to get something lined up.

Why do they run the course if it supposedly a waste of time ?

[J4CKO]

See your point, Not sure where he is going to get an apprenticeship before tomorrow morning though, am thinking whilst he is doing it he will be able to gain some skills and get looking.

Edited by J4CKO on Monday 1st September 21:25

[J4CKO]

Well, he has been at it at college for over a year and has come pretty much top of his class getting distinctions and the like so is ready to take the next step.

So, where next for him, he is at college until June next year and will come out with a BTEC and wants to take the next step, he has enquired at Liverpool university who apparently have an appropriate course.

Any pointers for him as to where to go next, any opportunities you are aware of, appreciate the Oil industry thing isnt perhaps where it was 12 months ago.

[J4CKO]

johno_78 said:

J4CKO said:

Well, he has been at it at college for over a year and has come pretty much top of his class getting distinctions and the like so is ready to take the next step.

So, where next for him, he is at college until June next year and will come out with a BTEC and wants to take the next step, he has enquired at Liverpool university who apparently have an appropriate course.

Any pointers for him as to where to go next, any opportunities you are aware of, appreciate the Oil industry thing isnt perhaps where it was 12 months ago.

Is he doing a mechanical or avionics course? Guessing at your location, BAE in Warton isn't too far away. BAE's subcontractor, Morsons, are always looking for new people, but i'd only use Morsons for job experience on his CV and co-workers' industry contacts.

If he's reasonably well spoken, a trip to the RAF careers office, could get him on a engineering officer training program, which would pay for his degree and set him up career wise.

Yeah, he is well spoken, went to a decent school so it has rubbed off, he deifnitely has a work ethic, he works in a local convenience shop and seems to be very well regarded, will pass on the RAF thing, he has considered it in the past.

[J4CKO]

Well, he has a weeks work experience with an airline at Manchester this week, I got talking to a guy at my brothers at new year who is an Aircraft engineer at MAN, he did the exact same course, I asked if he would mine my lad emailing him some questions and he suggested some work experience and has arranged it, am so grateful, its a good chance to get a feel for the industry, pretty competitive though, for 4 apprenticeships there were 800 applicants last year but apparently 2 were off his course so that bodes well.

He took cakes in this morning as that is apparently a tradition, I think he will make the most of this, he is so enthusiastic.

[J4CKO]

He came back buzzing yesterday, was there 12 hours, he got to sit on the flightdeck of an A330 as it was towed (with a qualified engineer), had a tour of the airport in a van, helped with servicing the undercarriage on a plane, watched an A340 land at close range, was off like a shot this morning for seven AM.

[J4CKO]

He is coming to the end of his week there now, its been hugely beneficial.

He has learnt such a lot, from just one week, just hope it stands him in good stead for when the apprenticeships open up

[J4CKO]

He has now been on one Assessment day at Monarch, hopefully will hear before the end of April, has the Thomas Cook one soon as well.

[J4CKO]

Any more Apprenticeship suggestions, have told him he needs to make twenty applications, 2 isnt going to cut it and the Monarch one is looking dicey.

[J4CKO]

IforB said:

J4CKO said:

Any more Apprenticeship suggestions, have told him he needs to make twenty applications, 2 isnt going to cut it and the Monarch one is looking dicey.

Why's the Monarch one looking dicey? PM his name and I'll have a check where it's at.

I was told that the Manchester operation might be closed with the EasyJet takeover rumours

Pm Sent

Edited by J4CKO on Thursday 21st April 22:50

[J4CKO]

Cheers for clarifying that Ifor, shows how rumours spread and get a bit distorted.

[J4CKO]

Cheers all, he is applying at TC having done the work experience there, thats his main hope but its so competitive, would be perfect for him as on our doorstep and he loved his week there.

[J4CKO]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Airbus (Broughton / Bristol) offer a full apprenticeship in manufacturing, a lot of the guys go on to get their licenses, it may open up the possibility of entering aerospace if he is not successful going direct to live.

Wages are not great, circa £32k, not that bad at 19/20 + OT, pensions etc.

Thomas Cook offer one at Manchester Airport as their apprentices did go to Deeside College for their training with Airbus.

Cheers, TC is the one he really wants, but it is so competitive, he did his work experience there, I got talking to a mate of my brother who works there and he kindly sorted it all out, he had a fantastic time and was so into it.

He finishes his course in a few weeks, so hopefully he can get something, have passed you Airbus suggestion on as I have with all the options people have kindly provided over the last few months.


He went down to Gosport for an Open Evening at Vector Aerospace, not sure where that is upto, he did a 500 mile round trip in a Citroen C1 for that, thats how keen he is !