Careers In Aviation

21 is a tad old for an apprentcieship, but you could try Marshalls…

There isn’t very much money in classic aviation – BAe will take you on as an apprentice -they are advertising now . I would suggest getting a license as then you can have a good living and afford to go and look at the classic aircraft for enjoyment!

Various Uni courses – Coventry off the top of my head (and on the plus side you’d get to tinker with a Harrier)

Various Uni courses – Coventry off the top of my head (and on the plus side you’d get to tinker with a Harrier)

Ive been to coventry 🙂 the harrier is far from being anything but a lump of metal that has seen a hard life 🙁 just has a simulator in the front cockpit, the rear cockpit is stripped out. ideally I need something practical, though im not unacademic, I really need more than an hour every other week of spanner time. as well as something fulltime 🙂

David – Good plan, I like the sound of that, ill look up the BAe apprenticships

ZX – Got marshalls detail page up too! 🙂

RAes

Nashio,

Have a look at these guys. www.raes.org They promote stuff like that for young chaps like yourself and give bursaries for studies and qualifications. I think that applies to maintainers as well as pilots. They would certianly point you in the right direction if they dont fit my description.

Best of luck and good on you.

Patty

College/university courses – KLM offer a Year 0 course which will get you enough UCAS points (if you don’t have any lying about) to get into one of the Academys or semi-apprenticeships such as Newcastle, Bristol, British Airways, Kingston, etc. These are courses designed to get you the modules for the B1.1 licence (certifying engineer for fixed wing aircraft over 5700kg, ie. civil passenger carrying aircraft)

Most College/academy set-ups have old aeroplanes – Newcastle Has the following: Piper Aztec, JP T3 (x2), Jetstream 200, BAC 1-11, Boeing 737-200, Thorp T2-11. Off the top of my head, Kingston have a Learjet, Hartlepool have a JP T5, and a couple of others have Jetstream 31’s.

You could try the Licence by post route, BUT you will need 5 years experience on relevant aircraft before the CAA will accept your licence money.

Licence categories are:

Mechanic – unlicenced, technically not requiring any formal quals, BUT these days you really need vast experience to get a job

A licence – Modules passed, 1 years experience with a part 147 training course (ie. above)

B1 Licence – Airframe / engine licence
B2 Licence – Electrical / avionic licence.

then sub-divided….

eg. B1.1 – Fixed wing aircraft, gas turbine
B1.2 – Fixed wing aircraft, piston engine
B1.3 – Helecopter, turbine
B1.4 – Helecopter, piston

As for historic aviation, forget it. I managed to get lucky, after a contract as a mechanic with British Airways I was offered a contract on the Lancaster Major… it was either that or the Vulcan. Choices, choices.

Get a licence and many years experience (B1.2), certify PA28’s for ever, then if you’re lucky or very good, someone may take you on fixing historics… There are not many companies doing this sort of work.. perhaps drop a line to ARCO….or since you’re at Coventry, try the classic flight!

Lufthansa?

Hi Nashio,
may be it’s an idea to enquire with Lufthansa. When I visited Delta Jets new hangar in September last year, there were a Bo105 helo and a VFW614 airliner present.

They were said to be part of a new Lufthansa apprentice school, that will be opened at Kemble……

And….. then you are VERY NEAR to real aeroplanes 🙂

Aerovet

Hi,
I am in a similar position to nashio, but im looking at the uni route in aerospace engineering, however ive opted to do a foundation degree at the moment then i can go from there (as civil engineering is having a growing interest as its not so specific)

Anyways if i pick to do a BEng in aerospace engineering what would my career options be, ideally the course im doing at the moment involves some degree of business so after some industry experience and for instance Bae or RR id like to eventually start up something of my own.

I would also like to do something similar to nashio so i can get a bit more practical skills and having a weekend hobby as well as the private flying side of things.

Any thoughts?

Hi guys, since I know a good portion of you are/have been engineers in your life, I thought id post my question here

What careers in aviation engineering are available? I.E licences for engineering (as i know none) im big on airframes (classic aircraft too?) ideally id like to end up being someone that owns/runs a business in classic aircraft service and restoration

Im 21 i have good Gcse’s and 3 A levels including chemistry and physics, university really isnt for me and I want to do something like an apprenticeship that would give me a practical job at the end of training

help please? its very confusing 🙁

Cheers in advance

Ben

Hi Ben,

When I left school in 1989, I chose the college/university route to a job, and ended up with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. But at the same time, volunteered (and was occasionally paid) at my local airfield for hands on experience. At the time I left school there was a big recession and no apprenticeships around. I’d have preferred the apprenticeship with hindsight, but then the degree has opened up a whole lot of opportunities I may never have seen.

Whichever your choice, do something you enjoy, as you’ll be making a long term commitment to it, and it will have to pay the bills too!

Try Marshalls, BAE Systems, the RAF, etc.

My hands-on experience over the years has included being a Formula One engine builder, machinist, welder, Carbon fibre chassis designer/builder, and Historic Aircraft restorer. Try and learn as many skills as you can, as it’ll make you a better engineer in the long run.

Good luck.

Cheers Dave,

The thing is, ive tried university twice now. I studied Chemistry for a year at plymouth university and passed my first year but the death of my best friend bought life and how short it can be into perspective. I then thought that I should be doing what i love doing, severly limited to which university I could attend for aeronautical engineering due to the lack of a maths A level I ended up at Coventry where I studied and again passed my first year. I chose not to continue because i find university to be a wholly lonely experience if you dont go out on the p1ss every night AND attend a course with less than 20 people on it.

I started an application for the Raf as a pilot but am unable to join because of a permanent injury sustained to my left leg from a kitesurfing incident

So now im 21 working in a bar during the week, part time teaching piano and I volunteer on the shackleton at coventry when I have a chance.

aircraft are in my blood, the smell of any aircraft is like an aphrodisiac to me. Im very mechanically minded in that i seem to know how things work, how they come apart and go back together etc.

I was half thinking about sitting a maths A level but would it be worth it since i owe for 2 years of university already?

I just want to know that ill have some future, preferably with aircraft lol

Ive got info on marshalls BAe and virgin atlantic at the moment, my worry is, am i too old for these apprenticeships? will all the people on them be 16? lol

There isn’t very much money in classic aviation – BAe will take you on as an apprentice -they are advertising now . I would suggest getting a license as then you can have a good living and afford to go and look at the classic aircraft for enjoyment!

Depends on how ‘good‘ a living you’re after – most of the few licenced engineers I know earn less than BA cabin crew!

Nashio – one of the people on the BAe apprenticeship is the wrong side of thirty so you have a little way to go yet!

theres hope still then david 🙂 many thanks for your advice!

I filled my UCCA form in to do Chemical Engineering, and was about to send it off. Our Chemistry teacher took us to visit Fawley Chemical Refinery near Southampton. When there, i saw this character like Homer Simpson sat in front of a bank of TVs/computers with a coffee, paper and donut. He looked so bored. I asked him what his job was and if went to university….’Chemical Engineer, Chemical Engineering degree’….I ripped up my form and reapplied to do Aero Eng!! Whilst I could have earned more as a Chem Eng, what other career would allow me to spend 23+ years as a flight test engineer, fly in almost all the UK services aircraft with glasses and work in many countries?

We have an excellent apprentice scheme and also great opportunities for graduates!

& correct frame of mind helps. Read this:
http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/shop-class-as-soulcraft

& then go buy his book 🙂

It’s not quite Bob Pirsig & his “Zen & the art….” but..

Hi,
I am in a similar position to nashio, but im looking at the uni route in aerospace engineering, however ive opted to do a foundation degree at the moment then i can go from there (as civil engineering is having a growing interest as its not so specific)
Any thoughts?

Mechanical Engineers design weapons…. Civil Engineers design targets..;)

If you are too old the the apprentice scheme at marshalls they also usually take on about 10 adult trainees every year. This is for people who are too old for the apprentice scheme but want a career or change of career.

You spend the usual 6 weeks of hacking and bashing in the training centre then you’re out on the aircraft, with one day a week, day release to college. You then end up with a NVQ3.

You’d get a very good experience of aircraft structures and sheet metal work, with the bonus that you can end up doing quite a lot of systems or even engine work.

When I worked there the adult trainees were so much better to work with compared to your average apprentice because they wanted to learn, and wanted to be there.

Get onto Virgin. their apprentship is one of the best in the business, and I think they still take candidates at 21/22? worth while tapping them up for some gumph.

marshalls haven’t done that for a couple of years now, allthough trhey are still taking cv’s. so worth a go too.

and if i got onto virgin, i could come and help you guys out at gatwick too 😉 thanks for all the advice guys 🙂 much appreciated, ill tell you how it all goes!

:diablo: yea, and get your hands on some proper knuckle bleeding machinery!!