Jobs in Classic Aviation?

well i give up my saturdays for hangar 11 so thats a good start, but now i will have to fit a paid part time job which treatens hangar 11
________
Buy Solo Vaporizer
________
K5 Blazer

I agree with Bruce and DeHavEng. I have been involved as a volunteer with a couple of museums since I was old enough to cycle the 10 miles to my nearest one. That started my interest in classic aviation. I subsequently realised that experience is required and joined the RAF, and eventually left to sit my EASA licences. I am now in the position where I am teaching the subject AND just a couple of exams away from an A licence. Meanwhile, I am running a project with the museum I started with…..

Experience is the buzz-word in this industry, as well as building up contacts. Often it is a case of who you know as much as what you know.

Sage words from deHavEng – and spot on.

I had the opportunity to do my licenses some years ago, and didnt. Wrong move.

The idea of working on classic aircraft is a romantic one, but it wont necessarily pay the bills!

Bruce

Your welcome, same principles apply for ops/management as for engineering really. I would certainly recommend you volunteer first before jumping into the classic world though.

Thanks DeHavEng, I’m not an engineer by trade and am more interested by the ops/management side. Will J – replied by PM. Thanks for your replies.

Speaking from experience I would advise any newly graduated ‘Aircraft Engineers’ to find a job in the commercial sector before attempting to venture into the classic aircraft community. What you think you know is worth precisely nothing unless you have valuable hands on experience of the industry. I graduated in 2002 and spent 2 years just trying to break into the industry:( . As soon as you graduate sign on with a specialist aviation employment agency as a contractor, you will get a much broader base of experience than joining a company full time, you may spend alittle time floating between jobs but it will pay off.
For those Just leaving school, get an apprenticeship!! I unfortunately never had that luxury but it will give you such a better understanding than sitting in a classroom studying the theory. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve found myself thinking ‘I wish I had taken an apprenticeship’ when faced with something that is basic level and I’ve had to figure it out by myself (sometimes incorrectly:rolleyes: ).
If you are deadly serious about getting into classic aircraft I advise you to start volunteering at your local aviation museum. BUT and I cannot stress this enough ,get yourself some experience in the Aircraft Industry first, go to your local airfields and visit all the maintenance bases there, Sign on with internet agents, Join Job Agencies….anything just get that experience.
Some cold hard facts:
1: The Aircraft industry in general is not well paid unless you have licenses. The average starting rate is £18,000pa. The average rate after time served (3-5 years experience) is £22,000pa. The average rate for licensed engineers £26,000-£40,000pa depending on experience and licenses held.
2: Classic Aircraft maintenance is in a constant state of flux, the job that was there yesterday might not be there today.
3: Classic Aircraft maintenance is a niche market therefore there is not alot of career potential in it unless you are very very well connected.
4: Jobs in Classic Aircraft maintenance are nearly always word of mouth.

Those of us that do work in the classic aircraft world do so with the preverbial ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over our heads. I of course refer rather silly EU rulings, such as the Insurance debacle, that threaten to kill off the classic community. Most operators operate their aircraft on as thin a shoe string as possible (with some exceptions), and live a hand to mouth existance. With the EU ruling on passenger transport that is threatening to ground alot of passenger carrying classics the options are Air Displays (rapidly fading) and commercial contracts such as film work (very hard to come by). Couple this with a rapidly shrinking pool of skilled labour and the remaining options are very limited. Yes there will always be afew operators that are able to fund their collections from outside means, but they aren’t able to incorporate all the current classic aircraft into their collections. This means the customer base for maintenance facilities will diminish to the point that there will be 2 or 3 companies dealing with classic aircraft.

Honestly guys and girls get that experience under your belt first…then look at the Classic community long and hard. Then if you are still serious about getting into it volunteer at your local aviation museum, get some hands on experience of STATIC classics. Then either volunteer or get a weekend job at places like Duxford, A.A.C.F., B.A.M. (if it reopens), or somewhere that operates classics. I volunteered at B.A.M. and I was fortunate enough to be noticed by De Havilland’s and taken onto their full time staff. BUT I cannot stress this enough get your experience BEFORE you join the classic scene, I didn’t and I’m now having a long look at my future career.
If you do get in you’ll have a blast, it’s not all fun and games but it really is so satisfying to see something you’ve spent months on take to the air again after what is sometimes years of inactivity. We are the custodians of a nations heritage, we take pride in our work, we enjoy it and all we need in return is the sense of satisfaction we get from a thrilled airshow crowd and a living wage.

Thankyou and goodnight

Best to start out as a volunteer, you never know where it might lead, where are you based?

Finish at UNI and get a well paid job! Then you will be able to afford to do vintage aircraft as a hobby!

All the talk of “the end of classic aircraft” et al was getting depressing, but it got me thinking…how many people make a career out of classic aircraft operations? More to the point, where do these jobs get advertised?

…And is anyone looking a young, motivated graduate in Aviation Technology that likes old aeroplanes and wants to see them in the sky?!

I hope its not the end of classic aviation im just doing my gcse’s and want to go to uni and get involved in it! 🙁 😮
________
Suzuki gs500 specifications
________
Vapir no2