Jobs to do with historic aviation

The money in aircraft engineering is in the airlines. As a young person that will be important. If you cant get into it straight away, bite the bullet, try the RAF. A bit of ********* round but very good training, then join an airline. If you want to work in historic aviation, volunteer!

Rgds Cking

Follow the money. ie, get a proper job.

Heh – usually pays nothing! Try being a school governor!

I am moved to add that in a field where many can say ‘I am enthusiastic and committed’ you will get ahead by demonstrating it with a qualification, a completed apprenticeship and/or a record of volunteering. In my experience, there are two sorts of careers – one of which is getting paid for something that might be a hobby anyway (film making, the wine trade, archaeology, old aeroplanes – I have been around all four) and the other is something you wouldn’t be involved with for free – Estate Agent, Sanitary Engineer, production line worker. The latter you can get by turning up clutching your GCSE’s and looking keen. The former requires a bit more beyond keenness (and incidentally often pay less for the same skill set).

As for not hearing anything back re your CV, well you need to push, start writing letters to them and calling and keep doing it, you need to keep at it until one of you caves in, otherwise you will just be a sheet of paper at the bottom of a filing cabinet.

Brilliant advice from Tony there. Go and see them – even if its on a pretext!

I’m nearly at the other end of my working life, although sadly not in aviation, but I’ve learned how true the old saying is that ‘it is not what you know, but who you know that matters’. My advice is to get yourself in front of as many people as possible that might be able to help you. Show them your enthusiasm, demonstrate your commitment and loyalty and see what happens. I wish you every success! Remember, if you aim at nothing, that’s what you will hit!

Tin Triangle, I was going to mention those, though there doesn’t seem to be much info

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/support-us/rafmaf/apprenticeship-program.aspx

As for not hearing anything back re your CV, well you need to push, start writing letters to them and calling and keep doing it, you need to keep at it until one of you caves in, otherwise you will just be a sheet of paper at the bottom of a filing cabinet.

Southern air, I see your location is Herts, you are ideally placed for volunteering opportunities with some key operators.
I am south of the river and for me to volunteer at Dux would require over an hours drive each way , that after full time work which includes Saturday’s and family commitments.
So ,never underestimate the importance of your location.
There are some really good pieces of advice on this thread demonstrating the forum at its very best.

Surprised nobody’s mentioned the RAFM apprenticeship scheme at the Michael Beetham Restoration Centre, Cosford. I was immensely impressed talking to the apprentices there on the last open day, not just the calibre of the young people themselves but also the depth and breadth of the work and training they were doing.
Good luck with it all anyway. Who knows what exciting places you’ll end up in! I’m 26, and aged 19 I never thought I’d become a scientist working in tropical rainforests, but I managed nonetheless!

QinetiQ at Boscombe Down have an award winning apprentice scheme which would be a good way to start out.

Southern Air99 -you don’t mention anything of previous relevant experience or qualifications. have you done technology at School, or anything at home wood work, or “tinkering” wise. Ability to drive is very useful in this industry, I guess from your Forum name you are just coming to driving age? Have you done anything along the lines of Air Cadets, or helped family members with motor car servicing? I think a little more back ground would be quite helpful with lines of advice!

FB

You need to carve your own niche to a point. There is plenty that you can do, but don’t expect to get rich doing it, or even to earn much above an average wage.

Getting experience is enormously important. Whether you want to write about it, or work in restoration, or ultimately fly the things, you need to get some experience. Museums are a good place to start, but please don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. I spent three years at the de Havilland Museum before I was lucky enough to get into the business – and it is a good place to start. You could also try volunteering at Duxford – the museum does take volunteers, as does TFC.

Get yourself a small project to start with – perhaps an instrument panel as the first thing, but then move on to something a bit bigger and a bit more technical. Explore what you can do with a limited toolkit to start with.

Get books on the subject – history and technical – absorb as much as you can do about the aircraft that interest you. Take technical manuals to bed with you, and keep them in the loo! Don’t stop finding time to learn. You will get a job by making the difference between yourself and the 100 others who have come through the door.

As I said above, I was lucky – I was able to do the ‘knock on the office door’ thing. One snowy winters day, I went up to Audley End to meet up with Tim Routsis at Historic Flying, and was offered a job on the spot – not because I knew everything about aircraft, or restoration, but because I was keen, and hungry for it. I learnt on the job. Ultimately I ended up running the office for a company in Norfolk – We rebuilt the FW190 for FHC, which was a real privilege. It remains one of the finest restorations of any type to date, ten years on. (OK I am biased!!).

Right now, I am resting from restoration. I am still involved on the fringes, supplying parts. There are lots of little niches, but you will have to find one for yourself. Don’t expect it to come to you, because it wont.

Bruce

Airbus and MBDA offer Apprenticeships based in Stevenage.

Hi Chris

My son was able to get an apprenticeship at AgustaWestland in Yeovil (Helicopter manufacturer just in case!!), he started on his 16th birthday last year. There was a lot of competition for the places and various interviews to attend and assessments to pass and of course he needed to get the all important GCSE grades. The first year is full time college and it is tough, there are a lot of exams and assessments to pass. If he passes everything it will be day release at college for the next couple of years with the rest of the week on the shop floor. He is biased more towards practical work and had a choice of trades to choose from – Electrical/Electronic, Mechanical and Composites. After his assessments the company recommended that he follow the Electrical/Electronic path and he agreed. The company are incredibly supportive and once the apprenticeship is completed they have said they will fund any future training, including university if he wants progress on to design etc. We have spoken to other apprentices who have been there a few years and they all have nothing but good things to say. Also we know of others that trained there and now work on maintenance and repairs for other companies and airlines. Basically, once you are qualified it is up to you to choose what you want to do, many doors will open for you. Yeovil may be a bit far for you to locate to (although the lads in my sons group come from far and wide) but I’m sure other aviation company apprenticeships closer to you are similar. As for pay, well it’s on their website so it’s no secret – his first year salary is around 10K, which for a 16 year old is excellent I think. Most importantly though, he loves it!! Good luck wherever you apply.

Thanks for all the very useful and insightful comments, I appreciate it immensely

Volunteers are the lifeblood of many museums, especially the smaller ones.
My brother in law considered becoming a volunteer at Duxford when he retired from Monarch.
As they had been involved with preservation work, as well as helping out with the Britannia.
When he enquired, they placed so many conditions that he decided not to. He didn’t want to have to
clock on and off, be told the hours he had to work, and when he could take a break etc.

Hi Chris;

You might also like to consider volunteering at a local aviation museum if you have one nearby. There is a lot of experience to be gained that way, and experience counts for a lot. My 15 years with the Rebel Air Museum led to me working for 10 years as the aviation book buyer with Midland Counties Publications/Ian Allan Publishing. As an aviation nut, it was my dream job!

Best regards;
Steve

Having been in insurance for a long time (transport and shipping) I finally got the chance to work for a small company specialised in general aviation insurance with the odd
historic aircraft thrown in. Do I like it, yes yes yes!:D
Cees

Everyone is offering good advice.
Allow me to make an associated suggestion.

In addition to working on complete airframes, admittedly the most “sexy” part, consider working in the component industry. Obviously engines are a part of that, but don’t forget props and instruments.

I know here in America, there are specialist shops that do nothing but propellers…metal wood and composites.

Speak to the DH Moth Club as a start, they will know almost all the ‘players’ in the fabric business.

As an apprentice somewhere, you would expect very little in the way of wages ( at first) but at least it is cheaper than £9,000 a year for a university course !

http://www.dhmothclub.co.uk/

Yes, true. and I think I’d prefer the much more practical nature of such an apprenticeship