Hello.I'm new here.I found your forum in a research for any information about aircraft engineering.I'm 19 and I'm studying mechanical engineering in a university in my country.I really want to become an aircraft engineer and work for an airline one day.However,I've a question and I want you to tell me If you know anything.Can I find a job as an unlicensed aircraft engineer with a university degree in mechanical engineering?Of course I'll not have any experience in aircraft maintenance and I'm worried If they will take me in the job.Generally where do aircraft engineers begin from?Thanks in advance
They usually come from recognised apprenticeships or traineeships ie with airlines or MRO's. There are a large number of people studying in colleges/universities, and as how they are getting their experience, well some are asking on here asking how to get unpaid work.
Unpaid??Kidding right?I'm gonna study 5 years to become a mechanical engineer and at the end I'll have to work without getting paid?? So you say that when I get my degree I should continue with an aircraft engineering course which will get me at work and get experience?I heard about Northbrook College.Do you know anything about it?Any other training programm to suggest?I found this StartTechnik - Lufthansa Technik's International Trainee Program: Lufthansa Technik AG the only problem is that they ask for experience in aviation.
Well, zafos, you asked a question and Mr Brown gave you an answer that you obviously didn't like (unpaid work whilst gaining experience). Sorry, but that's the way it is - aircraft engineering isn't most other forms of maintenance. For example, what's your knowledge of wire locking, rod end safety holes, riveting, metalwork, corrosion rectification, correct hardware application etc. All this is basic stuff and it's very likely that engineers with their own tasks to perform can't really spare the time to instruct novices. That's why you're probably not going to get paid. Maybe your local airfield with light aircraft maintenance companies might be a good place to enquire about gaining experience. You'll start by depanelling, cleaning, servicing spark plugs, changing oil and brake pads & so on and build your knowledge from there. It's a long road to proper aircraft maintenance and no short cuts, I'm afraid.
and from that try and roll it over into the Aviation sector.
I am not up to date on Northwood, there is one at Bristol but that is not supposed to be that good, the other alternate in the UK is this which my Sisters Lad is on at the moment.
Thanks for the answers.But it's a problem If I'll have to work without getting paid because I'll have to get and one other job in order to live.I'll first try to find a job with a payment but you still didn't answer my first question.I'll have to continue with an aircraft engineering course or I can find the job with just my degree(mechanical engineering)?
Zafos You havn't even got your 'degree' yet......so don't count your chickens as the saying goes.....why not consider changing course now? The Kingston course will get you to a Part 66 Licence, and give you some experience? And a Degree that can be topped up to Honours as well....may even give you some credit for what you have done so far?
As the others have said there is no short way to the top........I would always employ someone with practical experience and appropriate qualifications over someone who comes with degrees etc.....in this game its the way.
I think you are missing the point when they say unpaid, they are not talking 5 days a week, but if you volunteer your services at a local flying school or club or aviation company etc on say a Saturday or Sunday etc whilst you are doing your degree, or do some during your holidays that way you are getting experience that will count when you qualify and go for that all important job, you have much more chance of getting that first break into a company when you qualify if you can say you have done XYZ work on Aircraft and you understand the basic workings of an Aircraft.......
You never know they may even pay you, I know several Airline Pilots that not being able to afford to fly in the beginning volunteered arounds a school, refuelling, cleaning aircraft, moving aircraft and the like in exchange for flying time. they started at the bottom building up experience and hours, even just doing the so called menial jobs like that it is suprising now much you learn, you will have people with the skills and knowledge that will be willing to pass on that knowledge to you. So volunteering at an Aircraft maintenence company you will learn things no course will ever give you, such as common sense and real life practical skills.....
Though saying that the courses tend to be the way to go if you can at some point..... the links to the Jobs I gave you were because some of them advertised offer positions for those with Mechanical degrees, not just Aeronautical ones... and Rolls Royce do a placement scheme through holidays for graduates, so they get to see you and you get to see what they do too...... win win situation
Well the truth is that I can't leave my country to go UK,don't ask why I just can't.But last days I was thinking for another choice.Here we give exams to get to universities and military schools.There are 2 types of military schools about aircraft engineering.The first is university and it would me great to go there but I didn't manage to go there because it's very difficult.The other is a 2 year school in which I can easily go and become an aircraft engineer and of course get to work right after I finish school and get paid.But the problem is that I don't like military although it would be great to work with military aircrafts like F-16,Phantom F-4E,Mirage etc.I wanna ask,If I go there and after the 9 years that I'll have to stay I leave and search a job in civil aviation will they take me?I'll have 9 years experience in the job.And If they take me after how many years can I have the B1 license?
In a short answer I would say yes.... BUT I would finish your degree course first as that will open a lot of doors as well as Military experience.... A lot of the problem these days is there is a lack of service personnel that used to come out of the military due to the shrinkage in the Armed Forces. Once upon a time they used to take up all the spare jobs in the Civil market, these days there are none so there is a shortage of skilled engineers.
I was not just talking about UK aviation companies, there must be some in your country you could do the odd day at.
I don't really think that they would take me in military.They prefer those from their military schools.And every year they take about 200 people.I thought about it again.I'm not going to military.I know it would be very easy to go there but I really don't like the military.I prefer civil aviation.So I think I will continue with my course and take my mechanical engineering degree and then search for a job as unlicensed engineer.I found in internet a good site about aviation jobs and I noticed that there is a really huge demand about B1 engineers but I didn't find many places about unlicensed engineers.Do you know If there is any organisation or airline that gets you to work while it trains you for a license?I think Lufthansa Technik is one of them.Generally even unpaid where can I search for a place to start my career?
I have many years to study until I take my degree but I'm from now anxious about my career
It maybe time for you to contact your country's competent authority. Contact them, ask for the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licensing and Standards office for advice. They hopefully will provide you with accurate up-to-date career path information for Licensed Aircraft Engineers in Greece. If not, report back. There are numerous international options.
As Nutloose has mentioned, the UKCAA has this online book. Link below. Not sure why EASA have not aquired it, modified it to suit all NAAs and rolled it out as their own for proper uniformity?
Every EASA NAA is entitled to assess certain qualifications as equivalent or exceeding the Part 66 syllabus.
Your degree may provide you with certain exemptions. Under the UKCAA, there are very few exemptions. The UKCAA keep stating it is up to vocational & full-on academic educational systems (IE: City&Guilds) to approach the UKCAA and spend a lot of £££££ to assess the possible equivalencies. I'm not sure any progress has been made on this. It hasn't helped with the shortage of AML holders that UK EASA Part 145 MRO's need in the UK today gentlemen.
I am hoping that your country's NAA is a little more progressive. Please provide us with any feedback from your enquiries with Hellas CAA. I love enlightenment
Yeah,I was wondering that too.But obviously you talk about the theoritical part of the 66 license.To get it you should have hands-on experience which is something you can't do in a distance learning course. I found this http://www.glam.ac.uk/courses/685/96 It's a course for the B1 license which can be done distance learning.Does anyone know anything about this?Is it good?
I'm not sure about the UK but ICS of Canada offers a online AME course that is approved by Transport Canada. Over here in the UAE we have about 6 people taking the course while working in our Company and gaining experience to write there GCAA license.
the course is self paced so it can be done as quickly as you like.
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