Becoming A Light Aircraft Engineer

[Frogga]

I am thinking of becoming a light aircraft engineer. I recently started helping the maintenance at my local airfield 2 days a week, and really enjoyed it. I am now thinking of making a career of engineering, and wondered the best way of gaining the licences required. I have NO A levels, just GCSEs and a basic knowledge of general aviation.

Andrew

[Fournier Boy]

I did mine at Northbrook College down at Shoreham Airport in West Sussex. That was back when you could do the old BCAR A+C LWTR. Now they teach the Part 66 A Licence and are working towards offering B1 courses. I found the level of teaching excellent and with their own hangar and airframes on site, hands-on work is excellent. All instructors are Licenced Engineers and come from Military, Airline, and GA backgrounds.

They teach you all that you need to know across the whole range, metal, wood, fabric, piston engines, turbine engines, GA, Helicopters, Airliners. A good grounding in all subjects. They've got a flying Twin Commanche, plus dead Cessnas, Jetstreams, Hunter, Queenairs, plus engines from all types from 1920s to present day.

They also prepare you for big commercial aircraft and have a number of large turbines for students to use. An excellent college with very reasonable fees, total time would be between a year and two years study including hangar experience plus they have contacts of several companies that you could go do the necessary work experience. They also offer coaching for CAA boards.

All exams are conducted in house and the receptionist can help with accomodation locally. Don't worry so much about your current qualifications, as long as you can cope with the sciences and maths you'll be ok. Extra tuition is available in maths if you need it. Basically if you're keen and pay the fees, they'll take you, most people who don't make the grade get dropped back during the course. They don't release people from the college until they are good and ready and you are the only one who can control that. By the sounds of it, by going out and finding employment already within the industry you've got good motivation.

Hope this helps, link attached.

http://www.nbcol.ac.uk/browse/fe/aero/
- For the 1 year the A licence, plus another year B1 Licence, plus BTEC Diploma
http://www.nbcol.ac.uk/resources/
-For a piccie of the hangar

For further info, call the Head of the Hangar Malcom Bell, he's a top chap and I'm sure will be able to give you some pointers. It is recommended that you go visit the site for an interview and it gives you a chance to look around and ask any questions. You've got nothing to lose by giving it a try.

I headed down there at the age of 18 from the midlands and although it seemed a big thing, it really isn't, prepare to move around a lot over the next few years. I've moved on from GA now and now work for one of the Uks major airlines, the grounding they gave has helped me fine, couldn't recommend a place higher.

Good Luck

FB

[Riccardo]

I'm thinking of becoming a light aircraft engineer.

It's the thought of going on a diet that is putting me off :) :) :)