Training to be an air craft engineer in the military
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Wilts
Posts: 183
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For what it is worth Matt, it really depends what you want in life. 27 is young but you will be competing to get in against much younger and potentially more 'malleable' men and women - albeit, my son with 4 years experience and BTEC up to his armpits in engineering at the age of 19 failed to get any response from his application and despite badgering them by phone decided to apply for an apprenticeship with a local aircraft engineering/component manufacturing company and is now earning far more than a sergeant in a trade group 1 appointment; albeit, pension, healthcare and opportunities for further advancement/and overseas dets are not an option (we think thankfully!!).
If you are a gas safe plumber and charge as much as the local plumber I use, I would stay there frankly. I sense some of the old faithful on this site will of course disagree.
If you are a gas safe plumber and charge as much as the local plumber I use, I would stay there frankly. I sense some of the old faithful on this site will of course disagree.
Speaking as a civilian LAE, don't get carried away by the perceived glamour of being an aircraft engineer - a large part of your working day could see you carrying out repetitive mundane tasks such as greasing undercarriages and control actuators. And these will have to be cleaned before being inspected... ever been inside the main landing gear bay of a large aircraft?
How does a few days of seat repairs appeal to you if the AMO doesn't have a dedicated seat team..? or paintstripping and treating corrosion..?
It's not all like that, of course, many tasks are interesting, but don't expect it to be as exciting as might be portrayed elsewhere.
Line work is another thing altogether and arguably more satisfying as long as you don't mind all-weather maintenance/handling and occasional periods of intense pressure inbetween slack times.
Most people do enjoy the trade but it's as well to understand the good and not so good aspects.
How does a few days of seat repairs appeal to you if the AMO doesn't have a dedicated seat team..? or paintstripping and treating corrosion..?
It's not all like that, of course, many tasks are interesting, but don't expect it to be as exciting as might be portrayed elsewhere.
Line work is another thing altogether and arguably more satisfying as long as you don't mind all-weather maintenance/handling and occasional periods of intense pressure inbetween slack times.
Most people do enjoy the trade but it's as well to understand the good and not so good aspects.
