MR. Brown is spot on. Learning the job at college does not prepare you for the real world. What was wrong with the apprenticeship with block release. Take kids from school at 16, send them to a technical training school for the first year and then 3 years in the hangar, line on shift learning from experienced staff. You could even have a modern take on the old craft / non craft route ie A or B licence.
For someone retraining from another trade whats wrong with them starting as a mech greasing and depanelling and again buildng knowledge from the experienced staff
Atlanticairlines, good luck on your quest, the job has its good and bad parts like any. Worked with a few guys who retrained and have no probs. Worked with a few time served that I wouldnt let touch my 5 year olds bike though