Navy To Civvy Street

[DFLY]

Hello all,

Im currently an Aircraft engineering technician in the Royal Navy and am leaving in december. I am looking to eventually do my licences but in the meantime i want to get employed as a fitter in the manchester area for maybe thomas cook or monarch, do these airlines employs fitters straight out of the military? or can anyone give any contact details for any companys in manchester who would employ ex MOD.

Thanks

[smudgethecat]

I think monarch are looking for fitters at present at manchester and im sure they would snap your hand off, failing that theres normally postions for contract fitters both at mon and tcx, speak to chevron

[DFLY]

Okay thanks, do monarch or TCX offer any apprenticeships or anything similar?

[smudgethecat]

I believe they do, however i know navy trainings a bit gash but i dont think even monarch would require you to do your apprenticeship again, :)

[Salusa]

I believe they do, however i know navy trainings a bit gash but i dont think even monarch would require you to do your apprenticeship again

Hmmm that’s a bit of a derogatory 'statement'...

From my own experience of hiring and working with guys in the past all ex forces chaps have had excellent training.

[smudgethecat]

Oh for gods sake, it was a joke mate, (post edited with a smile to avoid outrage by superbly trained/motivated ex forces chaps)

[Salusa]

Oh for gods sake, it was a joke mate.

Sorry mate, long day.

If you had said Crab then I would have kept quiet (joke!);)

[DFLY]

SMUDGETHECAT you are correct in saying navy training is gash, however i have been working with the crabs for the past 3 years so hopefully i would of picked up some tips from them. As far as qualifications go the navy only give you an NVQ 2 in aircraft maintenance and thats worth next to nothing, would i require more qualifications to get a fitters job with an airline or would 'time on aircraft' count? i have 4.5 years experience of working on the Harrier.

Thanks

[DFLY]

Thanks for all the replies, What companies are there in the north west area i have done search's on all the airlines but they only have vacancies for licensed engineers.

Sorry for all the questions but i have just realised i only have 6 months left in the Mob so really need to start looking for employment.

Thanks

[DFLY]

How do you start contracting? are there companies who find you employment or do you do it off your own back? ive heard when your a contracter you need your own tools.

[crewman 355]

hi there , i was a permie at monarch as a fitter ! great place to work and there are a load of contractors jobs in the northwest, look on aviation job search . good look mate

ps yes you do need your own tools also

[smudgethecat]

You need your own tools whether your a permie or a connie out here, best start collecting a few ,if your going contracting you will need your own windys/ rivet guns etc as well as your normal tool kit,the other thing to bear in mind is most line mechs jobs require you to hold a A licence in order for you to get your pre/flt daily approval so until you get that you will be restricted to base maintenence, plenty of agencies here http://www.aviationjobsearch.com/employer.asp?catID=35&IndType=0

[NutLoose]

As said above, one here BTW at Manchester

http://www.aviationjobsearch.com/employer.asp?employerid=1627&vacID=106373

You will miss the Rum, Bum and Baccy............ well at least the ........:E


Can I say that? :O

Ex and fully licenced Crab and if they gave me 'em, you'll be ok, just don't tell 'em your Navy ;)....

you could also try for the likes of http://www.aerospacewalesforum.com/home.php?page_id=32&member_id=335

If tools is a major issue and it can be, then Marshals at Cambridge might be a port of call if you can until you get established as they now provide them in house I believe, or the likes of BAe/ Airbus or Rolls Royce...

Good luck

[DFLY]

So i best start 'acquiring' myself some tools, its good to hear some positive comments about employment up in the northwest, a lot of the crabs i work with reckon ex navy find it hard to find a job due to the fact that they don't get trained how to drill or rivet (unless your a artificer).
Im only due out in civvy street in december, is it possible to get weekend work at Lpool or Man because i know a lot of lads who work at stansted at weekends just to get my foot in the door.

[NutLoose]

You will be expected to provide your own tools bar any specialised items...

You want a decent socket set, 3/8th drive set up to about 1 inch in size and possibly 1/4 drive up to about 9/16th, set of spanners to about the same ( 1 inch). pliers, snips, hammers, pin punches, torch and mirror, ruler, screwdrivers, get something like the Snapon Ratchet item with the screwdriver bits....... may cost 40-50 quid, (most companies provide replacement screwdriver bits) but it will last you a life time, on my second in 25 years.... locking pliers, also a pistol grip windy drill for starters, starter selection of drill bits, though most companies provide them, selection of files, tin snips etc and a strong tool box to put these all in with a chain and padlock to secure it to something substantial, sad to say things do go missing :(

There are people on ebay selling aircraft tools so have a look there for those items you can't get.

Most of the main skin jobs will be left to sheeties, so you will basically want stuff for the more minor repairs etc


I came out the RAF as an A TECH P which was an Engine Fitter, did a bit of contracting picked up airframe skills on the job and learnt as I went along, I wasn't to proud to ask people for help along the way.... I am now a A and C Licensed Engineer, which is Airframes and Engines, A chief Engineer and a Nominated Engineer as well as holding my EASA Licences A1, B1 and C.


Anyone else think of any essential tools he will need chirp up........ not the niceties of life, but the ones he will need to get by and into a company.

[Chris P Bacon]

Have a look and join the Aircraft Engineers Bullitin Board at http://www.airmech.co.uk/ Lots of information from people that have gone through the same process.

[DFLY]

Okay thanks guys. Will have to sort out my CV and start emailing it around.

[Rigga]

Tell your local Halfords what your going to do and see if you can get a Trade Card from them - and get 25-50% plus off tools and boxes.
"professional" spanners are quite handy if they're the right sizes for your types (I do metric and AF).

[old,not bold]

How do you start contracting?

Well, now...................

Think about getting an A Licence; you're halfway there with your experience; it's becoming an advantage. You can progress to a B later.

Get Human Factors and Fuel Tank Safety under your belt.

Get a list of agencies (aviationjobsearch............?)

Get verified copies of all your certs etc ready.

Get your work history for the last 5 years fully documented (Airside pass requirements)Start sending the CV to all and sundry.

Before signing up for work through an agency check the agency's reputation for dealing with contractors (ignore the autowhingeing, take note of real grievances).

Lots of luck. There's plenty of work for well-qualified people who do an honest job.

[DFLY]

Could i study for the A licence whilst still in the mob or do you actually need to be on civvy aircraft? how long does it usually take to get it? Unfortuantly the navydoesnt provide you with a 'log book' or anything to show the work you have done etc, will this be i hinderance?.

[JEMAVION]

Do they still not have the facility for a person leaving one of the services to work for a civvy company for a few weeks before leaving? I'm sure many companies would be only too willing to give someone a free trial if it wasn't costing them anything, as he was still being paid by MOD.

[woptb]

Get a friendly crab to get you an 'Aircraft Engineering Tradesmens' record book (RAF Form 6859?) or a record log book from the ALAE (Association of Licensed Aircraft Engineers ) http://www.alae.org/ The ALAE log book might be better as it is laid out in a CAA approved fashion.
If you don't want to fork out,just get a good quality note book to record your experience & get it all stamped up.
Take a look at the CAA Safety Regulation Group (SRG) Personnel licencing website it has lots of useful gen & FAQ section
http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=177&pagetype=68
There is a lot of work out there & the industry is struggling in some area's to find people with any sort of formal training. Its a bit daunting at first but once your in amongst it you'll soon 'sus' how everything works.
Cheers,
woptb

[smudgethecat]

If you want to work on the line a A licence is very desirable, without it you cannot now hold pre- flt/daily /limited and simple approvals etc which makes you not a whole lot of use in a line enviroment, in fact the company i work for will not now employ mechs on the line who do not hold a least a A licence.