BA Component Overhaul

[aviatordom]

Hey everyone,

A few quick questions really!

If you were to join BA Component Overhaul as a Technician, throughout the years would you eventually become a B2 Engineer, or is the role @ Component Overhaul one where you stay as a technician?

If no, can you get you easily get your foot in the door for transferring onto becoming an Engineer?

Also, do Technicians at Component Overhaul get to work on aircraft directly, or do they pernamently stay at the facility building?

[shinobi1]

Hello,

I hope I can help you with my experiences of working for BA within component overhaul.

Firstly, not sure if BA still employ technicians for component overhaul anymore?
Component overhaul is usually unlicensed. Operating a CLT (certified licensed tradesman) scheme. Most facilities are remote from the airfield and are more like factories. These sort of facilities are more than likely the most under corporate pressure to be sold off to third party operations. If you have hopes of progressing, you would be on your own with regards to licenses and career progression.

I joined BA as a component overhaul apprentice twenty years ago and have seen it whittled down to a shadow of what it once was . I jumped ship years back and am now working on the line. Happily I might add!!

Where are you hoping to work? If the facility is on an airport, you stand a better chance of transfer than if you're facility is not linked.

You will be working on the components when they have been removed for servicing or inspection, not on the aircraft themselves

Hope that helps answer some of your questions? Feel free to ask more or PM me for further info if you prefer. :ok:

Shinobi

[aviatordom]

Thanks for the reply, I had a gut-feeling that you wouldn't become a B2 Engineer automatically.

At the moment, I would ideally like to work close to home as I am in my last year of school, and it's a bit of a trekk getting to the bigger places from where I am without being able to drive myself.

There is a place near me where I did my Work Experience that did a similar sort of thing, Component Overhaul/Avionic repairs at a facility. I've already emailed them, enquiring about employment.

What do you think? Would a place like this take on those who have just left School?

Also, if you don't mind me asking, what was your route from working in Component Overhaul to becoming a Licenced Engineer?

I hope you can help,

Dominic

[Exup]

As a component overhaul engineer with any company you will be working in the companies own workshop which will be an EASA 145 approved workshop, so you will not require to be licensed as all CRS will be done under the company 145 approval.

[spannersatcx]

If you were to join BA Component Overhaul as a Technician, throughout the years would you eventually become a B2 Engineer
The simple answer is no you would not.

To hold an aircraft maintenance licence one of the criteria is to have x amount of years working on a/c (x = 3 or 5 depending on the route to your licence), working on bits that fit on an aircraft do not constitute the required experience.

[Dodo56]

Dom, BA have component overhaul workshops in Feltham, some distance from the airport. The guys who work there do not as a rule work on aircraft and are not licensed engineers under Part 66. BA recently took some functions back in house having formerly farmed them out, so it's unlikely to be outsourced, but it's not a glamorous job or (I believe) particularly well paid, based on pressure to get components turned around and out the door as quickly as possible. To this extent they are quite unusual as most airlines these days outsource their components to specialist companies.

A career in component repair is fine if that's what you're looking for but it won't lead you into aircraft engineering and the CAA do not count time working on components to be experience working on aircraft for the purposes of the licence. You may get a foot in the door with respect to internal vacancies but that's about the only 'plus'.

There have been many threads on here about how to start a career as a licensed engineer and all seem to come up against the same catch-22. You can't get a job without experience, and you can't get experience without a job. However time is on your side and you might like to consider asking people for Saturday jobs (if necessary unpaid) at flying clubs so you can gain experience and demonstrate commitment for the next stage, which is to apply for apprenticeships. Do some research on which companies may be prepared to offer these. Start with Monarch, Inflite, ATC Lasham, Thompson or even BA. This list is not comprehensive, do some homework! Expect a lot of competition as there are few places and much demand. If you do not get an apprenticeship don't despair, you may be able to continue to learn via the flying club route which will give you enough hands-on experience to apply to agencies as a contractor. Once they have you on their books you can start working on aircraft and logging hours towards your engineer's experience requirements. You would have to find the costs of your exams/tuition yourself this way but TBH the first rung on the ladder is hardest. If you can get working on aircraft the rest is just money.

There is always the option to join the RAF of course, plenty of experience and tuition if you don't mind getting shouted/shot at ;)

Have a look at some of these links which may be useful background reading for you, in particular the ELGD.

Regulations structure (http://www.easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/g/rg_regulations.php)

Download and read 2042/2003 which are the basic regulations covering Part 66 (section A for companies and individuals, section B for the regulators), and the relevant AMC (acceptable means of compliance). It's good bedtime reading if you can't sleep. These regulations do get superseded and added to periodically but it's good to know the basics.

Documents Categories | Personnel Licensing | Safety Regulation (http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=177&pagetype=68)

All you need to know about engineer licensing under the CAA.

Note there is a very strong possibility you may only find a placement some distance from home so you may find yourself having to travel or live away from the olds whether you like it or not. Get through your A levels while working Saturdays, get a vehicle and you will have many more options.

Good luck!

[aviatordom]

Thank you for the replies everyone!

Does anyone know, how much (roughly) a Component Overhaul Technician earns per year?

Will take on the advice about getting a part-time job at flying clubs to help me get a foot in the door. I'm also sent off an enquiry about working for an Overhaul Company where I have had some previous experience, so they know who I am, may give me an even better chance of getting there one day.

About the RAF though, I cannot join due to my health (Epileptic).

I think that when I turn 18, & can finally drive , i'll start applying to the Airlines & MROs, when I could potentially already have a couple of years experience in component overhaul & also a little bit of work at a flying club.

Thanks again for the replies everyone, they are really helping!

[sevenforeseven]

Epilepitic, you say.
Sorry this will not allow you be a line engineer, or a hangar based one.
Health and safety reasons.
I am very sorry to bear the brunt of the bad news.

[Dodo56]

As with any medical condition there is a matter of degree, see CAP562 leaflet 15-6 (supersedes AWN47). There are restrictions on holding driving licences as well so some latitude may be allowable. The CAA could probably advise on this if you email them at the engineers licensing dept in Gatwick. IME they're a bit slow but they will get back to you.

CAP 562: Civil Aircraft Airworthiness Information and Procedures (CAAIP) | Publications | CAA (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=detail&id=92)

As regards earnings this varies a great deal according to employer and skill. £20-30K at a guess. As you're asking about B2 I presume you're interested in avionics/electronics. Due to the specialised nature of modern avionics very few airlines have their own avionics workshops and most of the "open box" work takes place back in industry. Have a word with Avionicare and Oakenhurst to see if they could offer you work experience or apprenticeship. Otherwise people like Rockwell Collins and Honeywell (not in your area though) may be able to offer advice of where they recruit from.

[aviatordom]

Thanks for the help Dodo56-Never knew that my health status could potentially cause quite a stir in Engineering. If it helps, i've only been having the Seizures so far in my sleep, in total i've only had 3 and i'm now stable under medication.

But i'll email the CAA anyway.

Thanks for the other advice as-well!