RAF Aircraft Technician (Mechanical) AMM

[cmbappleyard]

I have been asked which aircraft I would like work on and there are so many I find interesting, can anyone recommend an aircraft. The followering are ones that I am interested in.

BAE Hawk T1/1A - Great if I can get on the RED ARROW's Sqn

Typhoon F2 - Great because I will be local to my family. Not a great deal of travelling. Most people want this one.

Harrier GR7/9 (F-35 when ready) - Again most people want. No longer travel as much.

Chinook HC2/2A/3 - I love this aircraft and my boss worked on it when he was in. Detachments not very good.

Merlin HC3 - Again love this aircraft but not sure of detachments.

Any advice will be gratefully received. Please can you tell me if fix-winged or rotary aircraft have better civilian employment opportunities.

Thanks you very much.

[jamier]

I currently work on GR4s up at a scret airbase in scotland! Love it up there...get decent detachments, good mates and a great aircraft to work with.

[Krystal n chips]

" Please can you tell me if fix-winged or rotary aircraft have better civilian employment opportunities."

I hate to put a dampner on your aspirations, but don't you think you are being a little premature here ?....possibly the RAF would like a contribution from you after training you to be an AMM....and eventualy as technician In any event, why not ask those who train you on 238...they may just have a vague idea as to what happens in the outside world after training. after all....

Nice to see you want to be near home though....possibly you would like a flexi time arrangement as well to fit in with your social diary....:E

[wilmot]

Bit 'Harsh'.... Hes only a lad, and we were all there once...!!! Tut Tut

[Alber Ratman]

Tristar or A330s when they are in service.. Nah, Typhoon.. Fast jets = Fun..:)

[Rigga]

Fast Jets for Fun
Helicopters for hard work

- Though to be honest I enjoyed all the hard work much, much better than working on tonkas.

Employment right now is fairly slow for any unlicenced fitters - I'd guess its the wrong time to start connying too.

[RotaryWingB2]

I hate to put a dampner on your aspirations, but don't you think you are being a little premature here

Absolutely not.

Your first day in the military is the first day of your resettlement. Good on the OP for having the foresight to think ahead. I wish I'd had the same presence of mind 24 years ago.

[NutLoose]

Helicopter good pay in civi street when you come out..... though a bit specialised in the marketplace....... Also lots of detachements and flying in them

Fighters good fun, detachements etc

A330 or the like........ best bet for coming out, best pay civi licenced......... try to do your civi licences when you are in the RAF.......... bay work does NOT count, so try for a Squadron or line/ base work.......... though in RAF I would try to avoid Base work..

Above all enjoy it to the max...

I did Wessex, Puma, Chinook, Jaguar and VC10 in my Career........ all first line, these days you will be pushed to get a posting, I know people that have only known the Chinook for 30 years.......

[Krystal n chips]

Just to quantify matters guys, the OP will not be joining the circuit ( or what's left of it at present ) for some considerable time yet.

He has to complete his AMM training first...then it's 18 months as a liney...then, if he proves himself or rather demonstrates he has the willingness to get involved, he does his technicians course...that's another 14 months ( approx ) after which he gets posted to wherever he's required...which includes bay work...notably at a certain secret base near Swaffham.

Planning for the future is fine, but he does need to be aware that life in the RAF is a shade different from civilian life and, as we all know, the fabled dream sheet can remain just that. There's still enough variety of fleets around to gain a lot of experience...even good old 71 MU albeit now rebranded from those halcyon days..:E:ok:..still exists....but as a pure AMM he would not last 5mins outside as they simply do not have the range of skills required in the civilian world, although they do have a sufficient range to fulfil the RAF's requirements.

Those who join and then want a posting near to home make me wonder at times........:confused:

[EGT Redline]

Regardless of how long you intend to stay in the military, you should always be making provisions for a future life outside. I'm in agreement with rotarywing, planning ahead from a very early stage will put you head and shoulders above all those other guys who leave it until the last minute during resettlement.

It doesn't really matter what you end up working on cmbappleyard. At the end of the day it's all good experience and even if you only did say 8 years, you'll be well received in civil aviation as the only guys we tend to see entering the industry nowadays are kids out of college who get given the answers to questions. There is no substitute for actual "hands-on" experience and that coupled with your RAF acedemic/theoretical training will stand you in good stead.

If upon joining you do decide that a full career is not for you and you still want to work on aircraft in a civil capacity then I would look into getting an aircraft maintence licence. Keep it quiet though because you'll eventually be earning twice as much as those Sgt's who used to tell you what to do...:ok:

[glad rag]

From experience I'd say jump for rotary wing as a mech, you can always go fixed wing at a later date.

Wrong time for connies you got that bloody right.:(

[Miles Gustaph]

Harrier=Afganistan & royal navy carriers, same with the F thing
Merlin=Afganistan
Chinook=Afganistan or Iraq

Typhoon=everywhere

Red Arrows, nice safe places with loads of weekend work

[Rigga]

Alber said:
"Wrong time for connies when that little ole place near Fifers lane is £10 PH.. and is still mucking people up.."

ROFLMHO!!

Oh, the saga's of Hurricane Way and Meteor Close....hehehe!

They've spent the last 30 years collapsing into disarray, so why should they stop now. I feel for those still there propping up the management.

Best of Luck.

[Dezaldo]

Just a slight correction on the "18 months as a liney" comment.... AMM's should not be used as "liney's" during their first tour as the idea is to gain as much forward depth maintenance on a first line aircraft as possible in their short time with us before heading off to the sunny midlands to complete further training. Shame on the line managers that are using them to kick tyres!!

[Dezaldo]

Recommend The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) & Typhoon. Difficult to get posted onto but relatively modern compared to the rest of the relics the Air Force currently operate. Steer well clear of PUMA!! Hopefully it'll be dead and buried after the long awaited future strategic defence review! PLEEEASE!! One can only hope!

[Krystal n chips]

It should indeed be the case they gain as much experience as possible and some do...it all depends on so many factors.....the fleet concerned for a start and the taskings....the managers perceptions of the scope of work they can perform is also a factor...but let's not forget the drive to become involved comes from the individual concerned.....many seem to think it's simply a case of being there and the rest is handed to them on a plate.....alas, some are rudely awakened.

[Alber Ratman]

They are FLMs.. To be used and abused.. Hey, most single trade mechs on Squadrons prior to AMMs were used as lineys on days.. And on nights too..:E