Mature age AME apprenticeship Australia

[Elias.K]

I'm considering doing an AME apprenticeship.
I'm 41 yo, would this be seen as a hurdle to employers? what's the market in Melbourne for this career like at the moment? What sort of salary should I expect as an apprentice and then when qualified? i would like to progress to a LAME, is this something you can work on during the apprenticeship?

Can't seem to find much on this on the net, so hopefully someone in the field can assist.

[CAR42ZE]

Hi Elias.K, the CASA website does have a bit of info available regarding how to become an AME and then a LAME - but obviously not so much in relation to specifics about apprenticeships, etc.

https://www.casa.gov.au/standard-page/aircraft-maintenance-engineer-career-guide

This link from the Vic government website might give you some more specific information. The link is for a framey, but all the categories are there.

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/Students/Pages/OccupationSearchDescription.aspx?type=occupation&keyword=&searchid=685&ReturnUrl=

Good luck in your endeavors. I'd recommend scouting around Moorabbin - but I think at this stage that's a bit premature, have a look at the best way for you as an individual to break into the industry to start with. The market is soft, but I did leave the area three years ago so I'm only basing that off my mates still in the east.

[Cat1234]

Sorry mate, it just wont happen, no matter how good you are. Almost no one employs apprentices anymore and the industry is pretty shaky, worst I have seen it in 30 years.

If you really want to work on aircraft then the future is here Sport Aircraft Association of Australia > Home (http://www.saaa.com/)

Good luck,
Darryn

[Hasherucf]

The biggest issue with getting an apprenticeship is confusion about getting a licence outcome. That is why employers aren't hiring apprentices.

In WA, NT and NSW there isn't RTO's that deliver under the part 147 system.

As for SAAA and RA Aus , you wont get a job there as they do there own maintenance. Partly the reason they crash so much ! Yes I said it !!

I'm a LAME and I wouldn't suggest it as a career

[600ft-lb]

Qantas do take apprentices and dont discriminate based upon age, as evident with some of the recruits in the past few years.

However;

-As an absolute minimum you will need to complete a pre-apprenticeship course at Aviation Australia or similar to be even considered for a job.

-If you do want to venture into this career just bear in mind the biggest employer of apprentices, Qantas, just let a heap of them go at the end of their time.

-Barely a fraction of a class are being taken in Brisbane Base Maintenance compared to what was taken in Sydney/Melbourne in the past.

-New aircraft types are designed from the outset to need less maintenance then the previous generation models that are what gets worked on in the Brisbane facility.

With all that in mind in a country such as ours that has basically hollowed out its aircraft maintenance industry to barely a shell of what it once was, when the previous gen aircraft go and the new gen 787's, 320neos, 737max's are flying the skies, the jobs that currently exist just won't be there. The same justification that was used for the lack of A380 maintenance will be used, economies of scale, extended time in service between heavy maintenance visits etc

And you will be competing for jobs with guys who are highly experienced, licensed and out of work in their chosen narrow field of employment.

Just something to think about before you throw a lot of time and money and study into a new career that has seen 1000's lose their jobs in the last few years.