The Aircraft Engineer

[Grambo]

As i have recently found out, choosing a career is almost impossible.

The aircraft engineers seem to make around £45K if my research is accurate... I would be very happy with this, but I dont know enough about the actual job!

1. Do they work alone? Do you they talk to clients all day (I would be rubbish at this)

2. Do they make £45K or is that wrong?

3. In demand? Or impossible to find a job?

[Grambo]

Thanks Mitchaa.

So do the line engineers get the same pay as the chief/type engineers?

And can line engineers learn the job at uni via degree?

[NutLoose]

Try reading this

Kingston University - Newcastle Aviation Academy

Wages can vary from that going up and down, Avionics tends to be the higher paid, god knows why they do not do a lot...

[NutLoose]

This will also help you, it gives details of courses etc and an out of date pay survey

Aircraft Engineers Bulletin Board - Powered by vBulletin

[Grambo]

Thanks Nutloose.

What would you say line engineers earn?

And I am 19, am I too old to start?

[spannersatKL]

You appear to be more interested in the money side of this and not why you want to do the job? What is you motivation? Do you have any real desire to actually do the job? What do you want to get out of it in job satisfaction? I'm sure any job interview you may get would be most interesting?.....for those doing the interview.

[TURIN]

It's a long haul.

You won't be on anything like 40k+ for at least 7 years, maybe 10 unless you're a complete wizard with exams and work like hell to get your type rating experience.
If you think you will enjoy the job, stick at it but don't do it for the money, you can get a lot more for a lot less effort in other industries.

Best of luck.

[Grambo]

Ofcourse.

I have studied careers for so many weeks, everyday, 2/3 hours at a time.

I am a bit introverted, and this makes the decision trickier, but I think this could be suited to an aircraft engineer (line), or am i really going to spend days talking to clients?

[a350_b787]

Careers in Aircraft Engineering
1. How to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and an Aircraft Fitter

As a licensed aircraft engineer you will need to be in possession of a basic aircraft engineer's licence, at least one type rating for an aircraft, many hours/months/years spent gaining your practical experience, and a company approval to issue a Certificate of Release to Service for an aircraft. It is a highly skilled job and one which can take some years to achieve. View all of our Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer jobs.

Aircraft are signed off by licensed engineers, but their unlicensed and highly skilled colleagues perform a crucial role. Aircraft Mechanics (or Aircraft Fitters) are not certified and will work under the supervision of a certified engineer, but they are highly trained and experienced in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aircraft (MRO jobs).
2. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering careers

Aircraft Engineers and Aircraft Mechanics work on a permanent basis as an employee of an airline or MRO organisation. Many more are employed on a contract basis, working for themselves via recruitment businesses that provide staffing services for airlines or MROs.

Aircraft Engineer Contractors tend to earn more money, but do not get the various company benefits or security offered by a permanent job.

Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers will need to prove their skills. As one, you will need a basic licence (for instance a B1 EASA Part 66 licensed aircraft engineer's licence). This will require many months of study (either about aircraft avionics for a B2 licence or airframe & engine for a B1 licence).

This will then need to be followed by further study on a type rating course taken at an approved centre (for instance B747-400 type rating), and then practical experience on type to gain company approvals.

Only once you have all of this can you then become a certified aircraft engineer. Even then, you will need to maintain 'recency' on type in order to continue working on any particular type of aircraft. If you lose recency (ie, you stop working on a type of aircraft for over 2 years), you may be required to take a familiarisation course before you can again be licensed on type. This can vary from one airline to another and the civil aviation authority (country / region) you wish to work within. (See the note at the end with more information about *Aircraft Licence Types.)

3. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Jobs / Fitter Jobs

Aircraft Fitter Jobs
If you are a fitter you will need to search for Aircraft technicians jobs, aircraft mechanics jobs or aircraft fitters jobs (various terms are used interchangeably). View our Aircraft Technician and Fitter jobs.

Line Maintenance Engineer Jobs
Line Maintenance Engineer jobs will require a certified aircraft engineer to sign aircraft off 'on line'. The checks a line maintenance engineer carries out are light checks and are done during turn-around or overnight. You must have a license and approvals in order to sign a 'Certificate of Release to Service'. See our Licensed Line Maintenance Engineer Jobs.

Base Maintenance Engineer Jobs
Base Maintenance Engineer jobs require a certified aircraft engineer to sign aircraft off. The nature of the work focusses on bigger aircraft maintenance projects (or heavy checks). It usually takes longer than a Line Check. Checks are categorised and a base maintenance engineer's job is typically carrying out C Checks in the hangar over a number of days or weeks. Modifications and installations will also be included as part of a Licensed Base Maintenance Engineer's job.

NOTES

*Aircraft Licence Types
Basic licences are issued by the competent authority. Licence types are, for instance, an EASA Part 66 licence or ICAO licence. Licensed Engineers tend to specialise either in mechanics or avionics. Avionics Engineers (or EASA Part 66 B2 engineers) are able to issue CRS on avionics systems, while Airframe and Engine engineers (or A&C or B1 Licence Engineers) generally sign for all mechanical parts and the engines (they need to be trained on specific engine types too).

Variety is huge but the following are probably the most common aircraft types offering jobs: B777 jobs, B737 jobs, B747 jobs, A330 jobs, A340 jobs, A320 jobs.


4. Aerospace Jobs

Aerospace Design Engineer Jobs and Aircraft Manufacturing Jobs are filled by aerospace engineers skilled in aircraft design using software like DOORS and NASTRAN. Specialisms include Aerospace Design and Stress Engineer jobs, Aerodynamics jobs, Avionics Systems Design Engineer jobs, CATIA Jobs and IT jobs. Aerospace defence jobs, especially, require software specialists.

source: Careers in Aircraft Engineering, AircraftEngineers.com

[HAWK21M]

Forget the salary numbers.....First ask yourself can you handle it...working odd hrs & in weird terrain/weather.need to constantly study & not much free time.If you can go for it.
You will need to enjoy this job to survive.

[Dodo56]

Does nobody do any research before asking a question here?

Read this: http://www.easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/g/...003_Part66.pdf

Should answer a few questions about what you need to know/do.

[lenzil]

unlicensed engineer

i've complete my EASA PART 66 B1 modules at college, and i've got my basic training certificate as i've completed my 10 weeks on job training. but now its impossible to find a job. most airlines are looking for engineers with experience. does anyone know whats the best way to get into the industry? is it better to go to university and get a degree before looking for a job? any help will be much appreciated.

[AMSHMZ]

I have a B1 with 737 & 320 type! I have no Job for the past 6 months! This profession is ****! After giving my precious 12 yrs to this industry, I am worth Zero!! Now I am planning to switch over from aviation to teaching!
Advice for new comers!
Please be away of Aircraft Maintenance profession! It is completely saturated.

[simonchowder]

Problem is the industry is saturated with college trained "licensed engineers "who are actually worthless in the real world, they have been sadly suckered in by the hype, what airlines are looking for is hands on time served engineers who can actually walk the walk and do the job and not some college educated graduate who has very little hands on experiance and when the chips are down is next to useless

[bay17-20]

Simon Chowder - that is the best summing up of this industry I have read in some time.

A "Degree", learning certificate and no experience (and 10 weeks OJT does not count) makes you about as worthwhile as any other trainee mech.

Try the industry first as a mechanic/fitter and only then decide to sign up to the 20K debt you will have at the end of your course.

The ability to pass exams does not give you the aptitude, common sense, responsibility and hand skills you are going to need to get anywhere in this industry.

If you are unsure if you want to be an engineer, probably best to try something else.

[simonchowder]

Totally agree, and as someone who is employed in the recruitment side of things i honestly think this whole concept of colleges churning out licensed engineers is seriously flawed, these people just do not have the hands on grounding that is required, its not their fault of course but the only way to get that grounding is to do the time on the hangar floor learning all the essential basics, which is why the apprentice system is unbeatable, you just cannot with the best will in the world substitute four years spent working with highly skilled fitters and engineers in the real world with ten weeks OJT working on some old cessna.
However the industry is of of course well aware of these shortcomings and in general steers well clear of college trained engineers much prefering the guy who has worked his way up from the bottom by learning the trade properly and then studying for his /her ticket.
These people are being done IMHO a great misservice by the system, there being hoodwinked into laying out a lot of money with promises of walking out of the college and into well paid postions as licensed engineers and sadly its not going to happen in the majority of cases, the whole system needs looking at very closely because at present its litle more than a money making scheme which is doing niether the student nor the industry any favours

[ericferret]

I very accurate assessment of the current situation. This is one of the reasons why the ex military engineer is still in great demand. They have had good basic training and loads of practical experience. Getting the licence is their problem, however the adage adapt and overcome applies. They do and hey presto good quality licensed engineers. Further more the work ethic ingrained in them. Some of the civvies seem to think they are still at school and turning up for work is optional.

What comes out of some of the civvy training schools is truly appalling. They are setting their own exams which have a very narrow theory base and if you can read it's hard to fail. The lack of relevent practical experience and negligable hand skills makes the problem worse. A return to the old style apprentice scheme would be best but who is prepared to pay the price.

[smudgethecat]

Spot on chowder and others, however its not all doom and gloom i think the industry is at last waking up to the fact they need well trained pratical engineers who can cut the mustard with the spanners and they aint gonna get them from the likes of brunell college,

I can think of two big MRO,s who recently have re -introduced the traditional apprentice scheme because they have at last realised there is no substitute for it , its not cheap but it works.

[GAZIN]

Apprenticeships, apprenticeships, apprenticeships.
IMO this is the best way for the industry to get the skilled & dedicated engineers it needs.
Unfortunately with less airlines doing their own base maintenance & the loss of specialist organisations like SRT, getting a good range of trade experience isn't easy. Colleges are very good for theory & regulations but without broad practical experience you wont get good aircraft maintenance engineers.
You need to work in the industry to understand what it's about & whether or not it's for you. Going to college first could be a mistake.

[SeldomFixit]

Aircraft Engineering is a mindset, just as Piloting is a mindset. Aviation, is a Rubik's cube of mindsets