Apprenticeship Advice Needed
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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Apprenticeship Advice Needed
Help I'm stuck!!
I'm a 33 year old professional (accountancy and I have done CPA)
I'm currently completing an Aviation Australia mechancial course with excellent results to date (all first time passes with > 90% results). Additionally I'm self-studying the avionics modules (passed Module 4, failed 5 - big gap between Tooley and the exam). I've two exams left for the mechancial (Module 15 and 17) and Modules 5 and 13 for avionics.
I'm been turned down by Etihad for an apprenticeship in Abu Dhabi (lack of hands on skills), I've just been turned down by Qantas (I dare say for the same reason) despite there recruitment process giving no indication of this - so at the moment I'm a bit bitter. Of the other 5 apprenticeships I've put in for I've heard nothing back to date (though I am blaming this on AA as they were the originating point of contact). I'm unlikely to get a start interstate as at my age there is a lack of money for mature age apprenticeships (and this was from the Qantas apprenticeship manager).
I feel I've been mislead by AA. Excellent results don't mean anything (shouldn't have bother to do any more than just pass). I will probably win my class prize and still be out of a job.
The frustration is that I know I would make a really good mechanic if I can just get a start (and I wanted to do both B1 and B2 - didn't matter how long it took)
Anyone got any useful suggetions. Right now I feel like packing the whole thing in and heading back to accountancy and making some money (since I haven't worked for over 12 months)
Cheers
I'm a 33 year old professional (accountancy and I have done CPA)
I'm currently completing an Aviation Australia mechancial course with excellent results to date (all first time passes with > 90% results). Additionally I'm self-studying the avionics modules (passed Module 4, failed 5 - big gap between Tooley and the exam). I've two exams left for the mechancial (Module 15 and 17) and Modules 5 and 13 for avionics.
I'm been turned down by Etihad for an apprenticeship in Abu Dhabi (lack of hands on skills), I've just been turned down by Qantas (I dare say for the same reason) despite there recruitment process giving no indication of this - so at the moment I'm a bit bitter. Of the other 5 apprenticeships I've put in for I've heard nothing back to date (though I am blaming this on AA as they were the originating point of contact). I'm unlikely to get a start interstate as at my age there is a lack of money for mature age apprenticeships (and this was from the Qantas apprenticeship manager).
I feel I've been mislead by AA. Excellent results don't mean anything (shouldn't have bother to do any more than just pass). I will probably win my class prize and still be out of a job.
The frustration is that I know I would make a really good mechanic if I can just get a start (and I wanted to do both B1 and B2 - didn't matter how long it took)
Anyone got any useful suggetions. Right now I feel like packing the whole thing in and heading back to accountancy and making some money (since I haven't worked for over 12 months)
Cheers
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whissper,
to grub up on the hand skills and not have to deal with mega-corporate HR departments. Why not try the GA, bizjet and private flying maintenance sector, may not be as glam or well-paid as some multi-national airlines - but at least you have more of a personal approach, since the HR department in a small firm is normally right next to the owners desk....And I believe that Oz has a very busy GA community.
Good luck and happy hunting!
Brgd's
N1 Vibes
to grub up on the hand skills and not have to deal with mega-corporate HR departments. Why not try the GA, bizjet and private flying maintenance sector, may not be as glam or well-paid as some multi-national airlines - but at least you have more of a personal approach, since the HR department in a small firm is normally right next to the owners desk....And I believe that Oz has a very busy GA community.
Good luck and happy hunting!
Brgd's
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GA is the place to get a start. Posting resumes is useless, hand deliver and bring your tools, offer to help out around the hangar for a few days unpaid and you can start immediately. When you do start working, if your good enough, a job will appear. Always many vacant positions in GA.
I wouldn't go for an apprenticeship, tied to one place for 4 years could be very bad. Better off to work as an ame then can move around chasing experience if required.
best of luck, remember in aviation the less desirable the location the more jobs there are.
I wouldn't go for an apprenticeship, tied to one place for 4 years could be very bad. Better off to work as an ame then can move around chasing experience if required.
best of luck, remember in aviation the less desirable the location the more jobs there are.
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Hey Guys,
I am in the same exact boat as whissper. I have finished my Aviation Australia course, and to date have been having the same problems finding work. I am also a qualified fitter and turner and have a lot of mechanical and fabrication experience in the automotive field.
I was ineligible for Etihad because i wasnt single, and havent heard back from Qantas.
Is my best bet just going to every single airport and airfield in SE queensland and trying to find work experience? I have emailed off heaps of covering letters and resumes, but sometimes doing that you aren't sure that they are getting to the right people or even being read. And apprenticeships arent exactly advertised an awful lot...
I am in the same exact boat as whissper. I have finished my Aviation Australia course, and to date have been having the same problems finding work. I am also a qualified fitter and turner and have a lot of mechanical and fabrication experience in the automotive field.
I was ineligible for Etihad because i wasnt single, and havent heard back from Qantas.
Is my best bet just going to every single airport and airfield in SE queensland and trying to find work experience? I have emailed off heaps of covering letters and resumes, but sometimes doing that you aren't sure that they are getting to the right people or even being read. And apprenticeships arent exactly advertised an awful lot...
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Problem is AA churns out 150 EASA trained pre apprentices every year into a very small EASA pond (Eithad, Qantas). If you want a start go the CASA basics and hit the phone's to chief engineers and ask for a start.
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whissper
Definately try and do the CASA 'Basic Exams' best to do them while you're doing the AA course, saves studying twice. Just the ones for your B1 and B2, however if you have to start in GA you may end up doing a lot more.
Syllabus of Examination Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licences Mechanical Category
http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_asset...d/ctc_210s.pdf
Civil Aviation Safety Authority - AME Exams
Definately try and do the CASA 'Basic Exams' best to do them while you're doing the AA course, saves studying twice. Just the ones for your B1 and B2, however if you have to start in GA you may end up doing a lot more.
Syllabus of Examination Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licences Mechanical Category
http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_asset...d/ctc_210s.pdf
Civil Aviation Safety Authority - AME Exams
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Further
The line from CASA is that is not really worth doing CASA Basics as effectively EASA B1/B2 will give you more privileges (when finally implemented).
Does GA still prefer a CAR 31 license or are they now willing to look at EASA qualifications?
I have looked at the CASA syllabus and while it looks easily doable I'm reluctant to spend a $100 an exam for however many exams I need to do. And which would be the most appropriate from a GA perspective.
Cheers
The line from CASA is that is not really worth doing CASA Basics as effectively EASA B1/B2 will give you more privileges (when finally implemented).
Does GA still prefer a CAR 31 license or are they now willing to look at EASA qualifications?
I have looked at the CASA syllabus and while it looks easily doable I'm reluctant to spend a $100 an exam for however many exams I need to do. And which would be the most appropriate from a GA perspective.
Cheers
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To get anywhere in GA you will need to do all of the casa basics.......I dare say most of the guys in GA will say "EASA B1/B2 what?"
I was told 10 years ago when I started my apprenticeship "Don't worry about doing the casa basics cos EASA B1/B2 will be implemented in a couple of months"......yeah right.
I was in BNE a few years ago with Qantas and went to AA to sit a casa exam.....what surprised me most was where did they think they were gonna actually find jobs for all these kids? And what sort of BS where they feeding you guys about how many Engineering jobs there are out there?
If I were you I would get back into accounting and make some cash, if your keen on the whole being an engineer thing I would try and do a few days a week with one of the GA mobs on the side.
I was told 10 years ago when I started my apprenticeship "Don't worry about doing the casa basics cos EASA B1/B2 will be implemented in a couple of months"......yeah right.
I was in BNE a few years ago with Qantas and went to AA to sit a casa exam.....what surprised me most was where did they think they were gonna actually find jobs for all these kids? And what sort of BS where they feeding you guys about how many Engineering jobs there are out there?
If I were you I would get back into accounting and make some cash, if your keen on the whole being an engineer thing I would try and do a few days a week with one of the GA mobs on the side.
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CASA says EASA will come in next November. So less than 1 year away now. However, I was told, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that the airlines and maintenance companies will have 6 years before they have to switch over to EASA. Also CASA will still be going on for 4 or 5 years. And if you get your CASA license, when EASA comes in, you can swap it. It's all very confusing as I am spending lots of money and effort to get thru the CASA exams in the hopes that I am not wasting my time and money.
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here is a link to the FAQ about EASA conversion on the CASA website.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Maintenance authorities - EASA equivalents - Future Transitional issues
Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Maintenance authorities - EASA equivalents - Future Transitional issues
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There's some jobs coming up in the avtrader that might interest whissper or others trying to break into the trade.
Aviation Trader
Aviation Trader
Aviation Trader
Aviation Trader
Aviation Trader
Aviation Trader
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Thanks for those links however on looking at them they are all after people with experience whereas I have none except for excellent passes in all EASA modules I have sat to date.
To further add to the difficulty state governments are unwilling to financially help employers with apprentices with professional qualfications (or any prior qualification for that matter) so I am constrained to basically QLD employers.
QANTAS said they have great difficulty as there is no consistency across state governments and what applies in one my not apply in another.
Explains why QANTASLink rejected me in less than 24 hours in NSW.
I will graduate at the top of my class and yet I am not employable. Could well be looking for a refund from AA (guaranteed job) which may go towards CASA basics.
Cheers
To further add to the difficulty state governments are unwilling to financially help employers with apprentices with professional qualfications (or any prior qualification for that matter) so I am constrained to basically QLD employers.
QANTAS said they have great difficulty as there is no consistency across state governments and what applies in one my not apply in another.
Explains why QANTASLink rejected me in less than 24 hours in NSW.
I will graduate at the top of my class and yet I am not employable. Could well be looking for a refund from AA (guaranteed job) which may go towards CASA basics.
Cheers
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Do the CTC course at QAC then . Hit the phones and get that job . I was 31 when I started an apprenticeship . People will take you on if your willing.
If hiring and firing where my job I would take a mature person every time
If hiring and firing where my job I would take a mature person every time
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hey
i was just wondering since when did etihad start hiring appretices and where can i find these posting ,i looked on there website but havent found anything to that effect any info will be awesome
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CASA and EASA
CASA is different from EASA, as EASA PART66 is European Countries issued licence. I never heard that EASA is coming to Australia(Different continent)
But I am sure if someone has EASA PART66 A/B1/B2 Licence, he will get exemption in Non-EASA countries.
These days it is difficult to get job in some decent Airline due to recession and job cut and less vacancies. In UK I have some aviator friends which are Jobless.
But I am sure if someone has EASA PART66 A/B1/B2 Licence, he will get exemption in Non-EASA countries.
These days it is difficult to get job in some decent Airline due to recession and job cut and less vacancies. In UK I have some aviator friends which are Jobless.