Appreticeships
 

I've noticed A few people here and on other sites who all have the same problem, we are "past it" for appreticeships. I.e. at 23 i'm to old to get one.

Could any one give any surgestions of courses that take on the 'mature(ish)' student?

And what exactly is a B1 and a B2? Any advice greatfully recived, Cheers.

Are engineers happy in there jobs genrally, i.e hours, money, opertunitys?

Mate, get yourself a spellchecker or at least take the time to preview and edit your posts before submitting! Good manners cost nothing :}

I have seen your posts elsewhere, but not offered an opinion till now. I think that, in the normally accepted sense, you will be considered too old for an apprenticeship.

I am also of the opinion that most, if not all, of the ab-initio training establishments accept the ‘Mature Student’

You should be aware that some of the training available is basically designed to help the existing engineers and mechanics (by implication with experience) to pass the License modules, and to concentrate the mind rather than actually teach them how to be engineers.

The web site(s) you have already been directed too should help.

At risk of teaching my granny to suck eggs.

Aircraft engineering for Large Aircraft is broadly divided into two categories. Airframe/Engine and Avionics.
B1 is the former category and allows certification of Airframe and Engine Inspection and defect rectification for all of the airframe, engines, and their associated systems, including the control and indicating systems and also including electrical power generation. (this assumes a “full B1” the B1 can be issued in a restricted form so, for instance, it can exclude electrical power if the appropriate module has not been passed.
B2 is the avionic category and includes the bits that keep the pilot happy. Radios, autopilot etc. as there were some trade demarcation differences between the CAA licenses and the JAA/EASA licenses previously a fully licensed Avionics person i.e. Electrics, Instruments, Autopilot, and Radio/Radar can be issued with a restricted B1 to cover the changes and ensure they do not loose their Electrical privileges. A new B2 does not cover Electrical Power or Electrical Control Systems such as Air Conditioning Control.

Like all boys I wanted to be a Pilot, tried The Forces, failed the aptitude tests but was offered Engineering, declined, but then thought about it and went the civil route. In common with everybody in most jobs we all moan about conditions, pay etc. but in retrospect the last 30+ years have been, for the most part, enjoyable, and nearly everyday I drive home having fixed, or helped someone fix, one or more Aircraft. Feels good, but be warned that the road you are looking at following is a long one until you start to get the rewards, I estimate 7 to 10 years from scratch.

Hope this helps.


Oh yes he is right about the spelling etc. You must be able to express yourself.

Cheers
 

Thanks for taking the time to write. Very usefull.

As for my spelling, never been any good at it, never will. I'm more of a maths/physics freak.:ok:

Come to sunny australia!!!! 23 is perfect age for an adult apprentice.... Adults get paid well too. my company has apprentices over 30 and the eldest being 52!!!!!