Careers Spotlight: Aircraft Maintenance

Aircraft maintenance engineers are more commonly called aircraft mechanics because they perform scheduled maintenance on propeller planes, airliners, helicopters and other flying machines. They typically work in air fields, hangars and repair stations, and must endure hot and cold temperatures when handling tasks outdoors.

What are the main duties and responsibilities of maintenance engineers?

• Aircraft maintenance engineers ensure safety across assigned aircraft. In order to do this, they perform:

• maintenance, both scheduled and emergency.

• this can include dismantling, inspecting, testing, repairing and reassembling aircraft engines; installing electrical circuits; testing aircraft communication equipment, aircraft instrumentation, and electronic systems; replacing and testing aircraft oxygen system components; assembling parts and subassemblies of aircraft frames; and conducting routine preflight inspections of engines and mechanical systems.

• they are also required to maintain their company’s facilities and equipment as directed by the leadership team. This includes ordering parts and supplies as needed.

What skills will I need for the job?

Attention to detail – most aircraft maintenance engineers work in unpredictable environments – both with mechanical issues that may arise and with things such as weather. It is important to be a strong performer under pressure and have the ability to multitask while paying close attention to details and the surrounding environment

Flexibility – aircraft maintenance engineers often work long hours as needed, depending on what issues arise. Most engineers work shifts that include weekends in order to cover flying hours

Communication skills – aircraft maintenance engineers interact with many people – supervisors, maintenance staff, and other aircraft engineers – in a fast-paced environment, so it’s important to be a strong, detailed communicator in order for things to run safely and smoothly

Problem-solving skills – aircraft maintenance engineers are natural problem-solvers, able to handle situations where some investigative work needs to occur in order to rule out certain scenarios and find the root cause of an issue

Specialist Roles within Maintenance Engineering

Airworthiness Engineers: airworthiness engineers ensure that aircraft are fit to fly and comply with all the relevant aviation regulations. day-to-day work will involve the use of design certificates, drawings, and test reports provided by specialists and equipment suppliers. It’s likely that an airworthiness engineer will operate as part of a team, compiling detailed documentation to certify an aircraft and imposing any necessary limitations.

Quality Assurance Engineers: Quality Assurance Engineers are responsible for assessing the quality of specifications and technical design documents in order to ensure timely, relevant and meaningful feedback. They are involved in planning and implementing strategies for quality management and testing.

What Special Qualifications Do I need to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer?

To become an aircraft maintenance engineer you usually have to complete an apprenticeship or traineeship. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information.

To become a fully qualified aircraft maintenance engineer you must acquire an EASA-approved ‘Part 66’ maintenance licence. In the UK this is awarded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). You may have to pass a medical.

What can I expect to earn as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist Engineer?

In the UK, maintenance engineers tend to earn between £24,033 – £54,666 (avg. £38,919).

Apprenticeships 

In aerospace, apprenticeships are offered either by aircraft component manufacturers, such as BAE Systems, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Messier-Dowty, Goodrich or by aircraft maintenance providers, which could be an airline such as Flybe, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic or a specialist aircraft maintenance company e.g. Monarch Aircraft Engineering, ATC Lasham or Hawker Pacific.

Taking a vocational route i.e. an apprenticeship, suits those who do not wish to pursue an academic career pathway and are more hands-on, you can work while you learn, and earn while you learn! You can opt to obtain advanced-level qualifications, with many trainees going on to doing degrees as they progress through their career. What’s more, apprentices often have their tuition fees paid for by their employer, and with the costs of university study increasing soon, apprenticeships look like an even more appealing option!

Taking a vocational route to gaining qualifications can hold exciting prospects, apprentices with ambition to enter senior roles within the firm usually find their are few barriers if they have the right skills. In fact many company directors started life on the shop floor.

If you want to learn more about working aircraft maintenance click on the links below

Boosting your CV

So what is a CV?  CV is short for Curriculum Vitae and is a short document which summarises your unique skills, character, experience and achievements.  

For students it can feel difficult to know what to write as you haven't had the time to build up the experience that employers always seem to want.

In this section we look at ways of making your CV stand out for future employers so you can get that dream job.  With the summer holidays nearly here it is a good time to consider doing some voluntary work.

Consider volunteering for a few weeks:

A great way to improve your working experience is to volunteer for a few weeks.

And we’re not just about the local charity shop.

If you have a particular type of job in mind that you’d like to do, why not search for companies within that industry and request to do a couple of weeks volunteering with them? The company will benefit from having an extra pair of hands for a few weeks, and you’ll benefit from improving your knowledge, understanding and experience, which will look great on your CV!

Finding volunteering opportunities is easier than you think. The first place you should start looking is in your local area. Drop by some of the places that you wouldn’t mind working in for a few weeks and ask if they have the capacity to take you on as a volunteer, or click on the link below.

If you don’t have any luck in your local area, try searching online. There are a large number of volunteering websites out there that list opportunities all across the UK.

If you want to look volunteering opportunities click on the links below

Unifrog

In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers education information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) and tailored support when choosing their next step after school. We have invested in an online application called Unifrog; an award-winning, online careers platform. All students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 now have access to this excellent website.

The Unifrog platform is designed to support learners in making the most informed decisions about their futures and has a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each student has their own personal account that provides a wide range of information related to their interests and aspirations.  Key features of the platform include:

Exploring Pathways – personality quizzes, career and subject profiles, MOOCs and webinars

Recording – self-reflection about extracurricular activities and key employability skills

Opportunities – search tools showing live vacancies/courses/placements for apprenticeships, universities (in the UK and abroad), FE, virtual work experience and much more

Applications – tools to help students build applications for a range of pathways (e.g., CVs, Personal Statements, Common App Essays)

All students have access to the platform, which is unique to them. They login to Unifrog using their email address and password and they can do so from any computer, tablet or smartphone. We would encourage all students to use the platform at home too, so parent/carers can support their child through the process of deciding their next step

Help for Parents and Carers

When it comes to education and careers, parents and carers have a large influence on a students choices. As an adult you are expected to have all the answers, but in a constantly evolving world it can be a struggle to keep up with the latest options out there.  In this section we will highlight resources that will help keep you up to date with careers and the choices available to young people.

With the summer holidays approaching it is natural to think about the new school year and what lays beyond.  

I want to talk at home about careers but don't know where to start

In terms of career choice, you should:

• Aid, but not dictate, the decision-making process

• Support your child’s decisions

• Give your children freedom and time to discover their skills

• Provide motivation to develop and achieve

• Provide encouragement to pursue interests and ambitions

• Try to instil a responsible attitude and mature outlook

• Instil an attitude of self belief by being positive and never critical – as a parent your words will have the biggest effect on your child.

Talking Futures have a website and lots of resources to help parents talk about careers, click on the image below to find out more.

Careers in Hertfordshire: Engineering and Manufacturing

Hertfordshire’s world-class engineering and manufacturing companies specialise in aerospace, space and satellite engineering, communication technologies, electronics, defence and security-related equipment and logistics.

Hertfordshire continues to build on its pioneering industrial heritage. The first production commercial jetliner, the de Havilland Comet, was developed and manufactured in Hatfield in 1947 and Hertfordshire was home to the first digital radio manufacturer in the UK.

Stevenage is the leading location for the UK space industry and home to the 2018 ExoMars Rover and the 2017 Solar Orbiter Satellite research and development programmes.

The advanced engineering sector includes top global companies such as Airbus, MBDA, Johnson Matthey, and Smiths Detection, as well as a multitude of niche engineering companies involved in everything from components to consumables.

Across the UK, more than 90,000 companies are involved in advanced manufacturing and engineering, employing 2.7 million people.

For more information please go to www.hopinto.co.uk/ 

Current Opportunities

This month we have opportunities to learn about careers in the NHS and the army as well as preparation for students who are considering becoming pilots.

 Fully funded commercial pilot licence training -next generation of pilots

I hope you are well. I wanted to make you aware that registration is now open for BECOME A PILOT, a live online aviation career preparation programme designed for GCSE and A-Level students interested in future careers within aviation.

The programme has been developed to help students understand the realities of modern aviation careers, while reinforcing key concepts from GCSE and A-Level Maths and Physics through practical aviation applications. Students explore topics including:
• Principles of Flight
• Meteorology and Weather Systems
• Aircraft Performance
• Navigation and Flight Planning
• Human Factors and Decision Making
• Airline Recruitment Processes
• Aptitude Testing and Interview Preparation

With the introduction of fully funded airline pilot training programmes such as the British Airways Speedbird Academy and Jet2FlightPath, aviation has become more accessible than ever before. However, these schemes attract many thousands of applicants each year for a limited number of places, making early preparation increasingly important for students considering aviation pathways.

Alongside technical aviation knowledge, the programme helps students develop the communication, teamwork, problem-solving and professional skills that are increasingly assessed during modern airline recruitment processes.

A School Partner Pack is attached, containing further information that may be useful for students, parents and careers teams. If you feel the programme may be of interest, I would be extremely grateful if you could circulate the attached information to relevant students, parents, sixth form groups, science departments or careers networks. More information can be found here www.theaviationguy.co.uk

Many schools have already begun sharing the programme with students interested in aviation, engineering, aerospace and STEM-related careers. 

www.theaviationguy.co.uk

Thank you for your time and continued support of student career development.

Kind regards,

Alex Brown
School Outreach Coordinator
The Aviation Guy

www.theaviationguy.co.uk

Allied Healthcare Work Experience: Paediatric Pathways

I wanted to remind you of the upcoming NHS Allied Healthcare Virtual Work Experience session taking place on Sunday 7th June. This is a fantastic opportunity for students in Years 10/S3/NI11 through to Years 13/S6/NI14 who are considering a career in healthcare. This session will focus on the pivotal aspects of Paediatric Pathways.

Registration Link: https://alliedhealthmentor.org/product/live-virtual-work-experience-programme/

Students will be guided through various allied health careers by exploring the journeys of two patients from initial presentation to full recovery. Students will gain invaluable perspectives on patient care dynamics and the collaborative efforts within the NHS, including exploring careers within:

- Nursing

- Midwifery

- Paramedicine

- Physiotherapy

- Occupational Therapy

- Dietetics

- Radiography

- Prosthetics and Orthotics

- Speech and Language Therapy

- Pharmacy

Students will actively develop their understanding of healthcare through guided, structured experiences:

- Real insight into NHS roles

Understand the responsibilities, skills, and day-to-day work of different allied healthcare professionals

- Understanding multidisciplinary teamwork

See how professionals collaborate to support patients across their recovery journey

- Application to UCAS

Gain meaningful experiences to reflect on in personal statements and discuss in interviews

- Career clarity

Explore different pathways within allied healthcare to make informed decisions

- Direct interaction with professionals

Engage with healthcare professionals, ask questions, and deepen understanding throughout the session

Sign up here:

https://alliedhealthmentor.org/nhs-healthcare-careers-virtual-work-experience/

Once registered, students will receive access to their virtual work experience portal, where all session details will be provided. A certificate is awarded for each session, with a Highly Commended Reference available for students who complete the full 6-month programme.

Students can register for individual sessions at £10 each, or enrol in the full programme for £50. We recommend booking early to gain the most from the experience and secure a place.

Thank you for highlighting this opportunity to the next generation of NHS workers. I look forward to meeting your students at the next work experience day on Sunday 7th June.

Kindest Regards,

Dr Barrie Lyell

Chief Mentor

Allied Healthcare Mentor (part of Mentorverse)

Associate Member of the NHS Confederation

NHS Providers Insight Partner

Enquiry Form: https://alliedhealthmentor.org/contact-4/

Meet Your Army - Virtual Events

I hope you’re well.

We’re running a series of “Meet Your Army” events designed to give teachers, parents and students a clear, honest insight into Army careers.

We’d love you to register for any of the sessions below and share them with your students who may be interested in a career within the British Army:

June:

Title: Serving as LGBTQ+ In the British Army

Date & Time: Tuesday 9 June 18:00 - 19:00

Register Now

Title: Joining the Army Series: Officer

Date & Time: Tuesday 23 June 18:00 - 19:00

Register Now

July:

Title: Joining the Army Series: Soldier

Date & Time: Wednesday 1 July 18:00 - 19:00

Register Now

Title: Virtual Harrogate Open Day

Date & Time: Wednesday 8 July 18:00 - 19:00

Register Now

Why this matters for you and your students

These sessions are a great opportunity for students to:

• Explore career pathways and apprenticeships

• Hear directly from serving soldiers

• Build confidence in making informed next steps

We’d encourage you to join and to share this with students/parents who don’t currently have an active application, as it’s a relaxed and informative way to learn more before making any decisions.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind Regards

Amie

British Army Supporting Education | Army Recruiting Group

E: rg-armyineducation@mod.gov.uk | RPP – Recruiting Partnering Project, part of Capita plc