Aircraft Maintenance Trainee Review

For the first year it is classroom and hangar based, including taking classes on the different systems on aircraft, engines, hydraulics, materials, flying controls and so forth. This is supplemented with workshop tasks to develop avionic and mechanical hand skills, and hangar work towards the end of the year to introduce you to the process of working on the aircraft itself. In year 2 you work as an apprentice doing everything a qualified person would do, this is usually done with a trained person in the first few weeks and when your managers are happy they start to give you tasks of your own. these are closely supervised by your immediate supervisor to ensure you are doing everything correctly. As an apprentice you are expected to be self sufficient to a degree, being able to collect your own components and do your own paperwork, however it is understood that there are many things you will not understand yet. Importantly, your roles and responsibilities are almost exactly the same as a qualified person, giving you a good base to operate from for the rest of your career. At the start of the shift you are given a set of jobs to do and you go and get them done, sometimes this takes all day, sometimes you get a bit of free time while you wait for parts or the planning has not been put in, this allows you time to upload evidence for your NVQ to the dedicated platform.

Personally I have been in a mechanical trade for a long time so when I was traded as a 'Mech' I didn't really learn many entirely new skills, however it was a fantastic opportunity to develop the skills I already had. Due to the platform the standards of work are extremely high and as such it was a good way to learn to be more precise, organised, and single minded during the course of a job. The ability to get onto internal training courses is unparalleled, there is a course for just about anything and you are more than welcome and able to apply for any of them with a high chance of being selected.

During the first year it can be very testing, there is a lot of time spent in close quarters with people you may not get on with and an awfully high work load, however, it is what you make of it. There are open spaces, you have a lot of freedom, you have a pay cheque, and there are good instructors that are more than happy to talk if you need it. The second year is much more fun. You have your own space usually (you are expected to source your own accommodation) and the team you are assigned to usually don't care that you are an apprentice, you're just another member of the team treated no differently than the others. You have the ability to really learn about your specific platform and you usually have a good laugh with your team while you do it. I can honestly say the second year has surpassed a lot of my expectations built in the first year. There are a few stumbling blocks as can be expected from a new apprenticeship like mine, however it is much more enjoyable than the first year!

Your immediate supervisors (junior, senior, team leader) are always aware of what you are doing and have done and they are very appreciative of hard work. You are always valued as a team member and you are included in all projects that the rest of the team is involved in. My team has a very open and honest atmosphere so if there is a project on then everybody is included in the planning stage so that they know exactly what is going on.

There is a basic structure for the first year, including a dedicated 'Induction' week at the start, and a team building week shortly after. Studying and revision is usually left to the individual, there is an hour at the end of every day set aside for in-academy study where there is access to subject matter experts, but aside from that you are expected to manage your own time, as you would be out on base. support at the academy is second to none. When we started we had a man in the sort of pastoral care role who had been in the industry for a long time and fully understood everything that we were going through. He was available whenever you needed him through email or a phone call or a text. The programme in general was well organised, however when the programme is disrupted there is not much wiggle room as the first year is run to a very tight schedule.

Depending on a number of factors (attitude, dedications, work ethic) the support is second to none, however there is a general prevailing attitude that if you do not work for them, then they will not work for you. If you are constantly messing around or not doing work or just have a generally bad work ethic, then the instructors will not be so understanding if you suddenly start asking for help. However if you apply yourself and work had then they will bend over backwards to get you the support you need. Many of the staff at BAE are former service personnel and as such still maintain that mentality, it is a mentality they try to put across to the apprentices as well in the work ethic and dedication respect.

During the second year I have not required any support from my managing team however they have been more than willing to offer help should it be required during the conversations we have during the shifts.

For the first year the salary is more than enough to put money aside for accommodation and also be able to provide for yourself and enjoy some outside activities or social events. There are no travel costs as you are put up in accommodation on site, there are a number of supermarkets and pubs and shopping venues in close proximity so the travel costs for food shopping and social events is minimal. During the second year it is a little bit tighter however with good management skills and planning it is more than adequate. Your decision on location when looking for accommodation has a big impact on this and it is advisable to properly investigate the area around where you intend to live before making the decision.

There are a number of sports clubs and social clubs available to BAE staff outside of work, including descounted membership to the base gym. While I am not in work I am often in the gym, or training with the RAF Taekwondo team. There are a number of voluntary and charity events held by BAE each year and everyone is welcome if not encouraged to participate.

Yes

BAE is a far reaching company with a number of benefits attached. The scope of work is practically second to none and the experience you gain from working with them is priceless. The salary is good even as an apprentice, and the freedom you have while on base is exceptional, and although it can be hard then qualifications you gain through the apprenticeships scheme are of a high quality.

Be prepared to work hard, be prepared to change the way you think, and be prepared to change the way you act. BAE is a huge company, but it still notices the apprentices, appearance has a big impact so be prepared to dress smart for the time you are in the academy. Behaviour is constantly monitored, so even when you are back at the accommodation you are still being assessed. When the rules are given to you, take them on board and don't try to get around them. The opportunities afforded to you as a BAE apprentice are extrodinary, but it requires a lot from you as well, grafting is the name of the game for sure. Work hard not only for yourself but also for the rest of your team, you are generally judged as a cohort so try not to be the one pulling the rest back. In the interview stage ask every question you can think of. Before you even go to the interview write them all down and make sure you ask. Listen to what they are telling you and make sure you tell them about you. Stress management and inter-personal skills are a huge part of the apprenticeship, tell them how you manage these. Assessment days can be stressful, just try to remember to be calm, you're not there to fail you're there to show them what you can do, and what you can do under pressure. Learn from the experience, if you're not successful don't worry! Hundreds if not thousands of people apply to BAE, apply again next time the opening comes up, take into it what you learned the last time, and you might get further!