Apprentice Aircraft Maintenance Review

My role as an aircraft maintenance apprentice is to observe and also get involved with the day to day maintenance of the aircraft fleet whether it be routine maintenance inputs or a casualty input. For routine maintenance jobs, it could be jobs such as cabin repairs such as entertainment screens or seats etc. With casualty inputs, this involves more in depth jobs such as engine changes or structure repairs.

Since starting my apprenticeship, we were placed at LRTT Resource Group in the Cotswolds for 10 months to study and take the exams for our EASA CAT A aircraft maintenance licence, we also did a workshop and hand skills placement there. I have also taken a first aid course, and I am currently undertaking a level 3 NVQ in aircraft maintenance

I have enjoyed every part of my program so far, my favourite part was the first 10 months that we spent away in the cotswolds as it gave me a real insight into what I would start working with and what I could expect for the future, it also helped me learn to become more independant. I love working on aircraft as I have always had a passion for aviation and this apprenticeship has allowed me to really take advantage of my interest.

The programme was very well structured from the very start, we spent our first 10 months away off base in the cotswolds learning our licence modules. When we came back, we were given a list of placements that we will partake in during our final 2 years of the apprenticeship which each last for 6 months throughout different engineering areas of the business.

We receive plenty of support from our employers as some of us have struggled in the past with completing our modules to the required level, they have provided us with many sessions teaching us the modules and how to write essays for exams. They have also offered to get us any other help we need as long as we ask for it.

We have received a good amount of support from the training provider throughout our apprenticeship, this has been things such as putting on remedial module study sessions on for us, or putting on exams for us at heathrow to make it easy for lots of us to retake exams. they also send up our nvq assessor twice per week to have sessions on nvq progress

I feel my CAT A qualification has definitely helped me to perform better in my role mainly because the qualification is aircraft based, therefore it allowed me to get more involved from the start once we came back to heathrow as I was more confident with the working environment and how to understand the aircraft.

There are many extra-curricular activities to take part in at british airways, whether this be meeting up with other engineers from our shifts to go and spend nights out, or playing sports for the British Airways teams. we also get the opportunity to partake in recruitment events or careers fairs to promote our apprenticeship to those who are looking for a career path

Yes

They have been a fantastic apprenticeship provider to me and many others since starting, they have put us through a brilliant course with a great training company to ensure that we receive the best quality of training, they have also provided plenty of support to us when we need it, and it has been a great environment where everyone is friendly and willing to help and teach you new things all the time.

the advice i would give to someone who is applying to british airways is to make sure that you are ready and willing to work hard and get stuck in with the work you get given, it can be hard at times so you must be prepared but it is all worth the fantastic experience that BA provides.