Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice Review

During the first 2 years the day to day consisted of classroom based learning and workshop experience. This is completing the EASA B1 modules towards our license, followed up with this is 2 years on base training gaining aircraft maintenance experience. During this time it involves working on the aircraft to gain hands on skills and utilise the knowledge learnt during the first two years.

I have both learnt new skills and developed existing skills, my knowledge of the job role was incredibly limited when I first started the apprenticeship. However progressing through the course I learnt a lot and enjoyed learning the aircraft side and how they operate. Having some previous experience in engineering and mechanic based work was beneficial to my hands on experience but it was good to further develop these skills and put them into practise.

During the first two years at the academy it was a struggle at times due to the intensity of the course and the uncertainty surrounding the future of what role I was to be placed in. Being at a big academy a lot of different things are heard and the rumour mill is rife, learning to not believe anything until you're told it directly or until it happens is a necessity. The length of time spent In the classroom is pretty daunting and can really sap the enthusiasm you may have once had. This is buoyed by the practical experience which acts as a nice pick-me-up when the last 9 months had been spent in the classroom.

During the first year the structure to the programme was as good as it could be. There are a lot of required modules that need to be completed before getting to the practical side of things which are greatly needed to break up the length and intensity of the classroom. Year 2 again there was about 6 months spent with classroom based learning before we were liberated in a practical environment once more. Before the beginning of year 2 there was also a lot of uncertainty regarding the structure of it, this changed a good few times before the final draft. Originally moving on to base in October, then December before it was eventually pushed back until January of the next year. This did not help with morale as it seemed the goal posts were continuously being moved and there was no definitive of when we were due to finish.

During the apprenticeship the cohort as a whole has received a mixed bag of support. Myself I have never been disappointed with the support as at a point I needed support and some time off and got it without any issues, I was always able to find someone to talk to whenever I needed and it was generally good and helpful advice. However the intensity of the course can get to people and I know it affected the mental well being of some younger people on the course who were struggling. Depending on who they asked the answers could be 'its what you're here for', 'we'll see what we can do' or the worst one 'if you don't like it get a new job'.

When studying for the modules there was endless support from the instructors they were always willing to stop and explain, print off extra learning aids and even if they weren't instructing you were willing to try help out. I believe if it wasn't for the extra mile most of the instructors went my group would not have received the outstanding pass rate it did.

This is a hard one to really review, the modules that we were studying for although the later modules go into the systems of the aircraft and how they work it can be hard to put them into context without previous aircraft knowledge. During on aircraft practical it was quite evident that although we knew a lot about the system it could be difficult to put a theoretical knowledge into practical hands on skills.

There were quite a few events that were put on by the academy but they were generally business related. One very enjoyable activity was the soapbox, this was carried out in teams of cohorts to build and race a soapbox in the Humber Bridge soapbox derby. In regards to anything sports related it was very much up to the apprentices to organise anything in which football was a thing but due to diminishing interest ended.

Yes

Depending on where you want your career to go BAE Systems offer so much, if you are interested in following a career working alongside the military BAE is the company to work for. But it does not limit you to that, there are many different avenues that can be explored within the business, and the qualifications that you gain will only benefit you in the future.

I would say to research and know what you're applying for, be prepared for how intense the course is going to be. It is very easy to get distracted during your time especially in the evenings but you cannot let the evenings dictate how you perform the next day, you always need to be at 100%.