Aircraft Fitter Review

The role as an aircraft fitter involves the production and assembly of Aircraft parts and components. This includes manufacturing components from both metallic and composite materials ensuring they meet the exacting industry standards to maintain the safety of air travel. You are required to produce the components by following engineering drawings and operating instructions.

Throughout this apprenticeship I have been able to learn a vast amount of new skills, which have helped me adapt to working in a manufacturing environment. Due to the technical nature of aircraft systems, there are many skills that can be developed during this apprenticeship including general hand skills for drilling and filing etc. As well as opportunities to cover hydraulics, electrics and aircraft control systems.

Overall, the programme has been very enjoyable. There is a lot to learn throughout the course but there is a good balance between practical and academic work which provides a nice variation to your learning. I’ve found the technical nature of the work interesting and this is supported by the background knowledge to increase your understanding.

The course is really well organised, there is a clear timetable from the first day which makes it very easy to manage your time and stay on top of your work deadlines. Having a dedicated day for academic work also helps to concentrate on the subjects being covered and gives you plenty of time to stay on top of assignments throughout the apprenticeship.

The employer is very supportive, they have a dedicated team in place to support all apprentices through the programme and will help wherever possible to ensure that you have everything you need to complete it successfully. They are very understanding with your workload and make lots of time available to you to improve your knowledge.

There is great support provided by the training provider. All resources for each assignment are provided electronically so you can access them anywhere which is really convenient when working from home. You can also contact all the tutors via email if you need any additional support with your work or assignments.

The practical work covered at college is extremely beneficial in preparing you for the job. You use the same materials, tooling and documentation that would be found in the factory which gives you good preparation for starting your role. In addition to this, the academic work also provides excellent background knowledge to the science behind each process and the importance of following procedures.

There are many additional activities available to all apprentices which are provided by both the employer and the college. These range from social activities and competitions to charity work and volunteering opportunities. This is a great benefit to anyone who has relocated to take the job as it provides a chance to meet lots of people in the same situation.

Yes

Airbus is a huge organisation with a long history and they provide a fantastic experience to its employees. The support and training provided throughout the apprenticeship is excellent and it prepares you perfectly for taking the step into the factory. There are also many benefits provided by the company from the facilities on site to the opportunities to work abroad and progress within the company.

I’d really recommend this apprenticeship to anyone who is interested in a career in manufacturing or engineering as the training provided is fantastic. It would also interest anyone who has an interest in aviation as it provides an excellent background knowledge to the theory of flight and the history of air travel. The work itself allow you to develop excellent practical skill making you capable to carrying out a range of technical tasks.