Does anyone here work in aircraft maintenance/engineering?

[GSF]

Was wondering if any KBers worked in the aviation industry, specifically in the maintenance/engineering field.

I'm 22 and trying to figure out my career, when I was at school I really didn't give a fuck about what was ahead of me and just wagged a lot, didn't get very good results. Spent all my time being a snotty-nosed punk really.
I got myself a motorbike once I was out of school and working and managed to get a job in bike shop for about 2 years, it involved classic and racing bikes which is when I realised I wanted to seriously work in an engineering field, especially around bikes or cars - then I started remember all the many happy days spent with my dad at airshows and such when I was a young child watching the warbirds.

I've been thinking very seriously about going into aircraft maintenance now. I would love to learn to work on smaller fixed wingers and choppers. Deal was pretty much sealed when I went to have a geez at the De Havilland Mosquito at Avspecs and the hangar at the Ardmore Warbirds Club. One day I want to turn a spanner on a Corsair or Mustang, that would be my ultimate goal, paid or unpaid.

If anyone works in these fields I would love to hear from you. Where did you study, what did you learn and what do you do in your day to day job, any info would be great.

[Edbear]

Have a chat to Keith at Great Barrier Airlines. He may be able to offer some advice. They are in Dairy Flat.

[GSF]

Cheers, will do. I see their Trislanders passing over my place coupla times a day :)

[PrincessBandit]

My hubby (Balu) started out at Air New Zealand in aircraft engineering and is still with the company over 30 years later. I'll ask him if he has any suggestions.

[Edbear]

Cheers, will do. I see their Trislanders passing over my place coupla times a day :)

Very interesting to spend time in their workshop! This is mechanical engineering at its most basic and fascinating.

[Edbear]

My hubby (Balu) started out at Air New Zealand in aircraft engineering and is still with the company over 30 years later. I'll ask him if he has any suggestions.

That's impressive! Must be a great place to work.

[FJRider]

Join the Air Force ......

[neels]

Go and have a chat with Air New Zealand, they have a trainee/apprenticeship program for aircraft engineers.

Best bet would be work for them and volunteer your time at an aircraft museum, you'll probably find the smaller aircraft outfits and aero clubs don't have a big budget for paying their mechanics.

[Crasherfromwayback]

You'll be wanting to get some good math results if you want to get your foot in the door.

[superman]

My brother didn't have great results through school, he just got a job as an apprentice at a helicopter maintenance firm. And you do exams etc as you go, on a shitty wage no doubt. But gets your foot in the door of that kind of career.

[GSF]

Join the Air Force ......

I had thought about that but I just hate the idea of joining the forces. I have big respect for anyone in any service but it's just not for me.

Still remember the time I got buzzed by a Skyhawk doing a low pass at speed while taking a piss on the side of the Desert Road years ago - that paused me mid-stream!

[Scruffygit]

I learnt my trade in the RAF a looonnng time ago so really can't comment on what the training situation is here in NZ but I do know that NMIT do courses:

http://www.nmit.ac.nz/courses/areaofstudy/mid/12245/a/2/aviation.aspx

[GSF]

I learnt my trade in the RAF a looonnng time ago so really can't comment on what the training situation is here in NZ but I do know that NMIT do courses:

http://www.nmit.ac.nz/courses/areaofstudy/mid/12245/a/2/aviation.aspx

Yeah, this is one option I've looked at. I've spoken to a few people in the industry already who have recommended NMIT. Would be nice to spend some time in the South Island too, good riding country :2thumbsup

[nosebleed]

You'll be wanting to get some good math results if you want to get your foot in the door.

This.
When I looked at this as career back in the day it was "aeronautical engineer"
Pre-requisite then was Sixth Form Certificate in Maths, Science, English and Physics.

Of course, things will have changed from an employers point of view but I doubt the science of flight has, meaning you'd better be prepared for some studying

[GSF]

This.
When I looked at this as career back in the day it was "aeronautical engineer"
Pre-requisite then was Sixth Form Certificate in Maths, Science, English and Physics.

Of course, things will have changed from an employers point of view but I doubt the science of flight has, meaning you'd better be prepared for some studying

Yep, I'm fully prepared for that. I did well up to Sixth Form, with Science, Maths and English, I also did a bit of electronics as well so I have some basic knowledge of that.
Wasn't until Seventh Form/Level 3 that the wheels fell off, I have no problem with doing remedial study if it's required. I couldn't be arsed then because I didn't have a strong motivation, which I've got now.
My dad was a pilot long time back and I have had an interest in aircraft since I was a kid so I have some knowledge of the physics of flight and the way aircraft are designed and operate.

[SMOKEU]

Fuck maintaining aircraft, I wouldn't want a plane crash on my conscience due to my stupidity.

[sinfull]

Fuck maintaining aircraft, I wouldn't want a plane crash on my conscience due to my stupidity.

Cough !!! ...

[sinfull]

when I was at school I really didn't give a fuck about what was ahead of me and just wagged a lot, didn't get very good results. Spent all my time being a snotty-nosed punk really.
.


Yep, I'm fully prepared for that. I did well up to Sixth Form, with Science, Maths and English, I also did a bit of electronics as well so I have some basic knowledge of that.
Wasn't until Seventh Form/Level 3 that the wheels fell off, .

:no::no::no: That aint wagging !!!!!

[Tigadee]

Yep, I'm fully prepared for that. I did well up to Sixth Form, with Science, Maths and English, I also did a bit of electronics as well so I have some basic knowledge of that.
..., I have no problem with doing remedial study if it's required. I couldn't be arsed then because I didn't have a strong motivation, which I've got now.

Good on ya! :2thumbsup

[carburator]

ok here is the basic's behind it.

its a small industry and pretty limited these days options are that you bang on most of the hanger doors at ardmore and get work
experience that way companies seee what your like.

for Airnz you need the basic aeronautical certificate which is a 36 week course offered by them and other training companies
then you need to be selected for the apprentice intake which some years can be very limited numbers.

there is nothing stopping you sitting all the lame papers the only thing is getting time on airframes and doing the oral
for law ( you would have to definitly have a foot in the door as they normally pick a current event )

in a small firm you do everything at anzes you do just bits..

[Haggis2]

Sounds like you've got a good attitude to things now and if you're prepared to start at the bottom and work hard I'm sure you'll go o long way. Best of luck

[Oblivion]

Fuck maintaining aircraft, I wouldn't want a plane crash on my conscience due to my stupidity.

Had that happen already to my dad, almost tore up my family. Dark days.


Was wondering if any KBers worked in the aviation industry, specifically in the maintenance/engineering field.

I'm 22 and trying to figure out my career, when I was at school I really didn't give a fuck about what was ahead of me and just wagged a lot, didn't get very good results. Spent all my time being a snotty-nosed punk really.
I got myself a motorbike once I was out of school and working and managed to get a job in bike shop for about 2 years, it involved classic and racing bikes which is when I realised I wanted to seriously work in an engineering field, especially around bikes or cars - then I started remember all the many happy days spent with my dad at airshows and such when I was a young child watching the warbirds.

I've been thinking very seriously about going into aircraft maintenance now. I would love to learn to work on smaller fixed wingers and choppers. Deal was pretty much sealed when I went to have a geez at the De Havilland Mosquito at Avspecs and the hangar at the Ardmore Warbirds Club. One day I want to turn a spanner on a Corsair or Mustang, that would be my ultimate goal, paid or unpaid.

If anyone works in these fields I would love to hear from you. Where did you study, what did you learn and what do you do in your day to day job, any info would be great.

My Dad is an aircraft engineer, I wonder if I could get him to say something. Will ask him. Might pay not to expect anything special.

[zique]

Fuck maintaining aircraft, I wouldn't want a plane crash on my conscience due to my stupidity.

I think the planes are double-checked,triple-checked and signed off by a superior and another, after work is done on them.So maybe you missed something,someone else won't.
Most crashes-pilot error!

[neels]

Most crashes-pilot error!
Yep, easy to blame the pilot, they're usually too dead to give their side of the story.

[zique]

thats the idea haha.But a sad idea at that!
It's worse to blame the aircraft or a design flaw,which means the whole lot of that certain aircraft has to be grounded,flights cancelled,money lost etc...Not good at all!

[Chooky]

Most crashes-pilot error!


Crikey, thats a brilliant statement.... where do you get those facts from...?

[carburator]

I think the planes are double-checked,triple-checked and signed off by a superior and another, after work is done on them.So maybe you missed something,someone else won't.
Most crashes-pilot error!

on the workcard there is a workby sign, a QC sign and at the end of the card a QCA.

if it is a major system ie flight controls it has to be duplicate inspection carried out independantly.
there are a lot of checks and balanaces in mainstream aviation.

its when your a lame doing a cessna on the line or a private like one of the warbirds
( and i have in my log book a number of them ) as they certainly don't have mannuals like boeing
that you have to know the rules and basics

at the end of the day you are signing a legal document that can be used in a court of law so unless
you have done the work in accordance with ( insert mannual ) ( chapter, paragraph ) and fitted the
correct part you grow a set of balls and stand up and not get bullied by owners or cheap ass operators.

[R6_kid]

thats the idea haha.But a sad idea at that!
It's worse to blame the aircraft or a design flaw,which means the whole lot of that certain aircraft has to be grounded,flights cancelled,money lost etc...Not good at all!
Do you work for CAA?



To the OP, get in and do it anyway you can, I'm wishing I'd done it when I was fresh out of school instead of continuing to be a dickhead for a few more years. Could still be where I am now but much better off and a lot happier. Not sure what it is about the defence force you don't like, but why not give it a go? You get paid the whole time (apart from while doing the NMIT bit), and after four years you can quit and go civi street with your qualifications in hand?

I did look in the AirNZ side of things a few years back, they were running a conjoint thing with Massey at one point where you could also combine an Aviation Management Degree with your LAME qualification. Don't know if that is still on offer, some saw it as a money grab by Massey, but it may come in handy down the track. Best bet is to go and knock on doors, no one is going to bite you, and if they do, then you probably don't want to work there anyway!

[jasonu]

Join the military and learn how to fix helicopters then move to civil aviation. You can then work on almost anything that is turbine powered like http://www.google.com/search?q=lancair+evolution&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=bNpPUOr6HOroiwK52oDgDQ&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=891
I work at Lancair in the fab shop and know several ex military types that have followed this path. You won't have to spend a lot of years in the military, you will get excellent training and you will come out with a skill that is sought after and very well paid. Wish I had done it...