‘Hands-on experience in an exciting environment’

How I did it Hannah Richardson (21)

2nd-year aircraft maintenance and engineering apprentice with Aer Lingus, from Gormanstown, Co Meath

Why I chose an aircraft maintenance and engineering apprenticeship

My Dad is an agricultural mechanic and I grew up around engines and tractors. I did two years of a three-year Aviation Technology course in DIT, but I always wanted to do an apprenticeship to get hands-on experience. When Aer Lingus advertised, I applied without hesitation.

How to apply

I applied online and was called for an aptitude test. I did an online interview followed by an assessment day and a further face-to-face interview. I was chuffed to learn I was one of 10 chosen out of 2,000 applicants.

What to expect

It’s a four-year apprenticeship and after the first month at Dublin Airport you spend nine months at the Solas training centre in Shannon. Then it’s back to the airport and in September I’ll be going to DIT Bolton Street in Dublin. When a plane comes in, I do a walk-around with the engineers, checking tyre pressure and making sure there are no dents anywhere. We check the pilots’ logs and if they note a problem we fix it.

Pros

You’re getting hand-on experience in an exciting environment. Once you get your IAA licence, the world is your oyster. And you’re paid as you learn. In first year, I was on €11,000, with an accommodation allowance of €70 a week in Shannon, and it’s incremental.

Cons

Shift work takes a bit of getting used to. I do two day shifts followed by two nights, and then I’m off for four days.

What next?

I haven’t decided yet whether to go for a B1 engineer licence, which is pure mechanics, or a B2, which deals with avionics, cockpit equipment and electronics.