Nathan Bell

Engineering Apprentice

After a period of time outside of the industry due to COVID, I was delighted to be accepted onto the apprentice scheme at Airtanker who maintain A330 MRTT aircraft. Throughout the first 8 months I spent my time at Resource Group, I completed all A Licence modules and a hand skills phase in which we were tasked with completing various sheet metal jobs to go towards a level 2 NVQ which was also completed throughout the 8 months.

Once my time at Resource Group was complete, I transitioned into the Hangar at the Airtanker Hub in RAF Brize Norton. The rest of the first year of my apprenticeship as well as second year was spent working Monday-Friday gaining experience working on Base and Line maintenance which allowed me to start filling my CAP 741. Additionally, this marked the start of my level 3 NVQ.

Trainee Technician

The third year of my apprenticeship program involved moving onto a shift in line maintenance. Shift work allowed my confidence to grow and I learned a lot from those around me. I was fortunate enough to encounter the unique work that a line engineer gets to experience. I was able to do various trips away from base to places such as Poland, Norway, Accession island and even a 28 day detachment in MPA Falklands. Experiencing the type of work carried out in a line maintenance environment made me realise that this was the type of work that I wanted to do going forward in my career.

Moving into the fourth year of my apprenticeship, I transitioned to Base Maintenance. Base maintenance was a very different place of work which allowed me to carry out extensive jobs which allowed me to see systems and components on the aircraft which I wasn't exposed to within line maintenance. Throughout my time on base, I was part of multiple 8C checks (12 year check) which involved a vast degree of work which exposed areas of the aircraft that aren't seen under the circumstances of a smaller check. I spent time on various zones of the aircraft developing a further understanding of key systems and thus improving my overall knowledge working the A330 MRTT.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, I put my desired career on hold due to the world situation and had to look for other work. I found a role within a bespoke joinery company manufacturing products for various customer needs such as kitchens and office units. While in this line of work I learned the basics in how to spray wooden products using finishes such as paint and lacquer. I also began to develop skills in joinery and began helping out with manufacturing products for kitchens, bedrooms and various other jobs. I am grateful that I was able to find a full time job that was hands on and practical. However I was still hopeful for my future career.

I started an Aircraft Engineer A-Category Licence apprenticeship with Flybe and carried out a total of 1 year and a half due to Flybe going into administration (05/03/2020). The first year involved a level 2 Competency in which I carried it out within the Flybe Training Academy which vastly developed my hand skills. During this time carried out various training which are key to an aircraft Maintenance environment. After completion of the first year, I carried out 6 months within the Flybe Hangar carrying out various jobs under supervision as well as shadowing qualified Engineers. During this period, I learned exactly what it takes to be an aircraft engineer and further improved my hand skills and knowledge within the Aviation Industry and I was eager to continue my career. Throughout my time I also began to log numerous jobs within my CAP 741 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Log Book.

A few examples of jobs I have carried out with the Flybe MRO: Removal and refit of Nose Landing Gear (NLG) Drag Brace, Shimmy Damper removal and installation, Crew Oxygen bottle change, Various Corrosion removal, Numerous Panel removal, Main Landing Gear (MLG) Doors removal and refit, Assisting in multiple Engine Ground Runs, Removal replacement of two (CF34-10E) Engines, Removal and replacement of APU Generator, Multiple Aircraft Jacking, Multiple NLG and MLG Wheel changes, Various Aircraft Line checks such as Hydraulic level check and Tire pressure checks.

Throughout my time working at the Cranberry farm, I served as a Waiter and Barman. The time I spent here vastly improved my social skills which is an important aspect to almost all employment. This employment set a foundation for future skills that I can acquire and improve such as working as part of a team.