What the job entails:

Aircraft maintenance engineers work on all sorts of machines that fly. These include aeroplanes, helicopters, spaceships, and satellites. The engineers check the aircraft to make sure that they are working properly and are safe to use. They keep the machinery in good condition and deal with any repairs. There are a lot of different tasks involved in this work. Aircraft maintenance engineers often specialise. They may work in mechanics or avionics. Some work on huge planes that carry hundreds of people. Others work on small planes that people own and fly for pleasure.

Routes and choices while at school:

A good general education will help you to compete for jobs and apprenticeships. Many employers will want you to have at least three or four GCSEs at grades 4 or C or better, or equivalent qualifications. These should include English, maths, and a science or technology subject.

Pay:

Pay when starting is about £17,000 to £21,000 per year. When experienced, it is about £31,000 to £37,000. For experts with a lot of experience, pay can rise to about £45,000.