Fly high in engineering: Paul Richardson, helicopter engineer.

Helicopter engineer

Answers supplied by Paul Richardson, engineering training co-ordinator at Bristow Helicopters Limited. Bristow Helicopters is primarily a commercial aviation company in support of the oil and gas industry around the world, but also supplies expertise in pilot and engineer training for a varied clientele.

What does the job entail?
All helicopter engineers are expected to be highly motivated individuals with flight safety their main objective. You can be expected to work in a variety of locations as diverse as the UK, Eastern Europe, Africa, Australia and China. You will be primarily concerned with the maintenance and certification of the company’s helicopter fleet on a daily basis.

What skills and qualifications are needed?
Candidates should have an interest in aircraft engineering, either mechanical or avionic. You should be educated to an H or A-level standard in English, maths and a science subject, have an HND equivalent or higher related qualification.

What type of person will fit in?
You will need to be self-motivated, be able to work unsupervised, show initiative, be a team player and have excellent communication and listening skills. You will be required to be flexible and be able to adapt to different working locations and environments, sometimes at short notice.

What are the pluses and minuses of the job?
On the positive side the work is interesting as you could be working on different types of helicopters and in varied locations and work environments. There can be a high degree of job satisfaction, especially on smaller operations. Once you are fully qualified with an engineering licence, further employment is virtually guaranteed due to the shortage of qualified people within the industry. The salary is nearly always attractive and you are likely to enjoy company benefits. On the downside, training takes a minimum of four years and is usually based in Aberdeen, Scotland. Shift work is usually required and travel at short notice is fairly commonplace.

What opportunities exist for career progression?
You would usually start as either a mature skilled fitter, apprentice or transfer from the armed forces with qualifications. Candidates have to qualify for an Aviation Maintenance Licence, either mechanical or electrical/electronic to be a fully competent engineer. You could then progress on to training for specific helicopter types. Once qualified with sufficient experience, you can be considered for the position of chief engineer at the company’s operating bases.

What can I expect to earn?
Starting salaries for apprenticeships are £8,500 in the first year rising to £15,000 in the fourth year, although these may increase with additional allowances and some expenses covered. When you become a basic licence holder you should earn approximately £25,000 and if you become a type rated licence holder this would rise to approximately £33,000. A chief engineer would earn £40,000 or more. All positions may include other allowances, such as detachment allowance, night shift pay etc, and overseas positions are usually tax free.

Any hints on getting a job in this area?
It is possible to migrate into the aviation industry from an existing mechanical or electrical/electronic trained background eg qualified automotive mechanic or electronic technician. People with such qualifications and experience may find this process can reduce the amount of training required. Keep an eye on the recruitment section of the local press for any vacancies in the industry. The following websites may also be of interest: www.bristowhelicopters.com and www.airservicetraining.co.uk