Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic Review
at BAE Systems
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Yorkshire, UK
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
2.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3.5/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
2.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Learning and training to become an on-aircraft maintenance engineer. I am training as a dual trade, so covering both avionics and mechanical trades.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I really enjoy my programme, especially the second year on base. The first year with the Aircraft Maintenance Academy at Humberside was useful to learn all about civil aircraft and systems. The management of the programme could have been better organised and the support from the team whilst we are on base needs to be improved.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have developed my hand skills and learnt about the systems of a military aircraft.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
It is well organised, but not run efficiently. Certain management don't know how to communicate and organise placements for the second year on an RAF base. We still come under the management of the Aircraft Maintenance Academy for our 2nd year, but we don't have good communication with them, any issues we have we don't have a strong point of contact or feel fully supported.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
A limited amount of support is given to us. We have people we can go to but it isn't good enough as the communication is poor and we are left to fend for ourselves and work out things by ourselves or as a group of apprentices together.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
A limited amount from management. We have better contact and communication with our year 2 assessors, but they are very busy and can't always help us out immediately.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
The qualification does help us massively, but the civil exams that we do don't relate to military aircraft so alot of that knowledge is wasted in our day to day jobs. We need to do more hands on skills and practical experience for military aircraft specific before we are let loose in our 2nd year on serviceable aircraft.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
1/5
No there isn't.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Because it is a good company to work for and overall they look after you well with pension and share schemes. The main downside is the planning and management of the apprenticeship programme.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Be open minded about the amount of learning and self development you will need to do. Put in the effort and you will go far. Overall, the apprenticeship is good and is enjoyable.
