Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice Review
at Bombardier Aviation
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Biggin Hill
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
3.6 /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!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
2.8/5
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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
The main part of my apprenticeship is working in shifts on the hangar floor on customers aircraft with other qualified and licensed engineers, carrying out component changes, regular servicing, inspections, troubleshooting tasks and minor structures work.
Additionally once a week I have a training day with Farnborough College who provide the theory part of the apprenticeship.
Additionally once a week I have a training day with Farnborough College who provide the theory part of the apprenticeship.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I very much enjoy working on the hangar floor on the aircraft with the other engineers, learning new skills and carrying out scheduled maintenance tasks. However I do not enjoy the theory part of the course as much.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I developed existing basic hand skills including torquing of threaded fasteners and carrying out inspections of components, and have learnt new skills such as safetying fasteners with locking wire and split pins, safety precautions around running engines, hydraulic systems and moving flight controls. I learnt skills in minor structures work, riveting, removal of rivets and other permanent aircraft fasteners. As well as how to write up all of the required paperwork after carrying out a maintenance task.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The programme is reasonably well structured, with regular reviews with our employer and our training provider, but it is not always clear where in the programme we are, what our immediate next steps are, and an overall of what theory tasks need completing and how far through we are.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
The support is good, our apprenticeship manager is always open for questions and help when we need it.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
The lessons we receive are good, and most resources are shared with us, and the tutor is open to questions, but the quality of the lessons and presentations could be better and more up to date.
There is also no real sense of what is happening next, and our progress through the course and on occasions there have been no resources or help for parts of the theory which made it much more difficult.
There is also no real sense of what is happening next, and our progress through the course and on occasions there have been no resources or help for parts of the theory which made it much more difficult.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
The content in the lessons usually relates directly to work that we carry out on the aircraft, and explains how components that I have changed, work and their purpose in the aircraft. We looked at the theory for air conditioners and pressurization as well as structures which gave the theory for how the aircraft is made up and its construction. However sometimes it seems that the theory does not relate to our work and does not add to the course.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
Occasional socials to with the hangar floor team and socials organized as a group by us apprentices.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Bombardier Aviation to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The apprenticeship overall is good, the hands on work on the aircraft is very good, engineers involve me and help me develop my skills and knowledge.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Bombardier Aviation?
The hangar work on the aircraft is very good with other engineers, however the theory side of the course is less good but asking my mentor for help on the theory has being been invaluable.
