What I do

I’m an Aircraft Maintenance Technician at EasyJet, at Gatwick Airport. I work on planes to make sure they’re safe and ready for passengers to fly. I check everything from engines and landing gear to flight controls and even the cabin, making sure all parts of the plane are good to go.

My job also involves working both in the aircraft hangar and line. In the hangar, we do the more major checks. We bring planes in at around 8:00pm, until 7:00am the next morning. During this time, we have a checklist of things that need to be done regularly. It could be anything from checking life vests to changing an engine. We also do line work, which I’m looking forward to doing soon, which is the work which happens between scheduled flights. If a pilot reports a problem during a flight, like a temperature fluctuation, an engineer will meet the aircraft when it lands and try to resolve it during the turnaround time.

Everything we do works towards ensuring the planes are ready and safe to fly, it’s really rewarding as I know I’m helping to make sure people can go away on their holidays.

How I became a technician

I've always been interested in aviation, but I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do. At secondary school, I had my first chance to study Design and Technology. I really enjoyed it and did well - it was actually my highest GCSE score. My uncle works as an aircraft mechanic, so I would hear all about what he did and I thought it sounded really interesting.

When it came to deciding which subjects I wanted to pursue further, I realised I wanted to become an aircraft mechanic, so I applied for the EasyJet apprenticeship in my second year of A-levels. I actually got the call offering me the job right after I finished one of my physics exams!

A typical day in my working life

I usually work 12-hour shifts, either 7:00am to 7:00pm, or 7:00pm to 7:00am. During night shifts, I start by looking at which aircraft is coming in, when it lands, and what work needs doing to it. My supervisor distributes a list of who's working with who and on what section. Then, as part of the tug team, we go out to meet the aircraft, hook up the tug and bring it into the hangar. It's pretty cool because we get to drive on the taxiways and tow the aircraft to the hangar, which not everyone at the airport gets to do.

Once the plane's in the hangar, we park it and power it up. Then we start our jobs. I could be doing one big job all night, like an engine change, or lots of little jobs around the aircraft. When we're done, we then push the aircraft out to the stand, ready for it to be used.

During day shifts, we're more like an AOG (Aircraft on Ground) team of engineers, mechanics and advisors, working on any on-site modifications and repairs needed to keep the planes running.

It's a great job that is very rewarding, but not many people know about it!

The advice I'd give to someone younger

I’d say if you’re interested in this job, find out more about it, when you say ‘aircraft’ or ‘aerospace’ to someone, they usually just think of pilots or cabin crew but there are interesting engineering and technician roles too. Talk to people in the industry and maybe try to do some work experience. It’s a great job that is very rewarding, but not many people know about it!

A little more about
my everyday role

What I love most about my job

I love how varied my job is. Even though we work on similar planes, they're all a bit different. It keeps things interesting when you're trying to find things like a water filter in a slightly different layout.

I especially enjoy the unexpected jobs when a plane has a problem and needs fixing fast before it can fly. I love an AOG because you never know what you're going to get. It could be anything from changing a door to trouble shooting a problem and carrying out the necessary repairs. It's exciting because it's so varied and sudden and it’s up to us to get it fixed fast so it’s back in service and people can travel on their holidays.

I also love that I'm still learning new things all the time. I work with people who've been in the industry for 20-30 years and even they're still learning new things every day. I think that's just amazing, and I look forward to still learning new things 20 years from now.

The best bits about working in a team

I usually work with about 10 people. There's a supervisor, a couple of licensed engineers, a few mechanics, myself and another apprentice. On night shifts, we can have up to 40 people, and you might work in a team of up to five people on different sections of the aircraft. It's great because there's such a range of knowledge and skills. You can learn something from everyone on shift, whether they've been there for years or just a few days. Everyone has something different to teach you or show you.

I also have people to chat with, which makes the job more enjoyable. And it's helpful to have others around for the heavy tasks - we can share the weight when moving objects around.

The skills I use most

Mostly, I use hand skills for working on the planes. But problem-solving and adaptability are also really important too. You've got to be able to work things out for yourself. Often, you might be given a job you haven't done before, so you need to figure out the right manuals and resources you’ll need.

My favourite piece of equipment

I enjoy using the borescope kit that allows us to see inside the engine so we can spot any damage and track the condition of the engines. I also enjoy using the lifters. They're great because you can get quite high up, for example, you can get up to the top of the fuselage and the top of the rudder. You can get some really unique views of the aircraft from up there.

My school days

For my GCSEs, I chose design and technology, music, French, and history. I was always interested in aviation, but it was design and technology which made me think about becoming an aircraft mechanic. After my GCSEs, I did A-levels in maths, physics and engineering. I also played a lot of sports, such as hockey and cricket. I have participated in Scouts since I was four years old too, which really helped me develop my practical skills.

What I like to do in my spare time

I still play hockey and cricket, and I also like to spend time with my family.

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