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Virgin Australia opens applications for engineering apprenticeships

written by australianaviation.com.au | September 16, 2019

Virgin Australia Boeing 777-300ER VH-VPH in the airline's Brisbane maintenance hangar. (Seth Jaworski)
Virgin Australia Boeing 777-300ER VH-VPH in the airline’s Brisbane maintenance hangar. (Seth Jaworski)

Virgin Australia has opened applications for its aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) apprenticeship program.

The airline is seeking four apprentices for the four-year program, with two to be based in Brisbane and two in Melbourne. The course was due to begin in the first half of 2020.

Those who successfully complete apprenticeship would gain a Certificate IV in Aeroskills, as well as qualifications to work at a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Part 145 approved maintenance organisation.

Coursework included being rotated through various departments across the airline group to gain experience in areas such as hangar maintenance, line maintenance, stores, planning and engineering.

Apprentices would also be assigned a mentor from the engineering team, according to the application placed on the Virgin Australia website.

Virgin Australia staff working in the electronics bay of one of the airline's Boeing 777-300ERs. (Seth Jaworski)
Virgin Australia staff working in the electronics bay of one of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ERs. (Seth Jaworski)

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“At the end of the program, the recruits have an opportunity to commence a career with Virgin Australia with a nationally recognised qualification in the aerospace industry as an aircraft maintenance engineer,” Virgin Australia said.

Applications close on September 29 2019. More details on the program, which is run every two years, can be found on the Virgin Australia website.


VIDEO: Virgin Australia engineers talk about their experiences in a video from the airline’s YouTube channel.

INDUSTRY ESTIMATES SHOW STRONG DEMAND

The 2018-2037 Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook showed a need for 622,000 commercial maintenance technicians over the next two decades.

The figure was down from its estimate of 648,000 in the prior year’s survey, which Boeing said was “primarily due to longer maintenance intervals for new aircraft”.

“As new generation airplanes become more prominent in the global fleet, advances in airplane technology will drive an increased need for technicians skilled in avionics, composites, and digital troubleshooting,” Boeing said.

“Mobile and distance learning solutions are becoming increasingly popular as a flexible alternative to traditional classroom instruction, and new technologies such as augmented reality are being tested as a way to improve engagement and knowledge retention.

“As airlines continually invest to improve the quality and efficiency of their operations, new training curriculums and methodologies will need to be adopted to keep pace with innovation.”

Asia Pacific represented the largest source of demand, with the regional expected to recruit 34.1 per cent of all technicians in the 20 years to 2037.

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Comments (9)

  • daveV

    says:

    Well done Virgin Australia, the country need employers like you!

  • Adrian P

    says:

    Good to see an employer offering a proper four year apprenticeship.
    I think the prerequisite of a Certificate IV in Aeroskills – Theory component (Mechanical) a bit harsh as I reckon it should be part of the apprenticeship training. Also the requirement of a state driving licencee from the getgo does not recognise that in cities many young people are no longer learning to drive, turning to public transport as an alternative to sitting in a car in a traffic jam.

  • Bill

    says:

    Good luck to all the applicants. I’d love to see see more than 4 spots on offer, but it’s definitely a starting point.

  • RHeaton

    says:

    Lets just hope they dont chew and spew these guys out like the rest of the aviation world does to its employee’s.

  • Stephen millan

    says:

    I really love gain experience in a wide bodied aircraft like this ! How can i apply to this one ? To become a apprentice i really like to be part of aviation industry since i was a kid and maybe this is my chance !

  • Desmond keke

    says:

    It’s cool and nice to hear that. I am interested to study aircraft engineer.

  • Mohd Taufek

    says:

    Can i joint this course, im not australian citizen.

  • Axit

    says:

    Can I join this course?, I also completed aircraft maintenance engineering from India,

  • Axit

    says:

    I want to do apprenticeship for aircraft maintenance engineering, but i’m not australian citizen

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