ExecuJet MRO Services, a Dassault Aviation company, is increasing the number of apprenticeship positions it offers – working in Sydney with the local Technical and Further Education (TAFE) aviation college and in Melbourne and Perth with Aviation Australia.
“We have been consistently employing apprentices each year but are now increasing the intake,” said Grant Ingall, regional vice president, Australasia, at ExecuJet MRO Services. “It is important to invest in homegrown talent and our young people.”
“We are helping young people to acquire high-tech skills relevant to the business aviation MRO industry and creating a pipeline of new highly skilled and qualified technicians and engineers to facilitate the growth of ExecuJet MRO Services Australia,” Ingall continued. “This year we have five openings for apprentices.”
Through the achieved partnership, apprentices do some of their training at the TAFE college or Aviation Australia and the other – more hands on, practical – training at ExecuJet MRO Services, which assigns a senior maintenance engineer to mentor each apprentice. The Australian MRO has aircraft heavy maintenance facilities at Melbourne’s Essendon Fields Airport as well as at Perth Airport and Sydney Airport.
The apprenticeship programme provides in-depth training on maintenance procedures for aircraft and systems and develops apprentices’ knowledge and understanding of civil aviation maintenance regulations.
ExecuJet shared that its mentors impart the technical skills, best industry practices and the company’s values; and as a company it offers a supportive learning environment for apprentices, enables career advancement and provides employees with a clear path to success.
“We have senior maintenance supervisors on staff who first started their careers as apprentices here,” said Ingall.
An apprenticeship at ExecuJet MRO Services takes approximately four years to complete; it is either a Certificate IV or Diploma. After receipt of a diploma the person can then apply to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to be recognised as a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer. The next step after that is aircraft type training to hold a type rating and be certified to perform work on particular aircraft types.
“We are looking to recruit people who have an interest in aviation or technology as well as working in a hands-on environment,” said Ingall. “We want young people to know that aviation is a very technologically advanced industry that provides very fulfilling careers.”
Apart from the apprenticeship programme, ExecuJet also hires entry-level graduates with aerospace and aviation degrees. In Australia, ExecuJet MRO Services currently employs talented people who commenced their first aviation role in the supply chain, quality, safety and planning departments.
“With a sound theoretical training, high levels of technical skills and energy these staff are proving very valuable to the company,” said Ingall. “In return, ExecuJet’s small business units, wide ranging capabilities and dynamic environment offer a very good introduction and broad experience of the industry.”
“ExecuJet MRO Services is a global MRO network so there are also opportunities later on to move around the network; whether it be working interstate or overseas in Europe, South Africa, the Middle East or Asia,” added Ingall.
Click here to read about ExecuJet MRO Services’ growth in Australia.
