Plane sailing for new aircraft technicians
THE first 16 new aircraft maintenance technicians have graduated with flying colours from BAE Systems' dedicated training academy in Doncaster.
Having completed their eight-month basic training and achieved a City and Guilds qualification at the academy based at Robin Hood Airport, the students will now move to an RAF base for a further 12 months of training.
After gaining their National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), they will become part of the BAE Systems team working hand-in-hand with the RAF on fast jets.
These include RAF Marham and RAF Cottesmore, home to Tornado and Harrier respectively; and RAF Coningsby, home to the RAF's latest front-line jet, the Typhoon.
Martin Blaze, aircraft maintenance director at BAE Systems said: "In 2009 BAE Systems has been awarded contracts relating to aircraft maintenance and support worth nearly 1bn and this has potential to grow even more in the future.
"The academy will help provide appropriately skilled personnel to deliver those contracts."
Alan Collier, the firm's UK industry training manager added: "This programme is an innovative and unique solution to a challenge facing both BAE Systems and the RAF. There is a shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians nationally and the establishment of this academy will help meet that challenge.
"The people who progress through the academy and go on to work on an RAF base will be an integral part of the team ensuring the men and women of the RAF can do their job."
Caroline Flint, MP for Don Valley, who presented the trainees with their certificates, said: "It was a pleasure to meet the graduates of the BAE Systems academy. To have a giant of global aviation manufacturing here in Doncaster training apprentices is a tremendous vote of confidence in the facilities at Robin Hood Airport. The skills their graduates have earned today will stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers."
The academy is currently training 32 more students. Over the next five years BAE Systems is aiming to train up to 500 apprentices using the academy along with colleges close to RAF bases.
The currenttrainees are training to bemechanicaloravionic/electricaltechnicians. The trainees come from allbackgrounds including car mechanics,the Royal Navy and straight fromcollege.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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