The Royal Navy - Air Engineer Apprenticeship

When you join the Royal Navy as an Air Engineering Technician, you’re vital to keeping our airborne missions on track. That means working with some of the most advanced aircraft on the planet, like the F35B Lightning Stealth Fighter, the Merlin Mk2 Submarine Hunter, the Merlin Mk4 Commando Helicopter or the Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter.

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Be a central part of the Royal Navy’s aviation capabilities, getting to work with our planes and helicopters, and making sure that they can take off whenever they’re needed
• Develop your engineering skills and specialise in mechanical technology and avionics
• You’ll need to use all of the knowledge you gain in training, to find innovative solutions to complex problems, often under pressure
• You will have the opportunity to serve on the world's most advanced Frigates, Destroyers and Aircraft Carriers with new and exciting aircraft Forces. This includes the F35B Lightning Stealth fighter at RAF Marham, the Merlin Mk2 Submarine Hunter, at RNAS Culdrose, the Merlin Mk4 Commando Helicopter and the Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter at RNAS Yeovilton
• Maintain, service and inspect the Fleet Air Arm’s aircraft, working with your team at the highest levels of the engineering industry

Where you'll work

Navy Command HQ
The Admiral Sir Henry Leach Building
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO2 8BY

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

ROYAL NAVY

Training course

Aviation maintenance mechanic (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures. Identify, handle and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
• Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
• Collect and use information. For example, aircraft servicing schedules, aircraft technical log.
• Record maintenance information: paper based or electronic.
• Communicate with colleagues verbally.
• Communicate with colleagues non-verbally. For example, standard signals used when marshalling and handling aircraft.
• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Follow tool control processes and procedures including tool calibration, storage, and condition.
• Identify, handle and store aircraft components and parts.
• Inspect and assess condition of aircraft components and restore to former state, including reinstating access panels.
• Use simple measuring and test equipment. For example, steel rule, and digital multimeter.
• Follow work instructions: verbal or written.
• Comply with statutory military or airworthiness legislation.
• Identify and mitigate dangers within the air environment. For example, aircraft engines running, intake, and exhaust areas.
• Identify and report on progress and issues.
• Prepare the work area prior to the activity. For example, pre-use checks on ground support equipment (GSE), fit and remove aircraft covers, bungs or blanks.
• Restore the work area on completion of the activity.
• Comply with aircraft movement procedures. For example, receipt and dispatch or as a member of an aircraft movement team.
• Replace mechanical system components. For example, engine components, hydraulic system components, air-conditioning components, or pneumatic system components.
• Replace electrical or electronic system components. For example, electrical power distribution, aircraft lighting, communication, navigation, or cabin equipment.
• Contribute to team tasks for aircraft maintenance. For example, on engine assemblies, landing gear assemblies, flying control surfaces, door assemblies, aircraft cabin fixtures and assemblies or avionic rack assemblies.
• Perform aircraft pre and post flight servicing. For example, airframe and systems: (aircraft landing gear assemblies and retraction bays or aircraft wheels and tyres).
• Perform checks and replenishments. For example, check and replenish (aircraft gaseous system, aircraft hydraulic system fluid levels, engine oil, fuel, or tyre pressures).
• Clean and visually check aircraft transparencies.
• Apply external electrical power to an aircraft.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality assurance processes.
• Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures. Identify, handle and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
• Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
• Collect and use information. For example, aircraft servicing schedules, aircraft technical log.
• Record maintenance information: paper based or electronic.
• Communicate with colleagues verbally.
• Communicate with colleagues non-verbally. For example, standard signals used when marshalling and handling aircraft.
• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Follow tool control processes and procedures including tool calibration, storage, and condition.
• Identify, handle and store aircraft components and parts.
• Inspect and assess condition of aircraft components and restore to former state, including reinstating access panels.
• Use simple measuring and test equipment. For example, steel rule, and digital multimeter.
• Follow work instructions: verbal or written.
• Comply with statutory military or airworthiness legislation.
• Identify and mitigate dangers within the air environment. For example, aircraft engines running, intake, and exhaust areas.
• Identify and report on progress and issues.
• Prepare the work area prior to the activity. For example, pre-use checks on ground support equipment (GSE), fit and remove aircraft covers, bungs or blanks.
• Restore the work area on completion of the activity.
• Comply with aircraft movement procedures. For example, receipt and dispatch or as a member of an aircraft movement team.
• Replace mechanical system components. For example, engine components, hydraulic system components, air-conditioning components, or pneumatic system components.
• Replace electrical or electronic system components. For example, electrical power distribution, aircraft lighting, communication, navigation, or cabin equipment.
• Contribute to team tasks for aircraft maintenance. For example, on engine assemblies, landing gear assemblies, flying control surfaces, door assemblies, aircraft cabin fixtures and assemblies or avionic rack assemblies.
• Perform aircraft pre and post flight servicing. For example, airframe and systems: (aircraft landing gear assemblies and retraction bays or aircraft wheels and tyres).
• Perform checks and replenishments. For example, check and replenish (aircraft gaseous system, aircraft hydraulic system fluid levels, engine oil, fuel, or tyre pressures).
• Clean and visually check aircraft transparencies.
• Apply external electrical power to an aircraft.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality assurance processes.