How To Become An Aircraft Engineer

Aircraft Mechanics & Engineers are employed throughout the aviation industry in a wide range of facilities designed to maintain light, rotary, and large commercial aircraft.

Aircraft Mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair airframe structures, engines, and electronic and avionics systems. The work is diverse, disciplined, and highly regulated, both nationally and internationally. The aviation industry uses advanced technology and new aircraft, which with their increasing reliance on computerized flight control and aircraft management systems, means that the use of electronic and computer equipment is an important aspect of an aircraft mechanic’s skills.

There are several possible routes to becoming an Aircraft Mechanic or Aircraft Engineer. They are as follows:

1. Airline Apprenticeship
2. Maintenance Organisation Apprenticeship 
3. Ab-initio technician training program 
4. Irish Air Corp Apprenticeship
5. Self-Study route (Self-funded course, Exams & Experience)
6. Academic Route (Degree in a technical acceptable to the Authority)

The normal path to becoming an aircraft maintenance engineer in Ireland is through an apprenticeship.

It can take between 2-4 years to become an Aircraft Mechanic and in excess of 5 years to become a Certifying Engineer. Entry requirements vary but normally require you to have a Leaving Certificate having achieved a good result in Maths and a science subject. This is subject to change depending on the organization. Refer to the specific entry requirements as applicable.

Apprenticeship programs are normally advertised on the respective organizations’ websites and/or in the national media in the early summer of each year.

Some aircraft maintenance organizations offer transition programs for tradespersons of other disciplines or ab-initio technician training programs for new entrants.