Early Careers
AirTanker Apprenticeship Schemes
Fleet Engineering Apprentice (Aviation)
This is more than an apprenticeship; it's your pathway to a versatile and impactful career at the forefront of aerospace.
Launch your mission-critical career in aviation engineering with Airtanker. Our comprehensive 4-year programme offers unparalleled hands-on experience on the advanced Airbus A330 Voyager, leading to a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification. With AirTanker you will gain unique dual-domain experience across both military and civilian operations.
Join a truly inclusive and supportive culture committed to your wellbeing, diversity and continuous growth, where your work directly contributes to national strategic capabilities.
Launch your mission-critical career in aviation engineering with Airtanker. Our comprehensive 4-year programme offers unparalleled hands-on experience on the advanced Airbus A330 Voyager, leading to a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification. With AirTanker you will gain unique dual-domain experience across both military and civilian operations.
Join a truly inclusive and supportive culture committed to your wellbeing, diversity and continuous growth, where your work directly contributes to national strategic capabilities.
First 9 Months
You will spend your time with our training partner Resource Group studying for your UK CAA Part-66 Category A1 Licence modules, coupled with hands on practical experience in dedicated workshops and a training hangar facility. You will be offered fully funded accommodation by AirTanker at lakeside lodges located on the Cotswold Water Park near Cirencester.
You will spend your time with our training partner Resource Group studying for your UK CAA Part-66 Category A1 Licence modules, coupled with hands on practical experience in dedicated workshops and a training hangar facility. You will be offered fully funded accommodation by AirTanker at lakeside lodges located on the Cotswold Water Park near Cirencester.
Months 10-48
This time will be spent with AirTanker based at RAF Brize Norton, furthering the skills you have developed with Resource Group and gaining valuable maintenance experience for you to be able to complete your Level 3 Apprenticeship portfolio and achieve End Point Assessment. You will be building your CAP741 evidence to support an application for your CAT A1 license once you have completed your apprenticeship and gained sufficient skills and work place evidenced experience.
Years 3-4
You will be assigned to a dedicated shift, to gain a deeper understanding of the Airbus A330 Line and Base Maintenance environments under the direct supervision of a qualified Mentor and Engineer.
Ground Operations
The Ground Operation Apprenticeship is an 18-month placement. During the 18 month you will cover the following modules:
- Introduction to programme, pastoral care, team building, aviation timescales
- Aviation history, compliance & legislation
- Monitoring the wx
- Aviation Systems
- SMS, aviation security & DG
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Reducing aviation hazards
- Resolve multi-faceted aviation issues (this would fit best for the CS element)
- Support the operation
- Disruption, incidents, and emergencies
"The apprenticeship will provide you with Exposure to many and varied elements of the industry, gaining a well-rounded insight into the workings of an airline and how aircraft get from A to B safely and efficiently. Daily interaction with both technical SME's and Flight Crew, you will be given the tools to move your career to the next level"
Work Experience
Please note that our in person Work Experience / Shadowing Programme is aimed at young people in Secondary education and priority will be given to applicants from our local area.
AirTanker offers formalised work experience shadowing opportunities to students at local schools, focusing on years 10 and 12. Since 2023, we hosted over 35 students who gained an insight into the many departments and disciplines that make up AirTanker.
AirTanker offers formalised work experience shadowing opportunities to students at local schools, focusing on years 10 and 12. Since 2023, we hosted over 35 students who gained an insight into the many departments and disciplines that make up AirTanker.
Some have gone on to apply for Apprenticeships or career opportunities with AirTanker since completing their work experience placement. The application process for each years work experience shadowing opportunities usually opens mid-January and closes mid-March. Applications are made via our jobs portal.
AirTanker is particularly keen to welcome aspiring individuals who are interested in applying for our engineering and ground operations apprenticeship schemes.
Please see an example of a Work Experience week aimed at Year 10 students below;
Please see an example of a Work Experience week aimed at Year 10 students below;
Day 1
We will start the week with Introductions and Health and Safety Briefing (very important). We will then spend the morning
- Getting to know each other
- Getting to know AirTanker
After lunch you will then get an overview of our support functions such as;
- IT Operations and Security
- Programmes Team
- AirTanker Wellbeing Services
- Compliance Department
- Commercial Departments
Day 2
Learn all about
- Base and Line Maintenance and the skills the vital work that they do.
- Get to visit a Voyager aircraft and get a glimpse of the day to day activities in our hangar.
- Get to spend time with our apprentices, technicians and engineers are hear about the sorts of things they do on a daily basis.
Day 3
Learn all about:
- How we make sure our aircraft stay up-to-date and safe to fly (Continued Airworthiness)
- Ground Operations and what goes on behind the scenes to plan a flight, crew etc.
- How AirTanker and the RAF work together (Voyager Force)
- Hear how we manage all the and (Materials and Logistics)
Day 4
- Understand the day in the life of a pilot and/or cabin crew
- Learn how to marshall an aircraft using virtual reality training
- We then round the week off with a group activity.
As we receive a high volume of applications for our Work Experience programme we use a selection process. We regret that we are not always able to offer places to all those students who wish to join us.
If you wish to apply, you will be asked to answer questions about who you are; what your interests and hobbies are; what you know about AirTanker; why you want to come to AirTanker for work experience and what you hope to gain from your time with us. You will also need your teacher and parent / guardian to sign off your application. We suggest that you do not leave your application to the last minute therefore.