Case Study - Engineering
Careers in the Engineering Aerospace Industry
Placement: Careers in the Engineering Aerospace Industry
Host Company: Airbus, Monday 9th February 2009
Participants: Connexions advisors / Teachers
Type: Secondary / College
Aims: 1. To give delegates a practical insight into the range of job roles and opportunities available to young people linked to engineering in the aerospace industry.
2. To give delegate’s practical knowledge and understanding of the training and skills available to young apprentices studying engineering and science.
3. To give delegates the opportunity to explore how the employer’s craft and advanced apprenticeship scheme links to the curriculum and understand how the recruitment and selection process works.
The day started with a series of presentations by key members of Airbus staff setting both the local and global context of the industry and explaining the range of aircraft wings produced from small executive jet to the A380 super jumbo. The presentations allowed delegates the chance to ask questions of both Airbus employees, current and past apprentices. In order for the teachers and careers advisors to gain an understanding of the selection process Airbus organised the delegates into three groups all having the chance to answer questions taken from the apprentice selection test. The atmosphere was both competitive and friendly and allowed delegates the chance to experience the level of knowledge required from those selected for an Airbus apprenticeship.
After a working lunch where by delegates were able to ask questions of Airbus staff and apprentices in a relaxing atmosphere, everybody visited the eastern factory by bus to see the manufacture of the A380 super jumbo wings. The Airbus apprentices led three groups of delegates around the factory to observe the different processes and assembly areas that make up the production of the A380 wing. The size of the factory is breathtaking with aircraft wings large enough to stand upright inside. Once the wing is assembled it is taken a short distance by road to the river Dee where it is transported by barge up river to Mostyn Docks and then by sea to France. Aircraft parts manufactured from across Europe including the wings are then transported and assembled at Toulouse in southwestern France. The day concluded with an open forum for questions concerning the apprenticeship scheme and the examples of engineering that they had seen.
Outcomes: Information gained from this PDP has been very constructive. All of the delegates appreciated the opportunity they had to visit Airbus and to both observe and discuss the engineering apprenticeships on offer to young people. It was a unique opportunity to see the engineering and manufacturing process in place that produces wings for the A380 super jumbo. Everybody who attended felt that the objectives were achieved and were motivated by being able to speak with the young apprentices both past and present and seeing precision engineering on a large scale.
“ Being previously a qualified engineer it is the commitment Airbus puts into its training that is surprising”
Lecturer, Neil Barney
“The ability to broaden my own awareness and raise aspirations in engineering with groups of students in school”
Connexions Advisor, Marlene Flannery