Helicopter engineer
Helicopter technician, aviation engineer, aircraft engineer
Helicopter engineers service and repair helicopters.
Salary range: £30,000 to £50,000
How to become a helicopter engineer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- a graduate training scheme
- the armed forces
University
You’ll need an engineering qualification and maintenance experience to apply for a licence to become a helicopter engineer.
You’ll usually need a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in aerospace engineering, avionics, or a related subject like:
- aeronautical engineering
- electrical or electronic engineering
- mechanical engineering
- manufacturing or product engineering
- physics or applied physics
- software engineering or mathematics
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- between 1 and 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma or degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
College
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant courses include the Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Aerospace and Aviation Engineering.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More information
Apprenticeship
You can get into this job through an aircraft maintenance certifying engineering higher apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More information
Other routes
The way into this job is usually through an aircraft engineering company, some of which offer graduate training schemes.
Flight engineering experience gained in the armed forces may count towards your licence application.
More information
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a helicopter engineer from The British Helicopter Association.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- practical skills for repairing and maintaining equipment
- persistence and determination
- the ability to repair machines or systems
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need a Part-66 engineering licence issued through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
There are different categories to the licence, depending on the type of work you want to do, but common ones are:
- B1 mechanical – for work on an aircraft’s structure and electrical systems
- B2 avionics – for work on navigation, communication and electronic instruments
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- carrying out scheduled inspection and maintenance checks
- finding and fixing faults
- reporting defects to the maintenance manager
- making sure aircraft meet flight safety regulations
- working on aircraft and instrument modifications
- refitting aircraft
- responding to repair call outs
- recording completed work
Working environment
You could work at an airport or on an aircraft.
Your working environment may be you’ll travel often and physically demanding.
Career path and progression
With experience you could become a maintenance engineering manager or senior design engineer, working on modifications and enhancements to aircraft.