The Royal Navy - Naval Airman Aircraft Handler Aviation Ground Operative Apprenticeship

Royal Navy

Hampshire, PO2 8BY

Closes on Monday 1 June

Posted on 4 June 2024

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Summary

As an Apprentice Naval Airman (Aircraft Handler), you’re responsible for safety whenever there’s aircraft on the deck or the ground. That means working with flight crews at Royal Naval Air Stations (RNAS), on our state-of-the-art warships, or even the new Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier.

Annual wage
£20,400 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Six weeks of paid holiday every year • Free medical and dental care • Subsidised travel and accommodation • Excellent pension scheme

Training course
Aviation ground operative (level 2)
Hours
Shifts to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Tuesday 2 June

Duration

1 year

Positions available

51

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

  • Your core responsibility is to ensure our aircraft are in the right place and ready for action when we need them
  • On a ship, you’ll operate the lift that brings the aircraft out of the hangar before securing them to the flight deck
  • Sometimes you’ll be up against challenging weather conditions, so it’s an element of your role that requires real skill, judgement, and perseverance.
  • During training you’ll develop the skills you need to fight fuel, hangar, and aircraft fires. That means in the event of an emergency, everyone will look to you for guidance
  • You’ll need to use all of your powers of concentration, every day. As you manoeuvre aircraft into place, lives may be at stake. Any driving experience you have will be put to use as you form part of the team that keeps our aircraft flight ready
  • It’s a physical job where you’ll work outside in all conditions, but by making sure that our jets and helicopters are in the right place at the right time, you’ll be playing a key role in providing Royal Navy’s airborne capability

Where you’ll work

Navy Command HQ

The Admiral Sir Henry Leach Building

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO2 8BY

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

ROYAL NAVY

Your training course

Aviation ground operative (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Your training plan

  • Aviation ground operative Level 2

  • Functional Skills, if required
  • Training delivery to be confirmed 
  • Once you have completed your training you will be a qualified Naval Airman Aircraft Handler (Aviation Ground Operative)

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • Math and English (grade GCSE Level C/4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

When you join you complete 10 weeks of basic naval training, followed by six months at the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall, working in an aircraft hangar or a flight deck team. You’ll learn to use the lifts, mechanical handlers and chocks and lashings used on board ship. When you’ve finished, you’ll be posted to your first unit.

About this company

The Royal Navy (RN) is responsible for the protection of British interests at home and around the World. 95% of all world trade passes through the high seas and every year Britain imports £524 billion worth of goods. The RN takes an active part in the protection of British Shipping. Around the United Kingdom the RN protects vital fishing stocks by monitoring fishing activities in our waters. We recruit throughout the year, so please ignore Key Dates

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • You’ll start your naval career as an Able Rate, with experience and further training, you could be promoted to Leading Hand and beyond
  • If you show the right commitment, skills, and academic ability, you could become a Commissioned Officer
  • Members of the Royal Navy are promoted on merit. Work hard and you can rise through the ranks

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ROYAL NAVY

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000255407.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 1 June

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

A job in the Naval Service means adventure, camaraderie – and lifelong prospects. Every day you make a difference and no two days are the same. You could be policing the world's oceans, delivering humanitarian aid when natural or man-made disasters strike, or you could be deployed in combat. No matter what job you do, you'll be a key part in operations around the world. Are you ready to go places?