RYANAIR’S PATHWAY TO GAINING EASA PART 66 CAT B LICENCED ENGINEERS
Ryanair Group operates a fleet of over 450 aircraft with an additional 210 due for delivery in the coming years. As such, their ongoing demand for aircraft maintenance personnel to maintain their fleet across their network is significant and increasing.
Ryanair identified the need early on to build and maintain a consistent pipeline of aviation maintenance engineers that will satisfy their long-term demand, and as such had invested in a local Level 3 Aviation Maintenance Apprenticeship programme aligned to a City & Guilds standard.
However, with their fleet primarily made up of Irish registered aircraft, it was soon recognized as essential that the output standard of their apprentices is that of a UK CAA and EASA Part 66 aircraft maintenance licence. To that end, Ryanair approached Resource Training Solutions (RTS) for a dual training solution under RTS UK CAA and EASA Part 147 approvals for both Category A and Category B licenses.
After consultation with Ryanair, RTS – as an industry-embedded training provider – built a fully bespoke and managed training solution including a defined route for individuals from initial recruitment through to a CAT B licensed engineer over a 4-year period, all funded through the UK apprenticeship levy.
RTS created a dedicated recruitment campaign for Ryanair to identify, screen, and shortlist a pool of excellent candidates. The candidates then attended a demanding assessment day co-hosted by Ryanair and RTS, which was packed with a variety of challenges and tasks to enable apprentice final selection.
This unique solution uses the 2- year Level 3 CAT A programme as a steppingstone for students to further progress onto a 2-year Level 4 CAT B programme. RTS is seeking to conduct the End Point Assessment (EPA) for each apprentice on completion of the programme through its ambition to achieve End Point Assessment accreditation in early 2022.
Location was another important consideration for Ryanair with their preference on recruiting locally and maximising the apprentice’s time within Ryanair facilities during their training programme to support with their integration into the wider business.
RTS created a deployed solution where both theoretical and workshop elements are delivered within Ryanair facilities at Stansted, saving many thousands of pounds in off-site training accommodation costs and providing the apprentices with an opportunity to learn locally. Ryanair supplied a suitable classroom and RTS fully specified and kitted out the Ryanair facility with the equipment and tooling required to deliver the workshop phase, meaning only a 6-week practical aircraft phase is delivered off-site at one of the RTS main base facilities.
This tailored solution, built-in close collaboration with Ryanair, is the start of what we hope to be a long-term partnership in a joint effort to train the next generation of Aircraft Certifying Maintenance Engineers.
