KLM UK Engineering
KLM UK Engineering is a leading regional aircraft and narrow bodied Maintenance Repair Organisation, wholly owned by the AFI KLM E&M Network.
The Company is based in Norwich, Norfolk and has been situated here for over 40 years and has been known under various names such as Air Anglia and Air UK, before being taken over by KLM in 1997.
The Company’s core business is heavy airframe maintenance at its Norwich facility, but also has line stations throughout the UK and operates an onsite component repair shop providing services such as NDT, composite repairs, calibration and interior refurbishments. The organisation has been active in providing Part147 training for over 30 years and has an onsite technical training facility within the International Aviation Academy Norwich.
We are EASA Part145/147 & FAA Approved and hold other countries approvals & certificates, covering maintenance on Fokker 70/100, BAe146/Avro RJ’s, Embraer 170/190, Boeing 737 all series, including the MAX which is new for 2018 and the Airbus A320 Family. Our customer base is worldwide ranging from Dublin to Dubai, through to Russia and as far as Australia and Canada.
The Company operates a continuous improvement programme which goes hand in hand with our Safety Management System to operate a cohesive way of working which is both efficient and safe for our staff. Within the continuous improvement programme, we encourage our staff to make suggestions for improving the way we work and have a specific Innovations Team to bring these improvements to life throughout the year. We recognise that the people carrying out the job can make the difference.
We employ highly skilled & dedicated people that make our business a success, with a total headcount approx 380 across the maintenance & support departments, which includes our technical college. Many staff have been with the company for over 15 years with our longest serving colleague at 45 years and believe in growing our own, which includes many management positions of all levels filled with ex-apprentices, as well as fresh faces with fresh ideas.
KLM UK Engineering has been training engineers for over 30 years in Norwich and has moved to a new facility within the recently opened International Aviation Academy Norwich. This brand-new purpose built facility, not only has classrooms & workshops for students, but houses a live Boeing 737 Classic Generation aircraft within the emulation zone, so students can get hands on. This new facility is located next to the maintenance hangars making it an inspirational place to work & study and is close to the main hub of the business.
We work in partnership with Colleges & Universities to deliver apprenticeships and degree programmes which incorporate EASA courses & B1.1 Licence. As well as this we offer initial & continuation training and aircraft type training courses. Over recent years we have developed a variety of online training courses which include EASA CAT A, B 1.1 & B2 Licence, Fuel Tank Safety, Human Factors, and Electrical Wiring Interconnect System (EWIS) and can be studied anywhere, anytime via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which was launched a couple of years ago with great feedback from users.
Enhanced Learning Credits can be used towards our courses and an ELC claims form needs to be completed via the ELCAS website. Our ELCAS number is 4624.
The industry identified a worldwide shortage of aircraft engineers a few years ago and this skills gap needs to be filled. KLM UK Engineering is committed to and passionate about training the next generation of aviation engineers and has been key in promoting this and making it happen through its own apprenticeship scheme, degree programmes and retraining out of industry engineers.
The Company also has a high percentage of ex-military staff and embraces their knowledge and skills across the hangars and in the support departments. The Company also supports the engineers through a night school to help gain licences while they continue with the day job.
Craig Allcock – Technical Instructor, KLM UK Engineering
I joined the RAF 19th September 2001 at 17 years old and trained for 18 months, which included recruit training at RAF Halton and then I moved to RAF Cosford to become a Propulsion Technician. I then moved to RAF Odiham in February 2003 as part of 27 Squadron working on the Chinnook MK2/2A Helicopters. During this time I worked in various different roles within the Squadron and was lucky enough to gain engine bay experience, as well as that I carried out component maintenance roles. This time included many deployments such as Aldergrove in Northern Ireland, HMS Ocean and Fort Victoria.
In 2009 I trained as an Airframe Technician and shortly after was posted to 71 (Inspection and Repair) Squadron based at RAF St Athan working from the RAF Cottesmore Hub as a Primary Structure and Expedient Repair Specialist. This involved repairing all military fixed wing aircraft from the BBMF, Red Arrows and all Operational Aircraft in the UK and Abroad.
I used ELCAS to gain a City and Guilds in Composite Repairs, Advanced Modern Apprenticeship in Management and Leadership, Team Leader Training, NVQ in Management, Train the Trainer and also completed courses on introduction to Health and Safety, Computer Skills and CV Writing.
My service in the RAF came to an end in November 2013 and prior to my leaving date I attended a careers fair whilst I was on resettlement and met KLM UK Engineering. My experience and future aspirations were talked through and I was invited for an interview in August 2013. The interview process comprised of a hand skills examination and two face to face interviews and shortly after I was offered a position as a Maintenance Mechanic working within the Hangar which I accepted and started in September 2013.
I was very lucky as I found KLM UK Engineering at the right time and could start my contract before I left the RAF as it was within 2 months of my leaving date.
Since joining KLM UK Engineering I have worked on many aircraft including Boeing 737 Classic & Next Generation, Fokker 70/100 and the BAe146/Avro RJ, as well as being involved in some structure repairs.
I was always keen to develop myself and others and KLM UK Engineering provided me the opportunity to do this by starting a new position in 2015 in the company as a Technical Instructor at the Technical Training College and was fully support during this transition by my Project Manager and the team.
The Technical College has given me the opportunity to continue my development & further train as an instructor. It is an exciting time as the KLM UK Engineering Technical College moved location into the newly built and opened International Aviation Academy Norwich in April 2017, where I am fully integrated into the team and my confidence is ever growing. This opportunity to train and pass on my knowledge to the next generation of aviation engineers is very rewarding.
I am also currently 3 years into a 6 year BEng (Honours) degree In Engineering Design which I am studying through the Open University by using my ELCAS credits to complete this.
My journey since leaving the RAF has been varied and fast paced and I am looking forward to the next chapter.