Dean Sowerby, Apprentice, QinetiQ Apprentice Training School at MOD Boscombe Down
November 2013
Throughout November I’ve continued working on the Merlin Major servicing here at Boscombe Down, which is going well. It’s more or less on track; everything that has needed to be removed from the airframe has been removed and we’re currently coming towards the end of the inspection stage of the servicing.
The inspection was something I couldn’t get heavily involved in as an apprentice, as it is all about checking components and parts for serviceability and deeming whether any damage or wear found is acceptable or not. Being an apprentice I have almost no experience of doing these sorts of inspections and so I’m just shadowing and trying to learn as much as I can. In the next couple of weeks the aircraft will slowly be put back together, which is something I can get involved in again, which I’m looking forward to.
I’ve being doing lots of work towards my NVQ, which is great. I’m very glad I am on this indoor placement at the minute because it’s getting quite cold and very windy outside!
I also visited the Skills Show UK, held 14-16 November at the NEC in Birmingham. At the show, companies from across the country and from a wide range of industries have stands to advertise and promote what they do. I attended with another apprentice to man the QinetiQ stand.
The World Skills competition was held at the show, where various apprentices and tradesmen compete against others within their industry to be named the best in their field. QinetiQ’s apprentices did really well, with Joe Hedley winning gold in the Aeronautical Mechanical competition and Chris Ince gaining a bronze in the Aeronautical Avionic competition. Dan Brady, another apprentice, was also one of the finalists for the Aeronautical Avionics competition.
I’m looking forward to hopefully competing myself next year!