Michael Keogh tells Smart Futures about working as a Ryanair aircraft engineer.
Describe your typical day?
What’s cool about your job?
What are the main challenges?
How do you get an IAA licence?
After completing an apprenticeship and on-the-job training, you can apply to do IAA exams. Once completed, the IAA issues a licence.
What advice would you give to someone considering this job?
Engineering and science subjects are extremely important as they help you to understand aircraft systems such as aerodynamics, pneumatic, hydraulics, jet propulsion, radio theory, electrical theory and instrumentation.
What subjects did you take in school?
I took maths, English, Irish, engineering, technical drawing, physics and French. The science and engineering subjects were essential during my apprenticeship and I use them every day in work.
What did you do after school?
I did an apprenticeship in aeronautical engineering with Ryanair in conjunction with FÁS in Shannon and Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). During my apprenticeship I did night classes in radio, instruments and electrical theory.
What inspired your interest in engineering?
Having a curious mind; I always loved the practical side of technical drawing, metalwork and physics.
Smart Futures