Qantas Airways
From Apprentice to Manager: 46 Years in Qantas Engineering
Qantas Airways, New York, New York, us, 10261
From Apprentice to Manager: 46 Years in Qantas Engineering (Refined)
From his first day as an apprentice in 1979 to managing Qantas Engineering’s apprenticeship programs today, Russell Burgess has dedicated over 46 years to aviation. He shares his career journey, the changes he’s seen, and advice for those starting out in the industry. Starting out I joined Qantas on 10 January 1979 as a Ground Engineer Electrical/Instrument Apprentice, what’s now called Avionics. Back then, the trades included Engine, Airframe, Aircraft Sheet Metal, Electrical/Instrument, and Radio. I started at Mascot Jet Base, among 49 other apprentices, and spent the first nine months at the Qantas Apprentice Training School building practical skills and learning how aircraft fly. The early maintenance work at Mascot included early model 747s (including the SP and Combi versions), RAAF C130A Hercules, and A4 Skyhawk fighters for the Australian Navy. A career in aviation Over the past 45 years, Qantas Engineering has evolved while the skill and dedication of our people have remained constant. Today I am the Manager of Qantas Engineering Pipeline Programs, leading a team that coordinates all aspects of our apprenticeship programs across Qantas Engineering, QantasLink Engineering, and Network Turbine Solutions in Perth. Our work includes promoting the program at career events, recruiting apprentices, onboarding them into different business units, providing ongoing support, and helping them secure permanent positions. We currently have 223 apprentices in training across the Group. Most people are surprised to learn we still conduct the majority of our maintenance in Australia, which underscores the importance of sharing our story and the scale of work happening here. Seeing careers take off The most rewarding part of my role is watching apprentices grow during their training and witnessing where their careers lead. During my time, more than 3,500 people have graduated from the program, progressing to roles such as Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Maintenance Supervisors, Senior Managers (including Heads of Department), 11 Captains, and 7 First Officers. Many have taken on leadership roles across the aviation industry. Advice for others Aviation is a rewarding industry. My advice to anyone considering a career here is to be prepared to learn, ask questions, and listen to experienced colleagues. What you get out of your career is directly proportional to the effort you’re willing to put in. One memorable moment is a black-and-white photo from my first week during our company induction at the Apprentice School in Mascot, where there were 50 apprentices in that intake. Another photo from a workshop rotation appeared in the 1980 Annual Financial Report. Russell Burgess, Manager, Qantas Engineering Future Pipeline Programs
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From his first day as an apprentice in 1979 to managing Qantas Engineering’s apprenticeship programs today, Russell Burgess has dedicated over 46 years to aviation. He shares his career journey, the changes he’s seen, and advice for those starting out in the industry. Starting out I joined Qantas on 10 January 1979 as a Ground Engineer Electrical/Instrument Apprentice, what’s now called Avionics. Back then, the trades included Engine, Airframe, Aircraft Sheet Metal, Electrical/Instrument, and Radio. I started at Mascot Jet Base, among 49 other apprentices, and spent the first nine months at the Qantas Apprentice Training School building practical skills and learning how aircraft fly. The early maintenance work at Mascot included early model 747s (including the SP and Combi versions), RAAF C130A Hercules, and A4 Skyhawk fighters for the Australian Navy. A career in aviation Over the past 45 years, Qantas Engineering has evolved while the skill and dedication of our people have remained constant. Today I am the Manager of Qantas Engineering Pipeline Programs, leading a team that coordinates all aspects of our apprenticeship programs across Qantas Engineering, QantasLink Engineering, and Network Turbine Solutions in Perth. Our work includes promoting the program at career events, recruiting apprentices, onboarding them into different business units, providing ongoing support, and helping them secure permanent positions. We currently have 223 apprentices in training across the Group. Most people are surprised to learn we still conduct the majority of our maintenance in Australia, which underscores the importance of sharing our story and the scale of work happening here. Seeing careers take off The most rewarding part of my role is watching apprentices grow during their training and witnessing where their careers lead. During my time, more than 3,500 people have graduated from the program, progressing to roles such as Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Maintenance Supervisors, Senior Managers (including Heads of Department), 11 Captains, and 7 First Officers. Many have taken on leadership roles across the aviation industry. Advice for others Aviation is a rewarding industry. My advice to anyone considering a career here is to be prepared to learn, ask questions, and listen to experienced colleagues. What you get out of your career is directly proportional to the effort you’re willing to put in. One memorable moment is a black-and-white photo from my first week during our company induction at the Apprentice School in Mascot, where there were 50 apprentices in that intake. Another photo from a workshop rotation appeared in the 1980 Annual Financial Report. Russell Burgess, Manager, Qantas Engineering Future Pipeline Programs
#J-18808-Ljbffr