Ex RAF Aircraft Engineer

After 33 years of aircraft engineering in the Royal Air Force I decided it was time for a change. I emerged pretty much at the top of a very successful career to wonder what job could possibly follow. My past experience opened lots of Management opportunities, but managing others had lost its appeal some time ago. Aeronautical engineering is a thriving industry in my area so going ‘back to the spanners’ was always an option. I searched for something in between where I would not be responsible for the actions of others and an engineering job that required some thought and carried some responsibility. I wanted to be able to plan my activities and be responsible for both the quality and output of the product, but it had to be engaging and interesting too.

The end of my service coincided with the completion of my HND and it was in those latter stages that I heard about the job of Engineer Surveyor, which had instant appeal. Following some brief research I found Allianz Engineering to be prominent in the field. I submitted my application and was successful at interview. The training and testing was comprehensive and the endurance paid off when in July 2007 I graduated as an Engineer Surveyor in the Lift and Crane discipline. The real learning begins when you are released on the streets to start your “Thorough Examinations” as a “Competent Person”. I found it refreshingly scary at first, but things are gradually taking shape and I am slightly more relaxed in the job. I am comfortable working alone, but sometimes issues pop up that I need advice about.

The network of Engineer Surveyors out there has been unswervingly supportive of me, even though I may have telephoned them at slightly inconvenient times. Topically, I had an issue with a lift in a church recently that gave me some concerns. After speaking to other Engineer Surveyors and exploring the on-line Technical Library I was still not happy so I rang the Liphook office to speak to the Standards Engineers for guidance. My call was answered by the Principal Engineer himself. We discussed my concerns over a 20 minute conversation during which time he spoke to me as a peer, such is the level of support and advice that is constantly on offer. Despite 33 years of accumulated engineering know how, this job requires me to continually think about what I am doing; it exceeds my expectations.