Flintshire youngsters go behind the scenes of the aerospace industry

A group of 20 students from Holywell got an exclusive insight into career opportunities in aerospace after a week of “behind the scenes” visits, run by aviation charity fly2help.

The youngsters are enrolled on the Airbus Foundation’s Flying Challenge programme, which aims to inspire students to develop confidence and succeed in their education.

The students participated in a week of aviation-related activities, including visits to Manchester Airport and Barton Aerodrome, a cabin crew training at West Cheshire College, and an opportunity to work with Airbus apprentices at Coleg Cambria.

The experience was run by the charity fly2help and was designed to introduce the youngsters to the variety of career paths available within the aviation industry.

Flying Challenge students and their host at Coleg Cambria, Deeside Campus

Throughout the week, the students gained valuable knowledge and skills in the areas of tourism, air traffic control, and flight operations.

Georgina Godfree from fly2help said:

“Over the week, the students gained invaluable insight into the aviation industry. They were pleasantly surprised how absolutely everybody loved their jobs!

Many of the students commented on how they’ve been inspired to pursue careers within engineering, airport operations and the military, which is fantastic.”

The week formed a part of the Airbus Foundation’s Flying Challenge programme, which gives a cohort of students a unique and potentially life-changing opportunity to work with Airbus mentors, as well as to develop workplace skills and a love of learning.

If they prove their worth over the year, they will get to fly in a small aircraft at the end of the project as a reward.

Phil McGraa, Community Relations Manager at Airbus in Broughton, said:

“By the time our students graduate from the programme, they will have undertaken a range of specialist experiences, completed a skills portfolio and gained a recognised qualification.

We can already see the difference Flying Challenge has made, and are looking forward to the remaining ten weeks on the programme.”

Main picture: Flying Challenge students gather in front of a police helicopter at Manchester City Heliport