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Aircraft engineering roles in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers are evolving rapidly, and will even include supporting the Bloodhound supersonic car project. Colonel Rod Williams FIMechE explains the challenges ahead in the wake of the government’s strategic defence review.
As chief aircraft engineer (army) in REME, Williams has responsibility for 1,000 personnel. He said: “The British Army is reorganising so that, rather than focusing on a single operation, such as Afghanistan, it must prepare for a diverse range of deployments. It is likely that we will be increasingly ‘civilianised’ with a new employment model which will see expert regular soldiers perhaps serving as civilian engineers, or as TA reservists or civilian instructors.
“We will be utilising civilian approaches, such as lean techniques. It’s a concept of a ‘whole force’: a very flexible model for a modern employment arena.
“This also means that there is a need for professional engineering qualifications which are valid and understood in both spheres. For a soldier to be professionally registered with the institution as an incorporated or chartered engineer gives them parity with their civilian counterparts. Army engineers don’t necessarily get recognised civilian qualifications, so incorporated or chartered status is a valuable validation of their skills.
“Equally, with the introduction of state-of-the-art kit – Apache is being upgraded and Wildcat is being brought in to replace the Lynx helicopter – we will have to plan how we authorise our soldiers to support, sign for and certify it, and this has to align closely with industry. Our policy, training and career structures will be inextricably linked with those of the aircraft manufacturers in a fully integrated structure to support army aircraft.
“This is why it is vital to attract and retain good graduates with strong engineering degrees, and support them through professional registration with the institution.
“Bloodhound SSC wants our expert aircraft engineers to support them in South Africa because of our adaptability, resilience and experience of delivering airworthiness and safety. It’s a great opportunity to display our skills, and Bloodhound’s commitment to promoting engineering globally is one that we share.”