International Women in Engineering Day, brought to you by Women’s Engineering Society (WES) will celebrate its 10th year in 2023 and they’ll once again be promoting the amazing work that women engineers across the globe are doing.
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This year’s theme is #MakeSafetySeen. We are sharing some of our colleagues' stories from Airborne Delivery Wing.
Flight Lieutenant Margaret Welton, AeroSystems Engineer Officer based at RAF Brize Norton.
I currently work in the only British Armed Forces Airborne Delivery Wing. We are responsible for the maintenance of the strategic Parachuting capability.
My role is an Executive Engineer Officer to the Senior Engineer Officer responsible for the leadership and management of personnel within my areas of responsibility. I am also responsible to a group of safety and engineering support staff who ensure personnel, processes and practices are safe and of great quality to our customers.
I have now served for two decades in the Military Aviation Environment, starting as a junior technician on the tools and now leading and managing engineering personnel and standards. I love my profession and the contribution my skills offer to this organisation and beyond.
Day in the Life – AeroSystems Engineer Officer
My typical day consists of waking up early to go to the gym. Whilst in the gym, I take the opportunity to listen to a book or a lesson to prepare me for my day whilst working out. Fitness is important to me since it keeps my body, mind, and spirit sharp to deal with the dynamic nature of my job.
Whilst in work, I convene a daily brief with my heads of departments to brief the day’s activities and any challenges that have risen are discussed and solved or transferred for a later resolution. I would walk round the hangar to speak with the maintainers and logisticians asking how best I could support them in achieving their tasks. The remainder of the day will be filled with problem solving activities, meetings with the customers and tasking organisations and unplanned requests. I would meet with my SEngO to discuss any administrative matters that need dealing with. Most times, I would have concurring activities so being able to prioritise the most important and time sensitive matters is a skill for this environment.
At the end of my working day, I meet with my friends or family for a relaxing time either reminiscing about our day or discussing important personal matters. I would spend time with my children, assist them with their studies and undertake my family duties.
Flight Lieutenant Welton said:
“I would recommend anyone interested to join as an engineer because the advancement of technology in this era, the further learning opportunities, and the ability to work with highly skilled and motivated personnel create an environment where you can flourish and become the person you want to become.”
Flight Lieutenant Welton
Airborne Delivery Wing
RAF Brize Norton
Corporal Kirsty Saint, Survival Equipment Technician at Parachute Engineering Flight (PEF) based at RAF Brize Norton.
I have been a Survival Equipment Technician for 15 years and, my current role is as a Phase 3 Instructor, teaching personnel to maintain Parachutes. In total I have worked at PEF for 7 years across two tours, first as an SAC carrying out Maintenance and then on promotion I transitioned to a Training and Standards role.
Day in the Life – Survival Equipment Technician
My current role as a Phase 3 Instructor means a typical day for me is delivering some form of training to PEF personnel on how to maintain Parachutes. There are several Parachute Systems maintained at PEF with each course structured around each Parachute System. Each lesson focuses on a different area of maintenance; I will start by giving a practical demonstration of how to carry out that part of the maintenance ensuring the students are following along with the Digital Air Publication. This ensures the students are aware of the Engineering Policy in place when carrying out maintenance. Time is then given to the students to practice the maintenance demonstrated, where I will offer guidance as they progress.
When not delivering training, a typical day will be either spent preparing for the next training course or completing the paperwork for newly qualified personnel to ensure they have the correct authorisations to carry out the task they have just been trained for.
Corporal Kirsty Saint said:
“I enjoy my role as it allows me to draw on my experience as a maintainer and pass on the knowledge I have gained to the next phase of Parachute maintainers at PEF.”
Corporal Kirsty Saint
Parachute Engineering Flight
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