Heavy Maintenance is a continuous programme of maintenance tasks and inspections carried out on our aircraft.
The maintenance intervals for each aircraft are controlled by calendar time or flying hours/cycles. The time committed to these maintenance tasks can vary from a few hours to a few weeks.
Ryanair’s heavy maintenance programme is one of the most efficient in the world.
Prestwick
5 bay hangar – up to 20 year check & FLS9-2
Kaunas
2 bay hangar – Up to 14 year check
Wroclaw
2 bay hangar – Up to 11 year check
Seville
2 bay hangar – Up to 3 year checks
Maintenance is carried out in six of our bases across Europe:
- Prestwick, UK
- Kaunas, Lithuania
- Wroclaw, Poland
- Seville, Spain
- Shannon, Ireland
- Hahn, Germany
During the months from June to August all our aircraft are fully utilized with flying, so this is the busiest period. As a result, we do not want our aircraft on the ground during this time for any longer than they need to be. This means that we try to operate our heavy maintenance season for the remaining 9 months during the quieter time from September to May.
Heavy Maintenance carry out 2 – 20 year checks on our aircraft.
During heavy maintenance, checks are carried out on all areas of the aircraft.
The 4 general zones that are maintained include the cabin & avionics, wings & engines, tail and fuselage. The level of detail required for these checks varies depending on the check type. These checks are routine and are carried out at different intervals. An ‘A’ check is performed every 6,000 flying hours up to an 8-year check which is carried out every 8 years.
As part of heavy maintenance, we provide a variety of training programmes to suit a candidates experience from the beginning.
These training programmes include an apprenticeship scheme for individuals with little or no experience to begin their career within the aircraft engineering world, with new candidates coming in every year. As an apprentice with us you will learn everything about maintaining aircraft and can become a mechanic once your apprenticeship is completed.
We also run a variety of trainee programmes such as sheet metal, avionics and mechanical training. From there you can become a lead mechanic and then a fully qualified B1 aircraft engineer. After being a B1 engineer there is also the possibility to move up to being a hangar manager/foreman.
At Ryanair, we train all our engineers to complete all possible tasks during maintenance as opposed to other airlines where they are only trained to complete a certain limited number of tasks. Also, our CAT A engineers are given additional responsibilities to ensure they are being challenged and motivated.
My name is Eoin Curtis – I am an aircraft mechanic working in one of Ryanair’s largest Heavy Maintenance bases in Prestwick, Scotland.
I started my career at 16 years old on Ryanair’s Apprenticeship Programme. Upon completion of this, I was awarded ‘Ayrshire Apprentice of the Year 2018’.
As part of this competition I had to compete against 48 other local apprentices from various trades and companies across the local area. The judging panel looked at extra skills and abilities and general performance that separated one candidate from the others, as well as personal development and commitment throughout the apprenticeship. They also evaluated everyone’s potential to act as a role model for others. On the Ryanair Apprenticeship Programme, I developed my personal, technical and hand skills and was provided the opportunities to excel myself, which afforded me the opportunity to win the award.
Ryanair provides an environment and tools to progress myself to a high standard and continues to do so now as I finish off the process to gain my B1 Engineer’s licence.
Our Heavy Maintenance hangar in Prestwick carried out 52 93 C-checks between Sept 2022 – May 2023
Latest Heavy Maintenance Vacancies
| Role | Department | Location | Find out more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avionics Aircraft Mechanic (PIK) | Heavy Maintenance | Prestwick, United Kingdom | Find out more |
| Aircraft Mechanic | Heavy Maintenance | Karmėlava, Lithuania | Find out more |
| Aircraft Mechanic | Heavy Maintenance | Wrocław, Poland | Find out more |
| Aircraft Mechanic (PIK) | Heavy Maintenance | Prestwick, United Kingdom | Find out more |