In line maintenance, technicians work hard to keep aircraft safe and airworthy between flights. With a network of 15 stations in the largest airports across Europe and Africa, our teams handle everything from scheduled inspections to AOG urgent technical fixes, ensuring planes depart again in top condition.
As they say, in our line of business, aircraft don't wait. Arrival and departure times are strict. The technical staff who maintain the aircraft work close together to meet tight deadlines. This creates a unique environment where technical skills and teamwork are equally important.
To understand what it takes to succeed in the line maintenance field and how Magnetic Line builds a team for tomorrow as an employer, we spoke with Amsterdam-based Ellen Koster, HR Manager at Magnetic Line. Below, she shares more details about the current market and how the company invests in its people.
Within the competitive market, skilled technicians hold the power
"The global shortage of aviation technicians is the number one topic for everybody in the line maintenance business," Ellen explains. "To stay ahead, all employers are taking necessary measures, such as raising salaries, improving benefits, and stepping up their recruitment efforts. It's a candidate-driven market, where skilled professionals have more job security and more opportunities to grow."
Magnetic Line focuses on both attracting new talent and nurturing the people already in the team. "We invest in internal development," Ellen says. "For mechanics, we're working on a plan to combine practical work with achieving Part-66 modules. For experienced engineers, we offer type rating courses. In the past 3 years, our engineers have completed as many as 249 type-rating courses.
There's also the much-welcomed opportunity to work at other stations across our network." This so-called "interstation relief" makes it possible for our staff to develop and grow further, connect and learn from colleagues on other stations, and dive into different cultures. Especially interstation relief in our African stations Zanzibar, Mombasa and Entebbe are very popular with our staff (not in the least because of the option to extend interstation relief with some well deserved holiday). We believe the possibilities for such an exchange will only grow in the future; last year alone, there were only around 30 employees supporting their colleagues at other stations. From short relief of a couple of days to longer relief of up to three weeks.
What does the company look for in an employee?
What does it take to be a great line maintenance technician? According to Ellen, it goes beyond technical skills. "Of course, people with technical expertise and practical experience are needed. But personality and passion matter equally so. Our business is divided into geographically separated stations that are more like individual teams. These teams work closely together, communication and cooperation are crucial. Skills can be learned, but your attitude and character are what make you a good fit with the Magnetic Line team and our company culture. There are so many options to develop yourself within the company. For instance, our current Amsterdam Station Maintenance Manager originally joined us as an intern more than 10 years ago. We are also very proud of our (for now, the only one) female Lead Engineer for Mombasa and Zanzibar, who joined in the role of mechanic. We always look for the potential in our employees and how we can develop this further."
"Looking at the skills needed in the future, digital tools for maintenance logs and logistics are becoming more common," Ellen notes. "We're seeing constant innovations, so technicians need to stay tech-savvy and committed to learning".
Why come work for us?
As part of Magnetic Line, our employees benefit from belonging to a larger organization while maintaining the personal touch of a smaller independent line maintenance business, "We prioritize work-life balance, competitive compensation, and career growth," Ellen says. "It's not just about getting the job done; it's about feeling valued and supported with having the freedom to make decisions."
Next to the stations in our network, we have a very supportive head office in Amsterdam, constantly cooperating with the busy stations. The head office team plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations and providing administrative, operational, and technical support to our stations.
The company recruitment process is designed to be as simple and human-centered as possible. "We've automated a lot of the administrative work so we can focus on what really matters - our people. If someone needs a tailored solution because of their personal circumstances, we work to make that happen."
Thinking of Applying? Here's What You Should Know
If you'd like to work in small, forward-thinking professional teams where you have both freedom and responsibility, Magnetic Line might be for you. For those who are considering a career with Magnetic Line, Ellen's advice is simple: "Check out our open positions and send in your application. We're looking for people who want to be part of a team, thrive in a dynamic environment, and aren't afraid to take responsibility. We'd love to have you on board if that sounds like you."
Original source: Magnetic Line
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