SCOTLAND’S first aviation engineering apprentice programme is now accepting applications.

The scheme, established by Loganair and unveiled last year, is aimed at school leavers and offers a starting salary of £13,000, rising to more than £40,000 after four years.

There are six vacancies for the four year, full-time, 40 hour per-week course, which will be based in Glasgow for one year before being given the option to transfer to either Aberdeen or Kirkwall.

The new apprenticeship scheme will create an MA in aircraft maintenance that will satisfy the licence requirements of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

It also aims to address a growing issue in the industry of a shortage of qualified engineers and ensure that the industry’s historic reliance on trained engineers leaving the Armed Forces is significantly reduced.

Barry Stone, Director of Engineering at Loganair said: “We’re really impressed by the level of interest we’ve already received, testament to the opportunity which this course presents to young people.

Applications can be made via www.apprenticeships.scot and searching the engineering section under the Modern Apprenticeship tab.