A Qantas Legacy Passed Down Generations

Embarking on my 21st year as a B2 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer at Qantas fills me with immense pride. Many find it surprising that after all this time, I still genuinely love what I do. As the saying goes, if you enjoy your job, you’ll never work a day in your life. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities to hone my craft, instilling a sense of fulfillment unlike any other.

One of the greatest joys of my role is passing on my expertise and passion to the next generation of aircraft engineers. As a mentor, I find immense satisfaction in guiding apprentices through their journey, sharing insights into our aircraft and showing how we take care of them. Watching them develop into skilled professionals is incredibly rewarding and reinforces my belief in the importance of our work.

It seems a love of aircraft engineering runs in the family, as my son Fletcher has just started his own career with Qantas as a B2 Apprentice — and I could not be prouder. His fascination with aircraft mirrors my own, and it’s incredibly special to see him pursue his passion within the same company that has shaped my career.

- Rober Maerz, B2 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

Dad had a huge influence on my career choice in aircraft maintenance at Qantas. As a kid, I was fascinated with aircraft and when Dad would come home from work, I’d get him to tell me stories about what aircraft he fixed that day. I was excited by the opportunity to apply for the 2022 Qantas Apprenticeship Program — and even more excited when I got in. Now we both get paid for him to show me how to fix planes.

- Fletcher Maerz, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Apprentice