Nicola Kälin is completing his training as a cable car mechatronics engineer EFZ at Weisse Arena Bergbahnen AG and is in his fourth and final year of apprenticeship. He is jointly responsible for the safe operation of cable car facilities at the cable car company. They check and repair facilities and machines. They also interact with guests at the stations.
profile
Age: 18 years old
Place of residence: Basel/ Casa Prima apprentice shared apartment, Laax
Hobbies: biking, climbing, skiing
I stumbled upon the profession of cable car mechatronics engineer rather by chance. I had filled out a survey on the Internet that suggested various professions. The profession of cable car mechatronics engineer was recommended to me. This recommendation made me curious, so I completed a trial apprenticeship in this field. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to train in this profession.
I chose the apprenticeship with the Weisse Arena Group because I was impressed by the overall package. I think it's particularly cool that there is an apprentice flat share here. That's not something you find everywhere, and it has made it possible for me to live in Laax. But I also really liked the team and the whole area, and I had a good feeling about it right from the start.
A working day in summer: inspections, helicopter flights, and vocational school in the fourth year of training
In summer, my working day starts at 7:30 a.m. We always meet up in the valley at the metal workshop and then drive together to our respective work sites. In summer, much of our work revolves around preparing for winter, and all the tracks are inspected. In summer, a mountain railway is dismantled, cleaned, and lubricated, so to speak. Damaged parts are replaced, and then everything is reassembled so that everything runs as smoothly as possible in winter.
I find working with the helicopter particularly exciting, especially flying with batteries. I enjoy this the most because it's an exciting change from the other, more mundane tasks. My vocational school is located in Meiringen in the canton of Bern. Classes are held in blocks, always for a whole week at a time. As the apprenticeship progresses, the amount of time spent in school decreases. Now, in my fourth year of apprenticeship, I have nine weeks of school left.
A winter day at work: early start, fresh air, and technical challenges
In winter, the working day starts a little earlier, at 7:15 a.m. First, we help to take the tracks out of storage, put up fences, and prepare everything for the day. During the day, we carry out inspection runs and take over from each other during the lunch break. If there are any technical problems, we have to fix them as quickly as possible. I can already do various tasks independently.
What I particularly like about my job is that I spend a lot of time outdoors. I simply enjoy the fresh air and the varied tasks. You need to have a head for heights and enjoy working outdoors in all weathers. I can definitely recommend this apprenticeship. It's a cool job that has a lot to offer, and the technical knowledge is important and enriching.
For the future, I plan to get my vocational baccalaureate diploma. I don't have any concrete plans yet, but I'm looking forward to whatever comes next.
5 questions, 5 answers
1. Winter or summer? – Winter
2. Cycling or hiking? – Cycling
3. Mountain or valley? – Mountain
4. Snowboarding or skiing? – Skiing
5. Piz Fess or Lake Cauma? – Lake Cauma
Did you know?
The Weisse Arena Group in Laax trains apprentices in various exciting professional fields every year. Find out more about our training opportunities and become part of a unique team at the largest employer in the Surselva region.
