New Pilot training, a step forward?

[antonybradford]

Hi all,

Just thought i would let onto something which I feel is not widely understood /recognized as yet.

Have you ever completed A levels and then wanted to go onto pilot training, but yet no one seems interested?

Well here goes. I joined the University of Salford in Manchester - yes yes i know Salford, but bere with me a moment.

I do Aviation Technology and Pilot studies which is a new course, an only here and Leeds. (Though aparently this one has gone to pot now).
The course aims at training you in a broad area of aviation, which includes flight training, with knowledge upto ATPL standard, aviaiton systems, air accidents, flight dynamics, but also a few courses such as engineering in aviation etc. What you originally could do, was get a BSc in Aviation Tech, and also a PPL, with flying from either Barton or Liverpool with Ravanair, with all in house exams, medicals, RT examinations and so on. Now however the departement is expanding, so that in a new 4th year, you train to get a CPL / frozen ATPL and a masters degree.
The university is believed to get a fully certified moving based simulator, navigation labs and much more. This is surlpuss to existing aerodynamic lads, simulators (moving based) and so on.

I am not advertising it from any other position other than a current student, in my 2nd year, and I think i could be a real break through!

Antony

[helicopter-redeye]

Terrible spelling & grammar (for a second year)

h-r:)

[antonybradford]

What can i say? Im an aviation student!

Also might add that most of them are typing mistakes not spelling! Though I still can\'t spell very well!

[LFS]

Not quite sure what you mean about the Leeds course going to pot. It was the original one of these courses and is still going strong, heavily oversubscribed every year. We have similar plans to Salfords and hope it can prove a potential new alternative for pilot training.

Good luck with the course. And hopefully both courses can continue to flourish.

[antonybradford]

Wishing you the same also. Glad to hear your course is going well though, never should have listened to the rumour anyway!

[edymonster]

Im also an aviation student but at London Metropolitan, which does a foundation degree called Aviation Managment and operations (pilot pathway). You learn about the aviation business but in the second year they teach you all the theory for the ATPL exams. So if anyone is looking at the courses at manchester and leeds also have a lokk at London. I also have to agree crap spelling.

[antonybradford]

Have to say I wasn't impressed with London, to far away, too expensive to live there and what really tor it for me was their idea of an incentive was to send me a Birthday card in July when my Birthday was in Decmber... though im sure they can train aviation students ok - lol


That said, we are taught by the Legend that is Mr Bradbury, if no one in aviation has ever heard of him, i will eat my hat (s)!!

Antony

[G-DANM]

I do agree that combining flight training with a degree is a path that should be explored in the UK as it allows prospective pilots to be qualified and ready for work when they graduate Uni at the same time as their fellow graduates who are reading other subjects. However, what I have found with the degrees being offered by Leeds, Manchester and London Met is that they aren't really convincing as a standalone qualification (which is what an employer would view it as). As an example the key areas of study for the Leeds Degree are described as;

"The core of the curriculum is based on the Private Pilot Licence ground examinations syllabus together with the associated flight training, management and advanced components required for careers in the airline and aviation industries. In addition you will take specialist modules covering the science and engineering of aviation and fuel systems together with general and crew resource management and the elements of physiology and psychology that are required for work in high risk environments"

This degree would not stand up against other degrees that are specialist. For example you develop Diabetes and can no longer get your Class 1 so you go for a job as a Manager in a company. You will not have anywhere near the knowledge of the runnings of a company to the same level as someone who has a Business Management Degree and I would be amazed if an employer would not recognise this.