Fleet Air Arm Military Aviation Academy

[rleungz]

Hey!

I was reading a student newspaper and came across The Fleet Air Arm Military Aviation Academy. It is a scheme that offers degrees to students, who want to be a pilot or observer in the Royal Navy. I can't find any major information on this and I would like to know more.

Does anyone have any information about this new scheme with the Royal Navy?


Many Thanks
Ric

Found an article about it
http://www3.open.ac.uk/media/fullstory.aspx?id=11498

[Chugalug2]

All lectures are given at 3.00 am. All those participating are obliged to be dressed in 1970s gear. Long hair is compulsory. Poll Tax protests earn course work credits. Right on Man, Yeah!

[airborne_artist]

Spliffs are available from stores :}

[Door Slider]

This is also available for serving members of the RAF. The course content and requirements were only finalised about 6-8 months ago. You can use your ELC towards it and dont need to do too much work to convert it from a foundation to a full degree.
If you require some more info PM me I can get some when I get back to work on Monday.

[spheroid]

Complete flying training, get your wings and get a degree at the same time.

[airborne_artist]

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.1136 gives full info.

Essentially the first three years of officer and professional training is accredited as a foundation degree with the University of Plymouth. You can then join the OU to convert that to an Honours degree, and the RN pay, as long as the modules you take are deemed relevant. The Hons conversion studies will be done in your own time....

[AlJH]

I recently read this. Basically, there was a program called the Flying Start Scheme run with the OU. That was shut down in May (?), and now they have come up with this. IOT at Dartmouth as standard, flying training as standard, and on rainy days you work on a degree, with either the OU or possibly Plymouth.

[Bismark]

rleungz,

Spheroid has it right. Enter the Fleet Air Arm and you enter the FAAMA . Training automatically counts towards a Foundation Degree with the OU...you need do nothing more (ie no additional work except get to Wings). A friend of mine's son gained his at the end of last year on the Lynx. Flying Start was a different scheme superceded by the FAAMA.

[airborne_artist]

Bismark - correct, but applicants should bear in mind:

"As of 01 Jan 2003, all those of the Warfare and Logistics specialisation aged under 21 on entry to BRNC who have not previously attained a first degree (A first degree is defined as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent as described in the British Qualification 31st Edition, Part 4.) will be entered onto the F3 programme and will, on successful completion of the FD, become eligible for funded completion of an Honours Degree with the Open University."

[rleungz]

hmmm. Thanks guys for the replies. Now it seems like a waste of time to me.

I'm going to Newcastle University this year and Open University doesn't seem that great for a giving me a degree.

[Ivor Milne]

RN FAA Mil Aviation Academy in partnership with the OU:
Just to make sure the hot news is accurate: I staffed the formation of the Academy - its a first tri-service - indeed the Foundation Degree (OUValidated) is the first of its type in the world, requiring the completion of flying training and nil extra work!! The degree is fully funded for non grads - but grad entry studes can get the award by paying £285 for the Foundation Degree (2 years) and all the costs for Honours courses (3rd year). Non Grads are fully funded to Honours.

Non grad ab initio students (officer aircrew) have to gain entry through the aptitude tests & AIB to the RN with a min 140 UCAS points - then get through BRNC Dartmouth and for pilots pass EFT. Only then do you enter the FAA Mil Av Academy. The FD has 3 modules - Basic Flying Training / Aircraft Conv Phase / Operational Conv Phase. Total 2 years (providing nil 'holdovers') Bit longer for the Harrier GR9 pilots.
The degree programme completes on the award of 'wings' after OCP (Helo). For the Stovies on GR9 it completes after OCU (20 R Sqn) The neat thing here is that RAF pilots can also get the RN degree - on payment of £285 to register - what a bargain!!

The Academy has 2 main campuses - Yeovilton and Culdrose. Other training is outsourced to Valley / Wittering (Harrier) and Shawbury for Helo pilots.

Any further info - contact me [email protected]

[Ivor Milne]

For rleungz - another advantage of the FAA degree - apart from having nil education fees - is that you will be paid up to £25K per year to do it and will be assured of a career with pension on completion !!!

Wonder if Newcastle uni can match that!!!???:)

[Fanois]

I'm a trainee RN helo pilot with a degree (which was an awesome few years), but I've a mate who's an observer (in training) and, as a holdover, will be doing a year at Southampton Uni as part of the scheme... on full pay! If you're still interested PM me for further info.

[6Z3]

Ivor,

What happens to the significant percentage of students who fail flying training?

The Govt aims to have 50% of youngsters go on to tertiary education. Therefore in order to compete for the top jobs, ambitious high flyers (and I include military types) will wish to have a quality degree from a Premier League University. A student pilot or observer failing late in his flying training will feel rather exposed as he re-enters civvy street to start again, but without a quality degree, just 2/3rds or so of a RN Foundation Degree and competing with his old school chums who are just reaching the end of a quality degree course at a Premier Uni.