Kingston uni - Foundation degree and job prospects to be "B" licensed
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: London
Kingston uni - Foundation degree and job prospects to be "B" licensed
Hi,
Just wanted to know engineer's views on the the 2 yr full time foundation degree at KU (VIA KLM UK at Norwich airport(part 147 approved)) and how successful they have been to find work.
Kingston advise prospective students that they only need a further 2yrs work experience at the end of the course to get the "B" licence. THe obvious question is, are graduates off the course successful in finding work or are people getting caught in a stalemate where they can't get the final bit of experience to get the licence.....Does industry approve of the course??
Also interested to know how people have done. the top up year and in particular how they coped with the maths (e.g. that there is a big gap between the academic level maths studied during the foundation degree tothe top up year).
Just wanted to know engineer's views on the the 2 yr full time foundation degree at KU (VIA KLM UK at Norwich airport(part 147 approved)) and how successful they have been to find work.
Kingston advise prospective students that they only need a further 2yrs work experience at the end of the course to get the "B" licence. THe obvious question is, are graduates off the course successful in finding work or are people getting caught in a stalemate where they can't get the final bit of experience to get the licence.....Does industry approve of the course??
Also interested to know how people have done. the top up year and in particular how they coped with the maths (e.g. that there is a big gap between the academic level maths studied during the foundation degree tothe top up year).
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 57
From: Anglia
On a more positive note:
For courses of some length such as this, the time at which you exit to industry to find employment is a matter of luck as to how the industry is doing and the availability of jobs. Pay is always a debate.
The bonus of this particular course is that it gives you a degree too, so not having an airline or even aviation related job may be a less bitter pill to take.
The course is CAA/EASA recognised – as a training course. Having the degree may eventually help in obtaining a C licence, should you ever need a stand-alone one.
I haven’t done the course so I can’t help on the top-up year bit.
For courses of some length such as this, the time at which you exit to industry to find employment is a matter of luck as to how the industry is doing and the availability of jobs. Pay is always a debate.
The bonus of this particular course is that it gives you a degree too, so not having an airline or even aviation related job may be a less bitter pill to take.
The course is CAA/EASA recognised – as a training course. Having the degree may eventually help in obtaining a C licence, should you ever need a stand-alone one.
I haven’t done the course so I can’t help on the top-up year bit.
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Away from home Rat
Why all these negative waves, MATMAX? Got A330? You could be earning 50K Euros with this lot, especially as the UK is going joint defence with France..
Could you act like an Englishman?
Could you act like an Englishman?
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Away from home Rat
Rolls Trent..
Getting the modules and the experience for the basic is only the first step! You have to do/pay for a Type course and get the OJT for the rating.. The basic is easy! Then work for a company that will give you a company approval.
I work for a company that has 8 guys with all the modules (two close to applying for a basic) and 4 have the basic and ratings.. They are not on techs pay because there are no posts available. Dead mans shoes!!
Then you might get near a wage that will keep MATMAX happy..
Getting the modules and the experience for the basic is only the first step! You have to do/pay for a Type course and get the OJT for the rating.. The basic is easy! Then work for a company that will give you a company approval.
I work for a company that has 8 guys with all the modules (two close to applying for a basic) and 4 have the basic and ratings.. They are not on techs pay because there are no posts available. Dead mans shoes!!
Then you might get near a wage that will keep MATMAX happy..
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 76
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From: uk
I did the top up degree the first year it was run and so far it has been of no use to me.But if aviation go's tit's for me then it may be a handy back.Just a word of warning for any one thinking of doing the Kingston course,KLM UK Norwich where the OJT is held is not in a very good postion at present.There may be up to 50 poeple losing their jobs and the rest of the hangar may be closed within the next few years.As an ex-KLM employee I hope this never happens and knowing KLM UK they will find away some how.
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Away from home Rat
KLM do not do structured OJT for the Kingston students, they do a few weeks work experience. While it is still stuff for the logbook, it isn't structured towards a rating...
I hope it doesn't fold as I really could do with a job near where I live! They need to get approvals for aircraft that are now coming into service and not being taken out of!
I hope it doesn't fold as I really could do with a job near where I live! They need to get approvals for aircraft that are now coming into service and not being taken out of!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 57
From: Anglia
KLUE have been struggling with getting new types ever since KLEM started dictating what was to be done at NWI.
Their last 'godsend' was getting some 737 work, but it seems that was only spillover from SPL Hangar 10.
I thought they were supposed to be getting Emb135/145 approvals? or did the French get all that as part of the new partnership?
Their last 'godsend' was getting some 737 work, but it seems that was only spillover from SPL Hangar 10.
I thought they were supposed to be getting Emb135/145 approvals? or did the French get all that as part of the new partnership?
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 152
Likes: 3
From: England
RT as you have correctly spotted the course is just the first rung of the ladder, and the experience one is by far the hardest to get at present. If you have some hands-on experience already you may be able to build up hours as a contractor, however you will find few if any employers want somebody with paper qualifications and no experience. Catch-22, many people chasing few jobs and no way in to gain experience unless you already have some. Good luck with that one!
On the plus side if you do get in with an employer in a suitable post and can demonstrate you are a good worker many will put you through the type rating themselves.
At the end wages/conditions are variable and some people are never happy unless they have something to complain about, but the fact that there are so many people wanting to enter the business and so many unwilling to leave says something.
On the plus side if you do get in with an employer in a suitable post and can demonstrate you are a good worker many will put you through the type rating themselves.
At the end wages/conditions are variable and some people are never happy unless they have something to complain about, but the fact that there are so many people wanting to enter the business and so many unwilling to leave says something.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 118
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From: in my house
You could be earning 50K Euros with this lot, especially as the UK is going joint defence with France..
i really dont get why a college or university runs a course like this. its one thing doing the academics, by all means run a course that is geared towards aviation maintenance, but dont run it with the modules included. There is little point running a course to get the modules for Ab-initio students, if you cannot provide the experience requirement to go with it. since the educational establishments cannot control who gets hired, its pointless.
its all very well for ICAO to talk about the future shortages of engineers and for the CAA and universities to get together to run these courses but unless there is work out there at the time, or the few lucky students are willing/able to relocate where there are jobs, then they wont get very far. i think this is an instance where apprenticeships would be more appropriate, even mature apprentices.
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 34
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From: Cyprus
i have done the course myself.
its a good course but you need to sit your ass and study. if you cant do that then dont bother.
you will need to be carefull to get all your modules at KLM by the end of the course. with out them dont even apply to any company,
and the way the companies are now even consider to work a little bit for free or low paid for a while to get the experience
its a good course but you need to sit your ass and study. if you cant do that then dont bother.
you will need to be carefull to get all your modules at KLM by the end of the course. with out them dont even apply to any company,
and the way the companies are now even consider to work a little bit for free or low paid for a while to get the experience
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 152
Likes: 3
From: England
Originally Posted by ironchefflay
i really dont get why a college or university runs a course like this. its one thing doing the academics, by all means run a course that is geared towards aviation maintenance, but dont run it with the modules included. There is little point running a course to get the modules for Ab-initio students, if you cannot provide the experience requirement to go with it. since the educational establishments cannot control who gets hired, its pointless.
its all very well for ICAO to talk about the future shortages of engineers and for the CAA and universities to get together to run these courses but unless there is work out there at the time, or the few lucky students are willing/able to relocate where there are jobs, then they wont get very far. i think this is an instance where apprenticeships would be more appropriate, even mature apprentices.
its all very well for ICAO to talk about the future shortages of engineers and for the CAA and universities to get together to run these courses but unless there is work out there at the time, or the few lucky students are willing/able to relocate where there are jobs, then they wont get very far. i think this is an instance where apprenticeships would be more appropriate, even mature apprentices.
As for the colleges, there is a use for the courses among back office staff - records, planning etc, but at a guess the main beneficiaries of these courses are the colleges who earn money providing them!
