'Professional Aviation Engineering Practice' Degree Courses Launch

Wednesday 15th June 2016

• Three-year BSc (Hons) Degree


• Two-year Foundation Degree


• Courses developed by academia and industry
• A balance of theoretical and hands-on training.

AeroAcademy, the University of South Wales (USW) and the Aviation Skills Partnership have created a Professional Aviation Engineering Practice degree level course. With lessons commencing in September 2016, the course is available as a three-year BSc (Hons) Degree or a two-year Foundation Degree.

Both courses are tailored to provide graduates with excellent career opportunities in aerospace and are based on an Aviation Skills Partnership framework and around the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Category B licence. Students will be taught at AeroAcademy, which is located close to Cambridge Airport and the headquarters of Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group; one of the world's largest independent aerospace companies.

Ian Peart, General Manager of AeroAcademy, comments: "Our collaboration with the Aviation Skills Partnership and the University of South Wales has produced two extremely fit-for-purpose degree courses, leading to excellent career opportunities for the successful graduates - as well as feeding qualified, enthusiastic engineers into the aerospace industry."

The first two years of training/education are common to both courses. Year 1 provides the basic knowledge of the principles behind and the practical methods for performing essential engineering tasks; and provides an introduction to the use of design tools, manufacturing techniques and health and safety protocols. Year 2 will present students with the option of pursuing either an EASA Type-B1 licence (which focuses on the mechanical engineering aspects of aircraft design) or a Type-B2 licence (which focuses on the avionics systems used in aircraft design).

Year 3 - for the BSc (Hons) Degree only - covers a range of topics around the aerospace business environment. Students will, for example, learn about a variety of aeronautical engineering issues, including planning, operations, health and safety, regulations and management.

The 2016 intake has now opened and applications can be made at www.aeroacademy.co.uk where entry qualification requirements are also listed along with details of Applicant Open Days.

About AeroAcademy :

AeroAcademy,  www.aeroacademy.co.uk is part of Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, which has a heritage of delivering over 90 years of training, and has portfolio of accredited, tailored theory and practical programmes including up-skilling and hand skills development.

The academy is an approved EASA Part 147 training organisation, and offers courses for both the civil and defence sectors, including: Aerospace Engineering (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) at Foundation Certificate and Foundation Degree levels; EASA Part 66; Aircraft Type Training (Airbus, Boeing and Lockheed Martin); Regulatory, Health, Safety and Security; and Professional Development for Technicians, Engineers and Managers.

About Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group:

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (www.marshalladg.com) is a leading independent aerospace and defence company, specialising in the conversion, modification, maintenance and support of military and commercial aircraft, business aviation services (including sales, charter services), the design and manufacture of special mission vehicles and shelters for the armed forces and humanitarian aid organisations, and the provision of personnel and training into advanced engineering sectors.

The company's primary customers are major platform OEMs - such as Boeing, Airbus, BAE Systems, Bombardier, Lockheed Martin and Embraer - commercial airlines (supported through cabin upgrades, including IFE upgrades, and refinishing programmes) and major MRO organisations.

The company has more than 80 years' experience in aviation and a full-spectrum engineering capability that includes project/product conception, design, manufacture, test, certification, integration/embodiment, in-service support and legacy platform/system sustainment. These capabilities have been exported to more than 30 countries and the company is working with 10 of the world's air forces in relation to the C-130 platform. In addition, Marshall was the first authorised C-130 service centre in the world.

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group is headquartered in Cambridge, where it employs more than 2,000 highly trained personnel on its 800 acre site, which includes 1.2 million ft2 of hangar space plus the company-owned Cambridge Airport. The company also has two other sites in the UK (Broughton in Flintshire, Wales and Kirkbymoorside in Yorkshire) and offices in Australia, Canada and The Netherlands.

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group is part of the Marshall Group, which employs more than 5,100 worldwide and which has a turnover of £1.6 billion.