Students rub shoulders with aviation industry élite
15/07/08
Students rub shoulders with aviation industry élite
Eleven Kingston University students are set to get a bird’s eye view of some of the latest innovations in aviation technology at the 60th Farnborough International Airshow. The students, who are currently completing Kingston’s Foundation Degree in Aircraft Engineering, will be given a guided tour of Boeing’s new C-17 Globemaster III military transport plane and finding out more about some of the company’s latest developments during their fact-finding mission. Their visit forms part of the show’s International Youth Day on 18 July, designed to provide the next generation of aerospace engineers with greater insight into the industry.
Farmer turned aircraft engineer Paul Schofield, from Bury St Edmunds, is one of the Kingston contingent attending the show. The 33 year old, who holds his own pilot’s licence, completed a work-based learning programme with KLM Engineering UK Ltd in Norwich as part of his Kingston course and is keen to come face to face with other aircraft with which he might one day work. “I’m looking forward to seeing Boeing’s technology and getting a better understanding of what the industry holds in store for my future,†he said. Fellow student James Brown, 20, from Swaffham, in Norfolk, is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to get a closer look at the C-17. “There should be some tremendous aircraft on display and the show should also be a good opportunity to network and get noticed by all the right people,†he said.
Kingston University will have its own dedicated exhibitor stand at the Farnborough event, which runs from 14 to 20 July. It will showcase the variety of courses and facilities available at the University and promote its industry partnerships. Kingston’s director of undergraduate studies in aerospace Peter Barrington said attending the airshow provided the University with an important opportunity to make new contacts. “It’s an international arena, so we anticipate making valuable links from both home and abroad, whether they be aircraft builders and operators, component suppliers, other educators or potential students,†he said.