Aviation Operations with Commercial Pilot Training BSc(Hons)
Why choose this course?
Boeing forecast that there will be an "unprecedented" demand for 790,000 pilots during the 20 years from 2018, representing double the current workforce and the most significant demand in their history. The demand is being driven by an anticipated doubling of the global commercial aircraft fleet, record-high air travel demand, and a tightening labour supply.
This degree is designed for those with an ambition to become commercial airline pilots and who want to achieve an aviation degree in the process. Experience has shown that airlines desire pilots who have a wide knowledge of the industry so that they can appreciate future challenges facing the industry. This degree programme provides the additional knowledge that will set students apart at the interview stage.
Throughout the course you will be taught by academics and instructors who have many years of experience of working in the aviation industry. Teaching staff are equipped with the skills required to deliver an engaging and effective learning environment. Alongside formal lectures and tutorials, the technical theory is supplemented by practical learning in well-resourced laboratories. To ensure that the course content is aligned to the latest industry trends, visiting lecturers and guest speakers from the industry are invited to deliver some of the teaching.
| Attendance | UCAS code | Year of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years full time | H464 | 2020 |
| 4 years full time including sandwich year | H465 | 2020 |
Important: This course is not available to international students requiring a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK.
Please be aware that, in addition to university tuition fees, the cost of the second year, which involves the integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) training, is approximately £70,000. This is not covered by Student Finance and additional funding would be required to complete the ATPL training.
| Location | Roehampton Vale and Penrhyn Road campuses and Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- Integrated into this course is a 15-month training course leading to an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL).
- Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training (BCFT) is partnered with the Florida Institute of Technology and you'll have the opportunity to conduct practical flight training in the USA.
- This degree offers you additional knowledge of the airline industry that will set you apart at future interviews.
What you will study
As part of the course, you will embark on a 15-month integrated flight training course leading to a frozen Air Transport Pilots' Licence (ATPL). BCFT provide all the flying equipment required to achieve the ATPL. BCFT work in partnership with the Florida Institute of Technology in the USA and students on this pathway have the opportunity to conduct some practical flight training in Florida.
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list as these could change before your year of entry.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 1 introduces aviation and equips you with the maths and physics skills needed for Years 2 and 3. You are introduced to the theory of flight and the aircraft systems that enable aircraft to fly. You are also provided with the core communication skills required to become a pilot and a future leader.
Core modules
Engineering Design and Professional Practice
30 credits
The principal aim of this module is to provide you with a flavour of what is involved in engineering design and to develop the good academic and professional practice needed to attain professional status. The module introduces the key aspects involved in: planning a project from start to finish, design processes incorporating a sustainability agenda, building an awareness of the interactions across various disciplines, regulatory frameworks and Health and Safety procedures. The module develops good academic and professional practice by developing skills in self-reflection and recording professional development. The basic principles of measurement and manufacturing processes in a workshop and testing environment are also addressed in the module.
Some elements of the module are delivered as part of the personal tutor scheme (PTS). This assists your transition into Higher Education encouraging a sense of belonging within the Faculty and within your discipline. The PTS helps you to develop good academic habits and initiates effective team working within a project management and engineering design framework, as well as developing interpersonal skills in order to enhance your employability.
Engineering Mechanics, Structures & Materials
30 credits
The module introduces you to the fundamentals of structural analysis (statics and dynamics) and the mechanical behaviour of a broad range of engineering materials. The mechanics part provides an understanding of the behaviour of particles and rigid bodies whilst stationary and in motion. Bodies such as trusses in equilibrium are studied and the external and internal parameters such as force, moment, stress, strain, etc. are defined and calculated. The analysis of structural components will be developed with theoretical and numerical skills that are necessary in the design of real world structures. This section also introduces the dynamics of particles and rigid bodies with their engineering applications. Material test methods will be used to determine the deformations and failures of the various engineering materials. A selection of materials for engineering applications, such as metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, will be studied including their carbon footprint and their impact on the environment. The module is primarily delivered through lectures supported by tutorial sessions and laboratories.
Engineering Mathematics and Computing Applications
30 credits
The aim of this module is to provide a thorough background in engineering mathematics and equip you with the mathematical skills essential for solving engineering problems. The module also introduces the use of computing methods in engineering. The mathematics part comprises algebra, functions, logarithms, trigonometry, calculus, differential equations and vectors. The computing part covers the use of software for problem solving, visualisation and data representation. The emphasis is on using mathematical and computational tools to solve engineering problems.
Fluid Mechanics and Engineering Science
30 credits
This module introduces you to the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and engineering science. Taught to mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering students, it will use this broad audience to enhance a collaborative learning environment. The fluid mechanics section will cover the fundamental properties of fluids and the main basic conservation equations used and their engineering applications. It also introduces the concept of dimensions and the SI units of measurement. The engineering science section will consider subject areas relevant to each discipline. For mechanical and aerospace engineering students it will introduce thermodynamics and electrical engineering and for civil engineering students it will consider soil mechanics. The thermodynamics topic covers the key concepts of system, work, heat and the main thermodynamics laws with special reference to their engineering applications. The electrical engineering section covers the basic concepts and electrical quantities such as charge, current, resistance, voltage, power and energy before looking at fundamental electrical components and how they can be incorporated into both AC and DC circuits. The soil mechanics topic will introduce the fundamental properties of soils and their essential aspects.
In Year 2 you are taught the specialised topics required for pilot training. The content is aligned with the 14 theoretical knowledge subjects required to achieve an EASA ATPL(A) licence. You are encouraged to keep a reflective written log of your training. Please be aware that the cost of the second year is approximately £70,000 in addition to university fees.
Core modules
Professional Development for Commercial Airline Pilots
30 credits
This module is designed to support you in identifying the range of skills you have acquired over the course of your integrated pilot licence training and the first two years of your degree. The module is designed to prepare you for Level 6 study. In particular, it develops your ability to reflect on your learning, your critical thinking and communication skills. It is delivered primarily through on-line individual tutor support.
Flight Operations and Meteorology
30 credits
This module is designed to cover the syllabus required to pass the flight training theoretical knowledge topics covering Principles of Flight, Aircraft Performance, Flight Planning and Monitoring, Meteorology and Communications. These topics are considered to be the core subjects for flight operations and the content is designed and approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The assessment is conducted by BCFT and replicates the format and structure of the Theoretical Knowledge assessment of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Aircraft Systems and Navigation
30 credits
This module is designed to cover the syllabus required to pass the EASA flight training theoretical topics covering Aircraft General Knowledge - Airframe, Systems and Powerplant, General Navigation and Human Performance. These topics are considered to be the core subjects for flight operations and the content is designed and approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The assessment is conducted by BCFT and replicates the format and structure of the Theoretical Knowledge assessment of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Instrumentation, Law and Operational Procedures
30 credits
This module is designed to cover the syllabus required to pass the EASA flight training theoretical topics covering Aircraft General Knowledge-Instrumentation, Mass and Balance, Radio Navigation, Air Law and Operational Procedures. These topics are considered to be the core subjects for flight operations and the content is designed and approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The assessment is conducted by BCFT and replicates the format and structure of the Theoretical Knowledge assessment of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
In Year 3, the focus is on understanding the operational and commercial nature of the airline industry. You are given the opportunity to research a topic of your choice to enhance your independent learning skills. You will also carry out a group project on airline management.
Core modules
Aerospace Technology
30 credits
This module is designed for students from a range of aerospace related programmes. It provides an understanding of how the principles of aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and materials science all determine the configuration and performance of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Individual Project - Aviation Studies
30 credits
The overarching aim of this individual project module is to provide you with the opportunity to impress. Working on a topic of your own choosing, with minimal guidance from your supervisor, you should apply approximately 300 hours of individual effort into the analysis of the problem and determination of the best solution or course of action. That analysis can take a variety of forms ranging from an in-depth comparison of a number of already documented potential solutions to the collection and comparison of experimental and theoretical data. The topic investigated should ideally be of an aircraft operational or engineering nature, though other other topics may be permitted with the agreement of the module leader.
By completing a capstone project of this nature, you are able to demonstrate that you can draw together the information from all the other teaching and learning on the course and, through innovation and analysis, demonstrate that you truly are independent learners.
Air Transport Economics
30 credits
Throughout the course of your studies, you will have so far studied material that has been focused on a specific role or roles within the air transport industry whether it be aircraft design, maintenance, operations or repair and overhaul. The aim of this module is to take a step back and explore how employers within the various sectors of the air transport industry combine all these functions in order to make a profit.
In addition to looking in detail at the overall profit and loss equation:
Traffic x Yield - Output x Cost = Profit or Loss
The module also compares the operation of the air transport market with that in other sectors and, in more general terms, looks at what makes the industry tick. The standard method of recording and reporting financial performance is also considered.
On successful completion of this module, you will not only understand how your future role will contribute to your employer's success but, should you decide to move away from the air transport sector, you will have a firm grounding in the general economic principles by which all industries operate.
Airline Operations and Scheduling
30 credits
It is only when an aircraft is flying en route carrying passengers or cargo that it will be earning money for its operator. Ideally, that aircraft should spend as much time as possible in the air carrying a full load of passengers, all of whom have paid the highest possible fare. In this module, you will examine all the factors that go together in the creation of an airline operational schedule. You will explore how the route is selected and the appropriate fares determined. You will examine all the requirements for getting that aircraft airborne from aircrew, operations and maintenance perspectives. You will also look at what happens when it all goes wrong (through eg. inclement weather) and how the airline can recover from such disruption in the shortest possible time.
In order to make the teaching in this module as relevant as possible, the majority of the formal lectures will be delivered by a team of external lecturers, all of whom are active consultants working in industry.
All of the assessment will be derived from a group exercise in which you will have to derive a realistic schedule for yourselves; this will, however, contain some individual elements. As you are unlikely, hitherto, to have received any formal group working or project management training, this will be provided as part of the module.
The information above reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. The regulations governing this course are available on our website. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Who teaches this course?
This course is taught at Kingston University's Roehampton Vale and Penrhyn Road campuses in Years 1 and 3, and at Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training (BCFT) for Year 2.
Postgraduate students may run or assist in lab sessions and may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
Course fees and funding
Facilities
Based at Bournemouth International Airport (Hurn), Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training (BCFT) is one of the longest established airline pilot training organisations on the south coast. Fully approved to deliver the theory and practical training required for the issue of the Frozen Air Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL), BCFT is one of the very few 'one-stop' pilot training organisations in the UK.
To ensure standardisation of equipment, availability for training and reliability, BCFT owns all its aircraft and there is an onsite maintenance centre. Rather than operating a generic simulator, BCFT have chosen a type specific FNPTII which allows for the full integration between simulator and aircraft.
After you graduate
Careers and progression
There is currently a great demand for ATPL qualified pilots. Employment opportunities are excellent for those who achieve the necessary licence. Graduates with an ATPL licence will also be well prepared for management roles within the industry.
According to Keith Cooper, vice president of Training & Professional Services for Boeing Global Services: "Despite strong global air traffic growth, the aviation industry continues to face a pilot labour supply challenge, raising concern about the existence of a global pilot shortage in the near term. An emphasis on developing the next generation of pilots is key to help mitigate this."
Our graduates have gained employment with airlines such as Ryanair, Flybe, EasyJet, Emirates and Cathay Pacific. Many have also moved into flight training as flying instructors.
What our students say
Key information set
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