New Pilot Degree Programme

Aviation Skills Partnership has launched a new Pilot Degree Programme in partnership with Airways Aviation and the University of South Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This degree is delivered through a partnership between Airways Aviation Academy (AA), based at Oxford’s Kidlington airport, and the University of South Wales (USW). Students will be taught at Airways Aviation’s new facilities at Oxford airport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It has been structured to enable students to gain an academic qualification based on their theoretical and practical pilot training, and early career practice as well as a commercial pilot’s license with an instrument rating (CPL/IR), commonly known as a “Frozen ATPL” (Air Transport Pilot’s Licence). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Honours Degree (Level 6) programme is tailored to meet the requirements of airlines and other commercial aircraft operators to ensure that, on completion of the programme, students have a Degree which is directly relevant to their current and future employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The degree programme has been designed specifically to incorporate all of the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) regulated training, and is based upon an original framework developed by Aviation Skills Partnership (ASP). ASP also provides support, via its “Aviator Pathway”, for students as they prepare for and join the programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The degree programme is unique to the industry in allowing students to benefit from the principle of work-based learning in which courses are structured around the working and training practices of particular industries, sectors or employers. This means that the learning that occurs every day as part of a students’ normal training and practice can be assessed and recognised in an academic framework without the need for unnecessary duplication. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welcoming the new degree programme, Chief Technical Officer at Aviation Skills Partnership, Ray Elgy stated, “This new Professional Aviation Pilot Practice BSc (Hons) continues our practice-based approach to studying for an aviation degree that ensures students’ learning is optimised and structured around their practical training and theoretical studies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are very pleased to be working with the University of South Wales and Airways Aviation on this degree programme which adds to ASP’s Aviator Pathway for aspiring pilots and flight instructors and enables them to achieve their career ambitions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are now working with three Universities around the UK on our various aviation degree programmes and this shows that our approach to creating career pathways for the aviation industry is meeting a need for students and employers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Airways Aviation’s CEO Ian Cooper, stated: “We are very excited to announce the collaboration with Aviation Skills Partnership and University of South Wales. The Professional Aviation Pilot Practice BSc (Hons) degree programme complements the learning objectives of our ‘Elite Pathways Programme’ and offers a holistic professional pilot qualification for the airline industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The PAPP degree further highlights our continued commitment to our students and our resolve to never compromise on quality. There is a clear synergy between AA, ASP and USW approach to serve the aviation industry and we look forward to working together and serving our students even better.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Rhobert Lewis, Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science at University of South Wales commented: “This agreement is an important first step in developing what promises to be an exciting collaboration between the industry and one of the UK’s major universities. This is a natural match between a university founded by industry, for industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The partnership between Aviation Skills Partnership, the Airways Aviation Academy and the University of South Wales has the potential to make a real difference to the education and training of professionals within the aviation industry. We are delighted to be working together on exciting projects of such importance.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Applications for this degree programme can be made now, with the first courses starting in September 2016. Students interested should contact Aviation Skills Partnership on 0208 973 2616 or by e-mail: enquiries@aviationskillspartnership.com / customercare@airwaysaviation.com ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​