People in the aviation industry serve in a wide variety of roles, included mechanical engineers, air traffic control, airline management and customer service.
Mechanical engineers undertake research and design, direct the manufacture and manage the operation and maintenance of engines, machines, aircraft, vehicle and ships’ structures, building services and other mechanical items. While Air travel assistants issue travel tickets and boarding passes, examine other documentation, provide information and assistance at airport terminals and look after the welfare, comfort and safety of passengers travelling in aircraft.
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Take a closer look at our Aviation courses
What can I do with a qualification in Aviation?
Daily tasks:
- Directs and instructs passengers in the event of an emergency, ensures safety procedures are followed.
- Makes announcements on behalf of the pilot, demonstrates the use of emergency equipment and checks that safety belts are fastened.
- Sells duty-free goods during the flight.
- Ensures that sufficient stocks of meals and beverages are on board the aircraft prior to take off and serves passengers during the flight.
- Welcomes passengers on board the aircraft, guides them to their seats and assists with any hand luggage.
- Checks emergency equipment, distributes reading material, blankets and other items, and ensures that the aircraft is ready for the receipt of passengers.
- Receives passengers at airport terminal, examines tickets and other documentation, checks in luggage and distributes boarding passes.
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Daily tasks:
- Accompanies pupil on training flights and demonstrates flying techniques.
- Performs specified tests to determine aircraft.
- Maintains radio contact and discusses weather conditions with air traffic controllers.
- Monitors fuel consumption, air pressure, engine performance and other indicators during flight and advises pilot of any factors that affect the navigation or performance of the aircraft.
- Directs or undertakes the operation of controls to fly aeroplanes and helicopters, complying with air traffic control and aircraft operating procedures.
- Directs or undertakes routine checks on engines, instruments, control panels, cargo distribution and fuel supplies.
- Studies flight plan, discusses it with flight deck crew and makes any necessary adjustments.
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Daily tasks:
- Operates retractable gangway or positions mobile staircases to enable passengers and crew to board and disembark aircraft.
- Loads aircraft with luggage, in-flight meals, refreshments and other items.
- Loads and unloads conveyor belts to transport luggage between terminal buildings and aircraft, monitors conveyor belts and clears any blockages.
- Directs the ground movement of aircraft at airports.
- Refuels aircraft from mobile tankers.
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Daily tasks:
- Visits and advises clients on the use and servicing of mechanical and chemical engineering products and services.
- Inspects completed aircraft maintenance work to certify that it meets standards and the aircraft is ready for operation.
- Diagnoses and detects faults and implements procedures to maintain efficient operation of systems and equipment.
- Prepares estimates of materials, equipment and labour required for engineering projects.
- Sets up equipment, undertakes tests, takes readings, performs calculations and records and interprets data.
- Plans and prepares work and test schedules based on specifications and drawings.
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Daily tasks:
- Organises and establishes control systems to monitor the performance and safety of electrical assemblies and systems.
- Ensures that manufacture, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and contractual arrangements.
- Determines and specifies manufacturing methods of electrical systems.
- Supervises, controls and monitors the operation of electrical generation, transmission and distribution systems.
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Daily tasks:
- Handles emergencies, unscheduled traffic and other unanticipated incidents.
- Discusses operational requirements with pilot, issues duty schedules for flight deck and cabin crews, maintains records of flight progress and authorises flight departure.
- Calculates fuel consumption and optimum flying height, plans route and prepares flight plan for aircraft pilot.
- Obtains information regarding weather conditions, navigational hazards, landing conditions, seating arrangements, loading of cargo, fuel and catering supplies.
- Directs movement of aircraft and motor vehicles on runways, taxiways and in parking bays.
- Gives landing instructions to pilot and monitors descent of aircraft.
- Directs the movement of aircraft en route to its destination and ensures minimum distances are maintained between planes.
- Maintains radio and/or radar or visual contact with aircraft and liaises with other air traffic controllers and control centres to direct aircraft in and out of controlled airspace and into holding areas ready for landing.
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What can I do with a qualification in Aviation?
Air travel assistants
Daily tasks:
- Directs and instructs passengers in the event of an emergency, ensures safety procedures are followed.
- Makes announcements on behalf of the pilot, demonstrates the use of emergency equipment and checks that safety belts are fastened.
- Sells duty-free goods during the flight.
- Ensures that sufficient stocks of meals and beverages are on board the aircraft prior to take off and serves passengers during the flight.
- Welcomes passengers on board the aircraft, guides them to their seats and assists with any hand luggage.
- Checks emergency equipment, distributes reading material, blankets and other items, and ensures that the aircraft is ready for the receipt of passengers.
- Receives passengers at airport terminal, examines tickets and other documentation, checks in luggage and distributes boarding passes.
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Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
Daily tasks:
- Accompanies pupil on training flights and demonstrates flying techniques.
- Performs specified tests to determine aircraft.
- Maintains radio contact and discusses weather conditions with air traffic controllers.
- Monitors fuel consumption, air pressure, engine performance and other indicators during flight and advises pilot of any factors that affect the navigation or performance of the aircraft.
- Directs or undertakes the operation of controls to fly aeroplanes and helicopters, complying with air traffic control and aircraft operating procedures.
- Directs or undertakes routine checks on engines, instruments, control panels, cargo distribution and fuel supplies.
- Studies flight plan, discusses it with flight deck crew and makes any necessary adjustments.
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Air transport operatives
Daily tasks:
- Operates retractable gangway or positions mobile staircases to enable passengers and crew to board and disembark aircraft.
- Loads aircraft with luggage, in-flight meals, refreshments and other items.
- Loads and unloads conveyor belts to transport luggage between terminal buildings and aircraft, monitors conveyor belts and clears any blockages.
- Directs the ground movement of aircraft at airports.
- Refuels aircraft from mobile tankers.
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Engineering technicians
Daily tasks:
- Visits and advises clients on the use and servicing of mechanical and chemical engineering products and services.
- Inspects completed aircraft maintenance work to certify that it meets standards and the aircraft is ready for operation.
- Diagnoses and detects faults and implements procedures to maintain efficient operation of systems and equipment.
- Prepares estimates of materials, equipment and labour required for engineering projects.
- Sets up equipment, undertakes tests, takes readings, performs calculations and records and interprets data.
- Plans and prepares work and test schedules based on specifications and drawings.
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Electrical engineers
Daily tasks:
- Organises and establishes control systems to monitor the performance and safety of electrical assemblies and systems.
- Ensures that manufacture, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and contractual arrangements.
- Determines and specifies manufacturing methods of electrical systems.
- Supervises, controls and monitors the operation of electrical generation, transmission and distribution systems.
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Air traffic controllers
Daily tasks:
- Handles emergencies, unscheduled traffic and other unanticipated incidents.
- Discusses operational requirements with pilot, issues duty schedules for flight deck and cabin crews, maintains records of flight progress and authorises flight departure.
- Calculates fuel consumption and optimum flying height, plans route and prepares flight plan for aircraft pilot.
- Obtains information regarding weather conditions, navigational hazards, landing conditions, seating arrangements, loading of cargo, fuel and catering supplies.
- Directs movement of aircraft and motor vehicles on runways, taxiways and in parking bays.
- Gives landing instructions to pilot and monitors descent of aircraft.
- Directs the movement of aircraft en route to its destination and ensures minimum distances are maintained between planes.
- Maintains radio and/or radar or visual contact with aircraft and liaises with other air traffic controllers and control centres to direct aircraft in and out of controlled airspace and into holding areas ready for landing.
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Aviation at Newcastle College
Meet the Students & Tutors
Olivia Williams
Level 3 in Aviation Operations"Newcastle College has great industry links. As part of the course we do ambassador roles at the airport. We gain experience of different roles, a real insight into the careers available. Through this I am now employed in the airport working in Security."