Andrei Fordy

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up on the Northumberland coast in a small little town. I travel to the Aviation Academy and Newcastle 3 days a week, taking long buses and trains (about 6 hours of travelling each day in total). I enjoyed Engineering at school because it’s very hands on and I’m a practical person who likes getting my hands dirty, so Aviation Engineering felt like a natural fit for me.

How did you hear about Newcastle College? Did you attend an Open Day prior to starting at the College? If so, did you find it useful?

Originally, I was studying A Levels at a Sixth Form in Alnwick, but after a bit I realised that wasn’t for me. I found out about Newcastle College while I was looking around online for some options after I sat my GCSEs. I didn’t attend an Open Event, instead I went on the Newcastle College website and found the Aeronautical Engineering course.

What made you decide to come to the College and enrol on the course you selected?

The hands-on training and the aircraft facilities available at the Aviation Academy really appealed to me, which convinced me to study at the College.

How would you describe the advice and support you received from College and your tutors? Have you had any pastoral support for our Central Support Team?

The best advice I’ve received from my tutors at the Aviation Academy so far is to keep your head down and crack on, even if it gets hard. If I’ve ever needed assistance, my tutors have always given it to me. I’ve also learnt from hard experience not to always trust in Google! I once researched completely the wrong thing for an assignment and got that paper marked as a third, since I was knackered that night and ended up typing about 10.30pm about how you had to repair aircraft faults in mid-air (which obviously was wrong!).

Do you have any tutors who have industry experience? If so, how has this helped you?

My tutors all have industry experience, they’ve all got a military background in the RAF, or they’ve worked for Nissan in front-line production. They give us loads of feedback on everything they did for work and how they experienced the industries, and their understanding and industry experience makes it a lot easier for us to get to grips with what they’re teaching since they can ground the theory in real, practical examples.

Did you look into financial support available from the College? If so what were they and how did they help?

Yes – I get a transport bursary for the buses, trains and Metros I have to take to get to the Aviation Academy. It’s been really helpful, because if not for that bursary I’d be spending about £60 per week just on travel fees!

Have you overcome any challenges while on your course? If so how has the College helped you?

I struggled a bit with some deadlines, which have been a bit stressful since there’s been a lot of assignments and exams coming together at the same time. The College helped to break down the work I’ve had to do into small steps, making me focus in on the specifics so I can get a higher grade in the end.

What do you/did you enjoy most about your course?

I really enjoy the hands-on experience of using the aircraft, taking apart components, getting all oily and greasy while playing around with tools I’ve never used before! I feel lucky to be part of such a great class because I’m getting much more in-depth teaching about engineering within the aviation industry that I would anywhere else in the region.

How do you feel that the course has/is benefitting you?

It’s benefitting me a lot, because this course is giving me new insights into the aviation engineering industry and it’s a new experience that could open many doors for me in the future.

What would you like to do when you finish your course? Would you consider studying a degree at Newcastle College University Centre?

Once I complete my studies, I’d eventually like to work for a bigger airline, like British Airways, Saudia, Jet2 or whatever other airlines there are – I’m not precious about it, but I want to do my best with the best company I can! I’m also thinking about studying the Aviation Engineering degree course at Newcastle College University Centre, since having a degree qualification will really benefit me in the long run with getting a strong career in the industry.

What are your ambitions for the future?

Right now, my ambition is to pass this course! After that, I want to travel the world, make great connections, build my knowledge and qualifications within the aviation engineering industry and have a well-paid job to enable me to live the life I want.

What would you say to anyone thinking of studying a course with Newcastle College?

Just do it! The Aeronautical Engineering course offered by Newcastle College is better than other courses available from other local colleges. Besides, you’ll get loads of support here and meet great new people doing it!

Top five tips

Take a lot of notes

Don’t be afraid to ask more questions

Study the syllabus in your own time too – it’ll pay off!

Watch documentaries and read books

Fact-check everything you do with lecturers.