Aviation
Newcastle College Aviation Academy is a renowned £3.3 million training facility based at Newcastle's bustling International Airport. Recognised for outstanding commitment to education, our academy was awarded the 2018 Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. Set in the heart of one of the UK's top student cities, there is no better place to study Aviation than in Newcastle.
Our philosophy is to provide world-class training for aviation operations professionals and aviation engineers, at both further and higher education levels.
Our curriculum is at the cutting-edge of industry and we work with support from organisations like Newcastle Airport, the Royal Air Force, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. To help you gain employment in the sector, experience of work and exposure to real-working-life scenarios are embedded throughout our courses. You can learn within one of our industry standard aviation hangars, aboard our Boeing 737 or working to maintain one of our Jet Provosts or Jetstream planes.
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Take a closer look at our courses
Aviation at Newcastle College
What can I do with a qualification in Aviation?
Daily tasks:
- Organises and establishes control systems to monitor operational efficiency and performance of materials and systems.
- Ensures that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards.
- Designs mechanical equipment, such as steam, internal combustion and other non-electrical motors for railway locomotives, road vehicles, aeroplanes and other machinery.
- Determines materials, equipment, piping, capacities, layout of plant or system and specification for manufacture.
- Undertakes research and advises on energy use, materials handling, thermodynamic processes, fluid mechanics, vehicles and environmental controls.
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Daily tasks:
- Prepares specifications for materials and other components.
- Produces final design information for use in preparation of layouts, parts lists, etc..
- Arranges construction and testing of model or prototype and modifies design if necessary.
- Prepares working designs for steam, aero, turbine, marine and electrical engines, mechanical instruments, aircraft and missile structures, vehicle and ship structures, plant and machinery equipment, domestic electrical appliances, building systems and services, and electronic computing and telecommunications equipment.
- Assesses product requirements, including costs, manufacturing feasibility and market requirements.
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Daily tasks:
- Provides technical consultancy services.
- Examines and advises on patent applications.
- Prepare sketches, drawings and specifications showing materials to be used, construction and finishing methods and other details.
- Devises and implements control systems to monitor operational efficiency and performance of system and materials.
- Designs new systems and equipment with regard to cost, market requirements and feasibility of manufacture.
- Establishes principles and techniques to improve the quality, durability and performance of materials such as textiles, glass, rubber, plastics, ceramics, metals and alloys.
- Researches into problem areas to advance basic knowledge, evaluate new theories and techniques and to solve specific problems.
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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:
- Monitors the standards of scientific and technical research undertaken by the research team.
- Plans work schedules, assigns tasks and delegates responsibilities to the research and development team.
- Develops research methodology, implements and reports upon research investigations undertaken.
- Liaises with production departments to investigate and resolve manufacturing problems.
- Establishes product design and performance objectives in consultation with other business functions.
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What can I do with a qualification in Aviation?
Mechanical engineers
Daily tasks:
- Organises and establishes control systems to monitor operational efficiency and performance of materials and systems.
- Ensures that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards.
- Designs mechanical equipment, such as steam, internal combustion and other non-electrical motors for railway locomotives, road vehicles, aeroplanes and other machinery.
- Determines materials, equipment, piping, capacities, layout of plant or system and specification for manufacture.
- Undertakes research and advises on energy use, materials handling, thermodynamic processes, fluid mechanics, vehicles and environmental controls.
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Design and development engineers
Daily tasks:
- Prepares specifications for materials and other components.
- Produces final design information for use in preparation of layouts, parts lists, etc..
- Arranges construction and testing of model or prototype and modifies design if necessary.
- Prepares working designs for steam, aero, turbine, marine and electrical engines, mechanical instruments, aircraft and missile structures, vehicle and ship structures, plant and machinery equipment, domestic electrical appliances, building systems and services, and electronic computing and telecommunications equipment.
- Assesses product requirements, including costs, manufacturing feasibility and market requirements.
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Engineering professionals n.e.c.
Daily tasks:
- Provides technical consultancy services.
- Examines and advises on patent applications.
- Prepare sketches, drawings and specifications showing materials to be used, construction and finishing methods and other details.
- Devises and implements control systems to monitor operational efficiency and performance of system and materials.
- Designs new systems and equipment with regard to cost, market requirements and feasibility of manufacture.
- Establishes principles and techniques to improve the quality, durability and performance of materials such as textiles, glass, rubber, plastics, ceramics, metals and alloys.
- Researches into problem areas to advance basic knowledge, evaluate new theories and techniques and to solve specific problems.
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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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Research and Development Managers
Daily tasks:
- Monitors the standards of scientific and technical research undertaken by the research team.
- Plans work schedules, assigns tasks and delegates responsibilities to the research and development team.
- Develops research methodology, implements and reports upon research investigations undertaken.
- Liaises with production departments to investigate and resolve manufacturing problems.
- Establishes product design and performance objectives in consultation with other business functions.
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Meet our students
Max Elcoat
BSc in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering"Being at the airport, around the planes, and working in the hangar, you’re always focused on the end goal. But, for me, hands down, one of the best things about studying here is hearing from ex-students about where they are now. It’s so motivating see what you could be doing in a few years’ time, and it proves how good of a place it is. For instance, I had no idea that the current Maintenance Manager for Boeing UK studied here just ten years ago, until he came to give us a talk about his experience and career-to-date."
Mark Underwood
BSc in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering"You will leave here with a lot more than a degree. As well as all the core degree modules, you also complete some of the CAA modules towards your B1 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's license, which you have to complete to be able to work as a mechanic. The Aviation Academy's strong links with employers is definitely a big benefit as well. I applied for lots of positions outside of those links, and I got hardly any responses, then BA came and did their annual visit, and invited me to interview, and then offered me a Junior Mechanic position, which I’ll be starting in the summer. !"
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Upcoming events
Newcastle College University Centre Late Enrolment 2023
Rye Hill Campus
11th September -2nd October
2023
Virtual Parents' Steppin' Up Information Event
Thursday 12th October 2023
4:00pm - 7:00pm
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