Distance Learning Courses
Aviation
Foundation
Studies
Entry requirements
Anybody may start the Aviation Foundation Studies course without prior knowledge or experience, however a reasonable knowledge of the English language and simple mathematics are necessary.
Qualification
Leading to a City & Guilds accredited award, Foundation Studies provides a broad knowledge and is the ideal stepping stone for progressing to one of the advanced courses.
Introduction to Air Transport - Unit F1
Covers elements of the air transport industry, modes of transport and the components of a transport system. How world air routes developed, the aviation environment and an explanation of time zones.
Airports - Unit F2
The requirements for siting an airport and the history of the development of airports in the UK. The physical requirements, both operational and commercial, for an airport. The needs of aprons and terminals; landing aids and Fire and Rescue services.
Principles of Flight - Unit F3
Covering the four forces of lift, drag, thrust and weight, and how lift and drag are produced. Aircraft controls and their effects. High-speed flight and the problems associated with it. Finally a look at helicopters and how they fly.
Aircraft Systems and Powerplants - Unit F4
Gives an insight into how aircraft are powered, by piston and gas turbine engines, propellers or otherwise. The study also covers aircraft systems - fuel, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic, together with instruments and construction and layout of aircraft.
Navigation and Air Traffic Control - Unit F5
Form of the earth, radio beacons and radar. Details of types of chart, airways and the effects of wind on speed and heading. Division of airspace, flight progress and air traffic control.
Meteorology - Unit F6
Explains the transfer of heat, global heating and heat distribution. Humidity, cloud types, frontal systems and pressure patterns. European air masses, how upper winds and jetstreams and local and low level winds develop. The causes of fog. Understanding TAFs and METARs, upper wind charts and SIGMETs.
Aircraft Operation - Unit F7
Runway declared distances, and an introduction to scheduled (take-off) performance, fuel flight planning and mass and balance.
Marketing, Economics and Regulation - Unit F8
The principles of marketing cover passenger, cargo and airport markets. The unit includes profit and loss, cost centres of the air transport industry, cash flow, types of company in the air transport industry, as well as the regulatory bodies - ICAO, IATA, CAA, etc.
Airline
Operations &
Dispatch
Entry requirements
In order to complete this course successfully, you must have sufficient knowledge or experience to cope with the studies. Completion of the Foundation course will accomplish this - or you may have acquired sufficient knowledge through experience, typically two or more years in a relevant environment. If you would like advice on this, please contact us for an assessment, the results from which may indicate that you can enter the advanced course directly, need the complete Foundation course, or that some units of the Foundation course should be studied. In the latter case we will tailor the training to your specific needs.
Qualification
Leading to a City & Guilds accredited award and providing a comprehensive knowledge of Airline Operations & Dispatch, the full course qualification covers the ICAO recommended Ops Officer syllabus and is therefore highly valued by the industry.
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Flight Watch/Communications/Legislation - Unit O1
Covers crew flying duty periods and aircraft minimum equipment lists, landing minima, low visibility operations and crosswinds. Communication systems and AFTN/SITA formats. NOTAMs, CA48 flight plan. Freedoms of the air and diplomatic clearances. Roles of ICAO, IATA, CAA and DOT. Emergencies and Security.
Meteorology - Unit O2
Covers in greater depth some of the subjects addressed in foundation Meteorology. Includes stability, clouds and frontal systems, world weather patterns, severe weather and thunderstorms, ITCZ and tropical revolving storms.
Route Planning and Navigation - Unit O3
Includes projections and chart legends, Aerad charts, Jeppesen charts, SIDs and STARs. Covering wind drift and component tables, planning a simple route and the organised track system. ETOPs planning, calculations of flight plans and computer flight plans.
Fuel Planning - Unit O4
Factors affecting fuel consumption, point of no return and critical point. ETOPs. Calculation of fuel required using fuel flows, integrated range tables and specific air range. Computer flight plans and block time and fuel charts.
Scheduled Performance - Unit O5
Factors affecting take-off, declared distances and wind component charts. RTOW calculations from basic information. Obstacles. Quick calculation based on balanced fields. Graduated thrust take-off. Interpretation of take-off weight data.
Mass and Balance - Unit O6
Limiting design weights and construction of aircraft weight. How to complete loadsheets, balance calculations and charts. Index tables, adjusted weight system, computer loadsheets, load planning, spreading and restraint.
Ramp Handling - Unit O7
Covers turnround functions, critical path analysis, ATC slot allocation, refuelling and aircraft de-icing. Cleaning, catering and push back procedure. Customs, immigration, security and control and flow procedures. Apron Health and Safety, Dangerous Goods Awareness and Human Factors.
Airport
Operations
Entry requirements
In order to complete this course successfully, you must have sufficient knowledge or experience to cope with the studies. Completion of the Foundation course will accomplish this - or you may have acquired sufficient knowledge through experience, typically two or more years in a relevant environment. This can be assessed easily by completing an exemption assessment which is available on request. The results may indicate that you can enter the advanced course directly, need the complete Foundation course, or that some units of the Foundation course should be studied. In the latter case we will tailor the training to your specific needs.
Qualification
Leading to a City & Guilds accredited award, this provides a comprehensive knowledge of Airport Operations, covering the relevant elements of CAP 168 and CAP 700.
Legislation/Communications - Unit A1
The requirements for an Aerodrome License; noise and the environment, planning applications. Customs and Immigration services. AFTN, NOTAMs and SNOWTAMs. CA48 flight plans.
Meteorology - Unit A2
Explains cloud formation, stability, severe weather and thunderstorms. How frontal systems, rain and snow are formed. TAFs and METARs. Upper wind charts and Sigmets.
Airfield Operations - Unit A3
Aerodrome reference codes. The dimensions and requirements for manoevering areas; declared distances, clearances. Airfield markings and lighting; bird scaring and safeguarding. Noise, low visibility operations, ACN/PCN and airfield servicibility.
Apron Operations - Unit A4
Covers markings and dimensions on the apron, marshalling and docking, storage and provision of fuel. Aircraft handling and turnround procedures. Gives an insight into security, control and flow procedures, customs and immigration, airport scheduling. The provision of terminal facilities. Security and an introduction to the Carriage of Dangerous Goods.
Emergency Planning - Unit A5
Covers Aerodrome Emergency Orders, rescue and fire fighting and dealing with survivors. Also deals with the removal of disabled aircraft and redeclaring distances. Security Emergencies and Emergency exercises. Methods for dealing with snow and ice.
Safety and Performance - Unit A6
Factors affecting take-off, declared distances and wind component charts. Calculation of maximum take-off weight from known data. Health & Safety and Human Factors.