The degree

The course I am currently studying is a BA(Hons) in Air Transport with Commercial Pilot Training. I understand that it is the only UK based degree that incorporates a Modular ATPL into the degree program (I am aware of other degrees that includes an ATPL as an Integrated Course, as a forth year "straight through" but none that study the ATPL alongside the degree). The course is 3 years long, and is studied at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College (see below).

The first year is conducted at the Wellsbourne campus of BCUC, and incorporates flight training to JAR-PPL level as well as a first-year degree course. The first fiftteen hours of flying training is conducted at Denham Airfield, with Cabair. The rest up to PPL completion is conducted during June or July at Orlando Flight Training in Florida, USA. Students who already have a PPL before starting the course can do no extra training or extra ratings as they wish.

The second year consists of ATPL theory and the CPL. ATPL theory is carried out at Cabair's campus at Cranfield University, and the CPL is carried out in Florida as well as Cranfield. No academic (i.e. anything taught at BCUC) work is carried out in the second year.

The third year is taught (during the academic year Sep - following July) soley as a degree program at BCUC - no flying is undertaken. Following graduation, the IR and MCC parts of the ATPL are completed with Cabair.

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The University

The above course is conducted by BCUC in partnership with Cabair. BCUC - Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College - is located in High Wycombe, near London. The course is taught on it's Wellsbourne satellite campus, which is located on the outskirts of High Wycombe. T

The University has had it's own degree awarding powers since 1999, and is primarily known for it's renowed furniture design courses. The new degree course described above is part of it's Leisure and Tourism Faculty.

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The flying school

All flying training is carried out in partnership with Cabair, with hour-building in Florida in conjuction with Orlando Flight Training. Cabair is the largest flight training organisation in Europe, and has been in operation since 1969.

The group consists of 6 PPL schools at airfields in the South-West of England, and two Professional Pilot's Colleges in Bournemouth and Cranfield. Cabair operates over 150 aircraft, and carries out it's own in-house maintenance.

Students on the degree course mentioned above learn to fly at Cabair's Denham School, and will later move on to Cranfield .

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The aircraft

So far, students on the above-mentioned course have only flown the PA-28 Cadet. Some students have hours on other types, but these were flown outside the remit of the course (in most cases before they joined it).

Later during the degree program, we hope to fly multi-engine types and the DV-20 Katana.

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The syllabus

The course consists of two parts: the flying and the academic, I.E. the study towards a frozen ATPL, and the degree as taught by BCUC. No study toward the ATPL is taught by BCUC staff and vice versa.

The first year academic consists of 4 modules, each of which have various exams/group projects/essays to be completed throughtout the year. The modules are: Introduction to the Air Transport Industry, Ground Handling, Marketing and Health & Safety. There is no academic second year. The third year consists of 18 hours contact time per week (module titles to follow).

The first year flying syllabus (groundschool) consists of the JAR-PPL subjects: Air Law, Human Performance and Limitations, Flight Planning and Performance, Navigation, Meterology, Aircraft Technical and Radio Communications. Practical flying lessons (45hrs minimum, with 15 of those taught in the UK, the rest in Florida, USA) culminate in the PPL skill test.

The second year course study comprises the 14 ATPL subjects (titles to follow) and the practical syllabus for the CPL, which includes a Multi-engine rating, a Night rating, and an IMC rating.

The "third year" flying study is technically in the fourth year, as it starts during the July after the 3rd year, and finishes that December. It comprises the IR and MCC parts of the ATPL.

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The people

The course I am a member of is the first course to be run in it's present form. We started our first year in September 2005, and should graduate July 2008, completing our ATPLs by December 2008.

There are 36 students on the course. 4 of these are female. I have not taken a tally, but the proportion of ex or current Air Cadets is significantly higher than the norm for our age group. Our age group ranges from 18 to 29 as far as I am aware. 4 of the students already have PPLs, and some have hours logged towards one already.

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The student

I am 22 years old, and hail from Wiltshire, England. I previously attended Southampton University's Aerospace Engineering BEng course, but left after 6 months, due to a realisation that I did not want to be an engineer.

My original ambition was to join the RAF as a pilot, but I was told my eyesight did not meet requirements. When I applied for a Class 1 CAA Medical, I was told that my eyesight was not good enough for that either. However, upon getting a second opinion, I was told that LASIK surgery would most probably raise my standards to be able to apply for, and gain, the Class 1 medical. I have therefore had the LASIK surgery, and at the time of writing, waiting for stability of refraction to be achieved in order for me to re-apply for the medical.

I studied Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry A-Levels during sixth-form. I was also a member of the Air Training Corps for 7 years, gaining the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer. Whilst I was an Air Cadet, I completed No.4 Junior Leaders Course, a Air Navigation Scholarship, the Air Cadet Parachuting Course, Staff Cadet training, and benefitted from 9hrs AEF flight in Tutors and Bulldogs. I also attended many UK camps, and a camp in Gibraltar.

I also was commissioned into the RAFVR(T) in order to teach cadets, but due to time constraints I am now in the Non-Effective Pool.

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Glossary of terms

ATPL - Air Transport Pilot's License. Step up from CPL. Allows you to carry airline passengers.

frozen ATPL - Term for a brand-new ATPL without experience. 2500hrs are required to "unfreeze" it.

CPL - Commercial Pilot's License. Step up from the PPL. Allows you to earn money for flying, but not carry airline passengers.

PPL - Private Pilot's License. Allows you to fly for no commerical gain on (to begin with) small aircraft, in clear weather during the day.

IR - An additional part of a pilot's license (called a rating) that allows flight in inclement weather.

MCC - A rating that allows flight with more than one flight crew (i.e. co-pilot, flight engineer etc.)

CAA - Civil Aviation Authority, the UK's regulatory body for aviation.

Class 1 Medical - The CAA medical standard required for a commerical pilot. A Class 2 (less stringent) is required for a private pilot (i.e. PPLs)

RAFVR(T) - Form of Adult Staff for the Air Cadets. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch))

AEF - Air Experience Flight. The type of flying enjoyed by Air Cadets, in RAF aircraft.

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