BEng (Hons)

Aircraft Engineering with Pilot Studies

3 good reasons to study Aircraft Engineering with Pilot Studies at Salford:

Accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
Follow a structured pilot training programme
Aircraft design is brought into sharp focus in parallel with a full treatment of fundamental and advanced aeronautical science

This programme lets you combine the practical and theoretical aspects of flying with the underlying principles of aircraft engineering.

You have the option to follow a structured pilot training programme and sit the appropriate ground school examinations needed for the award of a Private Pilot Licence.

A total of 45 flying hours are offered within the training programme, at additional cost, with the twin aims of enabling you to fly solo by the end of level 1 and obtain a Private Pilot Licence by the end of level 2. Lessons are at an additional total cost of £6,500 (correct at August 2010), with flexible payment options – please visit CSE home page for more details.

You can elect to take a year’s relevant industrial placement as part of your degree. This is greatly encouraged for the following reasons:

An opportunity to apply the knowledge that you have gained at the University;
Witness the application of modern techniques to your field of interest;
Obtain a better understanding of the role of some of the theory that you have been taught;
Experience working for an organisation;
Discuss your future career with people established within the industry;
The possibility of working for the same organisation after you graduate. A large proportion of students undertaking a placement with a company are employed by that company after they have graduated.

Course details

This course has been awarded accredited status by both the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) for 2010 to 2014 intake cohorts and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for 2009 to 2011 intake cohorts as meeting the exemplifying academic benchmark for registration as Incorporated Engineer (IEng) requirement in full, and the Chartered Engineer (CEng) requirement in part.

Why is accreditation important?

It provides external validation of the degree course content which recognises that it meets both UK and international standards required by the engineering profession.

Professional registration and Institution membership will enhance your career in the following ways:

Access to continuous professional development
Careers advice and employment opportunities
Increased earning potential over the length of your career
International recognition of your qualifications, skills and experience
Evidence of your motivation, drive and commitment to the profession
Networking opportunities

You will develop flight assimilation and air navigation skills in specifically designed subject modules and through the use of the School's fixed and moving base flight simulators.

There is a flight test course just prior to the final year, which is delivered by Cranfield University’s National Flying Laboratory Centre using their specially instrumented Jetstream 31 aircraft. During the flight, the aircraft will conduct specific manoeuvres during which flight data is gathered for later analysis by the students. This valuable experience allows the students to link practical issues of aircraft behaviour to principles of flight taught in the classroom.

You will undertake experimental and project work throughout the programme, including a significant personal project in the final year.

Structure

Year one

Aviation Business Enterprise

This module will introduce you to the history of air transport systems leading to the current state of the aviation business

You will study topics such as the:

Evolution of surface transportation systems - roadways, railways and waterways.
Beginnings of air transport - first generation airships and winged flying machines.
Development of technologies relating to improvements in civilian and military aircraft designs.
Passenger facility enhancements such as in-flight catering, conveniences and entertainment.
Birth of the modern airliner leading to the demise of the airships and the ocean liners.

Engineering Materials & Electrical Systems

In this module you will develop an understanding of the basic properties and applications of materials and of the principles of electronic and electrical engineering. This will include learning about the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of materials, mechanisms of corrosion and corrosion protection, the principles of electronic and electrical engineering, and the response of electrical elements in circuits to d.c. or a.c. supplies.

Engineering Mathematics

An understanding and ability to use mathematics are essential skills for success in engineering subjects. This module will review and expand on the following subjects: algebra, trigonometry, functions, geometry, vectors, complex numbers and calculus, with emphasis on their applications to engineering

Engineering Structures & Engineering Dynamics

This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of structural behaviour and the nature of stress and strain and provide you with a foundation in engineering dynamics, allowing you to tackle simple engineering problems, and preparing the you for subsequent modules.

Engineering Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics

You will develop an understanding of the basic concepts of Engineering Thermodynamics and be given a introduction to the subject of Fluid Mechanics in this module. Skills in handing thermodynamic concepts enabling the definition and analysis of thermodynamic systems are vitally important to the mechanical engineer.

Principles of Air Navigation & Meteorology for Aviation

In this module you will gain proficiency and knowledge in the planning of multiple leg flight plans and build awareness and experience of aviation meteorology. On completion you should have developed skills including practical knowledge of operational procedures; requirements for safe and adequate flight planning; understanding requirements for time planning; the principles of aviation meteorology; and be able to make rational assessments for flight safety by interpreting synoptic weather forecasts.

Year Two

Engineering Mathematics E2

This module will build on the engineering mathematics module from your first year by developing an advanced knowledge and skills in mathematical analysis, and enable you to tackle more advanced engineering problems. Subjects covered include partial differentiation, determinants and matrices, vector analysis, Laplace transforms and functions of a complex variable.

Safety Assessment in Aviation & Human Factors and Crew Resource Management

The aims of this module are for you to:

develop an in depth knowledge of aviation safety issues;
use and evaluate analysis so you can anticipate and alleviate safety risks in aviation;
develop an understanding of Human Factors and CRM to optimise capability to operate in a safe and efficient aviation environment.

Aerodynamics E2

Topics and concepts covered in this module include fluid mechanics, boundary layer theory, sources of drag in particular aircraft drag, thin aerofoil theory, lifting line theory as it applies to the aerodynamic analysis of unswept wings in low speed flow and the apparatus used and techniques employed in wind tunnel testing.

Flight Systems

In this module you will learn the basic principles and theory of statics and dynamics as related to the static and dynamic behaviour of an aircraft and the theory of flight control as related to the dynamic behaviour of an aircraft.

Route Planning and Navigation Systems

This module will introduce the theory of business economics in route planning. You will learn the techniques and methodologies used for navigating an aircraft using modern navigation aids

Aircraft Structures

On completion of this module you will be able to establish the integrity of typical basic structural aircraft components and explain the process of material selection for the structural items of an aircraft.

Year Three

Aerodynamics

This module is concerned with the analysis of gas turbine engines as used in aircraft propulsion and high speed aerodynamics. Emphasis is placed on the aerodynamic and thermodynamic aspects which influence the performance of a given engine design. Wherever possible, data for actual aircraft engines is used to support the analysis.

Aircraft Design Enterprise

In this module you will learn about aircraft design, including detailed refinement of component design and major interactions that have a crucial influence on the overall effectiveness of the design. You will study the interactive nature of aircraft design, including business and commercial influences, and be able to report outcomes effectively. On completion you should also have an appreciation of market requirements in the design process.

Avionics

This module will give you an in depth knowledge of avionic systems currently fitted to modern aircraft, including communication, flight instruments, flight management, automatic flight, warning and recording and passenger systems.

Flight Systems

Following on from Flight Systems module in your second year, you will develop a deeper understanding of the theory of statics and dynamics and flight control as related to the dynamic behaviour of an aircraft.

Industrial Management and Project Preparation

This module has two main components. Industrial management in which you will be introduced to the commercial issues which must be addressed by engineering businesses, and the principles of quality management systems. Project preparation which will develop your ability to work independently, become competent in analysing and assessing the value of information and develop effective communication skills both written and orally.

Final Year Project

The aim of the Final Year Project is to develop your ability to work with a significant degree of independence on a structured programme of activity. You should demonstrate your competency in analysing and assessing the value of information derived from the programme, be able to communicate effectively (both through written reports and orally) the details of the programme and conclusions that can be drawn together with suggestions of further work.

Course Enquiries

For course enquiries please call us on:

T: +44 (0) 161 295 4545

Or Email us at:

Home/EU students
E: enquiries@salford.ac.uk

International students
E: international@salford.ac.uk