Six of the seven new students on Tayside Aviation’s pilot degree course.
Seven new students have started on the pilot degree course run by Tayside Aviation, based at Dundee Airport, in conjunction with Middlesex University and Aviation Skills Partnership.
The new students, who bring the total number of degree students to 39, are:
- Zac Chiswell (18), from Carluke
- Alistair Cunningham (19), from Stonehaven
- Duncan Mills (20), from Peterborough
- Kieran McGregor (19), from Stonehaven
- Emily Horne (18), from Broughty Ferry
- Shaun Sewell (19), from Newcastle
- Panchbhaya Rokayya (19), from Dundee.
The next intake will arrive in April 2018.
The BSc (Hons) Professional Aviation Pilot Practice programme is the first of its kind available in Scotland. The degree aims to enhance students’ career progression within the industry and hopefully attract more females into the career. There are currently eight female students on the degree course.
Degree students can also access funding. This will reduce the cost of the training by one-third and will include a Flying Instructor Rating. The three-year programme with Tayside Aviation includes structured hours building as well as the CPL, ME IR and MCC training.
The partnership involves the airline Loganair who operate Saab 340s, Saab 2000s, Dornier 328s and the Twin Otter. Tayside Aviation has continued to supply Loganair with experienced pilots on their pilot placement programme over the past five years.
“Academic recognition for all of the hard work behind becoming an airline pilot is long overdue,” said Jim Watt, managing director of Tayside Aviation.
“With all the partners in this process, we have a common interest in our approach which was to reduce the cost of obtaining a licence and provide the best support to students in our care. I am delighted that we now have this programme airborne and look forward to working with this latest group of young students.”
Students embarking on the degree not only require academic criteria similar to most degree courses but also a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), proving their aptitude, ability and work ethic. Tayside Aviation holds monthly open days to provide information and course overviews.
