Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies, MEng (Hons)

Program Overview

Students gain knowledge and skills in aircraft design, structures, propulsion, and control, while simultaneously obtaining a pilot's license. This program prepares graduates for careers in the aerospace, space, and related industries, including commercial aviation as Airline Transport Pilots.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program, Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies, MEng (Hons), is a four-year full-time program offered at UCLan's Preston Campus. It combines the practical and theoretical aspects of flying with the underlying principles of Aerospace Engineering. The program aims to provide students with the theoretical training required to obtain a pilot's license while simultaneously gaining an engineering degree.

Outline:

The program is structured as follows:

• Year 1:
• Compulsory Modules:
• Aerospace Vehicle Systems: This module analyzes the functionality of each aerospace vehicle system and explores methods for safety assessment in relation to design, reliability, safety, and certification of vehicle systems.
It also covers the generation of lift and drag on lifting surfaces operating in incompressible flows.
• Design and Sustainability: This module develops knowledge and skills in Engineering Design, focusing on design methodology, computer-aided design, technical drawing, and sustainable design.
• Engineering Analysis: This module equips students with essential core mathematical methods and computational analysis to support further study in engineering and technology.
• Engineering Practice: This module imparts knowledge of computer-aided design, programming, digital electronics, and manufacturing techniques, preparing students for diverse engineering tasks involving system design, manufacturing, and testing in various disciplines.
• Engineering Science & Analysis: This module introduces core principles of thermal and fluid engineering, problem-solving techniques, and essential engineering practices, including relevant measurement methods.
Students practically analyze the basics of aircraft aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and control to design and manufacture a fully integrated UAV.
• Space Systems: This module provides a technical overview of spacecraft flight and subsystems.
Students develop analytical and simulation techniques and skills for spacecraft mission planning. Students apply methods for Technical and Navigation subjects and develop practical skills in Flight Planning, Performance, and Weather Forecasting. It develops problem-solving, mathematical modeling, and computational modeling skills.
• Operations Management A: This module develops the skills and knowledge needed to participate in an operations management team.
• Optional Modules:
• Year 3:
• Compulsory Modules:
• Aerospace Advanced Material & Structural Analysis: This module focuses on structural analysis, emphasizing static stress analysis for elastic continua, including two-dimensional structures.
Students learn finite element methods for computational analysis using ANSYS/Comsol, aiming to understand key concepts in advanced fiber-reinforced composite structure design.
• Flight Dynamics and Control: This module covers aircraft flight dynamics, stability, and control systems.
It emphasizes the importance of stability analysis and the inclusion of Stability Augmentation Systems (SAS) for improved control loop performance.
• Aerospace Propulsion: This module explores contemporary trends in technological developments.
Students receive a technical overview of main engine types and applications and study scientific frameworks and research methods around calculating engine performance. The project includes investigation, analysis, design, evaluation, testing, and manufacturing, based on current research or development.
• Computational Fluid Dynamics: This module helps students understand the complete process required to develop and compute a solution to a problem in fluid dynamics.
Students perform a numerical CFD simulation of a simple flow of engineering interest.
• Year 4:
• Compulsory Modules:
• Aerospace Group Project: Students design, develop, and demonstrate an integrated aerospace product comprising structure and systems, with due regard to business, commercial, and environmental considerations.
They participate in collaborative activities leading to initial concepts, down-selection, product mechanization, and flight clearance, including quality audits, risk management, and safety cases. They apply relevant analytical methods, including modeling and simulation. During the project, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in relevant mathematics, science, and technologies, as well as skills in management, communication, team performance, and personal responsibility.
• Pilot Operations ATPL: This module presents a critical review of pilot studies needed for the theoretical examination subjects of the UK/EASA CAA Airline Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL).
It aims to help students prepare for the ATPL exams.
• Engineer in Society: Students gain experience in the processes of maintaining product integrity within engineering design and the product cycle.
They examine the responsibilities of the engineer to both the enterprise and society by looking at both national and international standards. They also analyze and evaluate several risks and ethical and legal responsibilities.
• Optional Modules:
• Aircraft Flight Physics: Students investigate how the principles of high-speed aerodynamics influence the flight dynamics of flexible aircraft during different phases of flight.
• Aerospace Structures and Materials: This module investigates material selection, structural assembly, and the associated challenges of material degradation.
Students assess how these factors impact aerospace vehicle structures.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a mix of unseen examinations and a variety of regular assignments and challenges. Practical competence is emphasized, reflected in the design and weighting of assessments.

Teaching:

The program is delivered through a mix of lectures, practicals, and projects. Invited lectures and masterclasses are provided on a range of topics, including the effective use of software packages for computer-aided design, computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, and so on.

Careers:

Studying Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies leads to careers in the aerospace, space, defense, automotive, biotechnology, computing, electronics, energy, and manufacturing sectors. The MEng option is ideal for aspiring commercial pilots. It introduces Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) theoretical studies in Year 4, preparing students for sitting CAA ATPL examinations after graduation.

Other:

• The program benefits from significant investment in the latest high-quality facilities, including state-of-the-art software tools, flight simulators, subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels, and a UAV Lab.
• Students have access to the University's excellent flight simulators and UAV lab to fine-tune their practical skills.
• The program is based in the School of Engineering and Computing.
• Students can take a one-year industrial placement during their studies to increase their employability.
Most placements are UK-based, but opportunities exist for global placements.
• The program has established links with many aerospace companies, including guest lectures, visits, and industrial placements.

• UK
• Full-time: £9,250 per year
• Sandwich year: £1,500 for the sandwich year
• Part-time: £1,540 per 20 credits
• International
• Full-time: £16,500 per year