Macclesfield College’s European Centre for Aerospace Training (ECAT) has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s aviation regulator, to deliver accredited training for aerospace engineering professionals.
The accreditation recognises ECAT as an approved maintenance training provider, rating it as among the best aerospace training establishments in the UK. It means that ECAT students can now get one step closer to becoming licensed and working on the planes that come in and out of our airports, including nearby Manchester Airport.
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| Aerospace engineering professionals train at ECAT |
Students can study towards two licences at ECAT, the basic mechanics licence, which involves 6 months full-time study, or a licence which also allows them to work on the electronics of the aircraft. The latter qualification takes 2.5 years to complete full-time, or can be broken down into smaller part-time modules.
Students study both in the classroom and on the fully functional Jetstream 31 commercial aircraft housed in the on-site hangar. Time is also spent training off-site in a maintenance organisation, which is likely to involve students working with airlines at Manchester Airport.
It is usual for students to be working in aerospace engineering already and be sponsored on the course by their employer, as after completing their studies, they must continue to work in a maintenance organisation to achieve their full licence. However, students may also undertake the course with a view to getting a job as an aircraft maintenance engineer on completion.
The UK’s licensing system is one of the strictest in the world, and it is anticipated that many more students will travel to Macclesfield College to complete the course and gain the prestigious UK licence. ECAT currently attracts students from the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
ECAT offers full-time and part-time qualifications in Mechanical, Electrical and Aerospace Engineering for students of all ages including Advanced Diplomas, BTECs, NVQs and Level 5 Higher Education options. It caters for professionals already working in the industry as well as young people just starting out in their careers.
Macclesfield College’s ECAT department was rated as ‘Outstanding’ (Grade 1) in the latest Ofsted inspection report and the College is one of the top performing Further Education colleges in England. The department contains industry standard facilities including a fully fitted mechanical science lab and engineering workshop, modern electronic labs and ICT suite and lecture rooms.
For more information on ECAT see http://www.macclesfield.ac.uk/business/ecat.aspx or call the College on 01625 410002.
