Stella aviation academy

The current course evolved out of the Fight Engineer (Boordwerktuigkundige (BWK)) degree course. Since 1983 has been offered as an Aircraft Operation course. Among other things students are taught to manage and analyse aircraft systems and any problems that can occur in these systems. Some of the lessons are taught in a B-747-200 Cockpit Procedure Trainer (CPT), so students gain a certain amount of operational experience. At the same time the students study subjects required for the theoretical part of the ATPL training, such as Aerodynamics, Performance and Stability Theory, Propulsion Systems and Aircraft Navigation, which are taught at the level of higher professional education. Students are also asked to work on three projects per year and tackle these projects as a team. In working on these projects they have to deal with various aspects of aviation and acquire specific, aviation-related knowledge in the process. They also acquire competencies that are required in the cockpit (such as project management and analysis of complex problems).

Much of the material is familiar
Many HvA graduates go on to train as commercial pilots. In all cases the results achieved by these qualified engineers is above average. These students always say that their engineering degree proves very useful during their flight training, since they are already familiar with much of the material and have studied it at a level that exceeds the requirements for the ATPL.

In the new collaboration candidates for Aviation Flight Training go through the selection process during their second year at the HvA. If they prove suitable, they study the theory to the level required to gain a Bachelor degree in the third year of the course and then prepare to sit the examinations required for the theoretical part of the ATPL training. In the fourth year of the course the trainee and graduation project periods are combined as students start practical flight instruction at Stella aviation academy. The graduation project has to be completed during the fourth year of the course.

Unique collaboration
This unique collaboration in the Netherlands is actually a very logical step that enables students to gain a professional degree in aviation technology from a well established and highly renowned educational institution, while also training as a pilot with a view to doing the most fabulous office job in the world.

For more information see: http://www.voltijd.hva.nl/aviation-studies/