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L3Harris Technologies Partners with University of Central Lancashire and IASTI® to Launch Complete Pilot Pathway

AS
Aviation Systems
Jul 21, 2021 | 4 MINUTE Read

CRAWLEY, U.K. — L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) is partnering with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) to launch a pioneering new degree program to combine academic study with professional pilot training – helping widen the pool of potential pilots and contribute to increasing diversity within the industry.

One of the few degree programs in the U.K., the newly launched UCLan degree combines pilot training with BSc (Hons) in aviation. The pilot degree is part of the IASTI® and ENGAP UK initiative and will be delivered at L3Harris’ modern facilities in Cranfield and the London Training Centre (LTC) in Crawley, near Gatwick. The program commences in September 2021 and will be accessible to aspiring pilots from all backgrounds.

The new course satisfies the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) requirements and regulations, meaning students will graduate with an Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) alongside their BSc (Hons) degree. The goal is to enrich the core skills needed to pursue a rewarding career on the flight deck or in aviation management.

“This is an opportune time to begin a career as a pilot,” said Dave Coward, Vice President & General Manager, L3Harris Airline Academy. “With the commercial airline industry expected to recover by 2023/2024, we expect there to be a strong demand for new pilots. This partnership with UCLan will help to build the talent pool of future pilots and allow students to earn a bachelors degree at the same time.”

“This is another exciting development in our mission to combine academic excellence and real-world teaching, providing our students with the skills and experience the industry needs,” said UCLan Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin. “Despite the issues caused by the pandemic, aviation is a huge international industry and the long-term future is very bright. Together with our experienced program partners, we are in a prime position to fulfill our long-term ambition of entering the aviation field. We will provide a quality educational experience while playing a key role in the industry’s change agenda to provide aviation-related opportunities for those from a wide variety of backgrounds. We are particularly keen to encourage applications from women who are significantly under-represented within pilot roles.”

“We, with our Project Partners UCLan and industry partners L3Harris, are immensely proud to launch this brand new, systematic approach to pilot training,” said Captain James Smart, IASTI® Pilot Pathway Lead. “This new pathway will genuinely transform the way future pilots are selected, trained and funded, opening up the industry and dismantling the many entry obstacles that have existed for too long.”

Students will start with the theory of flying during ground school at the LTC, before progressing to Single and Multi-Engine flying to earn their Commercial Pilot License (CPL) with Instrument Rating (IR) certification. During the final year of the degree program, students will be placed with an Airline and undertake work-based modules to complete their studies while starting their career in aviation.

L3Harris Commercial Aviation Solutions (CAS) is a world leader in providing intelligent training solutions for pilots and trainers across a wide range of commercial platforms. The business provides a full spectrum of training solutions from its state-of-the-art training centres, including cadet pilot training, airline training, aircrew resourcing and high-fidelity simulation products. L3Harris CAS is headquartered at the London Training Centre in Crawley, U.K., and delivers training, resourcing and systems production from global centers in Bournemouth and Cranfield in the U.K.; Florida in the U.S.A.; and Bangkok, Thailand. https://www.l3commercialaviation.com/uk/airline-academy/.

About L3Harris Technologies
L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18 billion in annual revenue and 48,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. L3Harris.com.

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