Gateway to Aviation is an industry‑focused course that gives students a comprehensive introduction to how the aviation sector operates, from the moment a passenger arrives at the terminal to the moment an aircraft touches down. Throughout the course, students will explore how to enter the industry, including key career pathways, entry requirements, and the major organisations that shape aviation. They’ll build fluency in essential aviation terminology from the phonetic alphabet to airport and city codes and gain insider knowledge of both airside and landside operations through real case studies from LHR and LGW.
Students will compare different types of aircraft and airline models, including low‑cost, chartered, scheduled, and cargo operations, before using Flightradar24 to track live flight paths and complete interactive activities.
The course also introduces students to aviation security, health and safety standards, and the regulatory bodies that govern the industry including the CAA, NATS and IATA. By the end, students will have a clear understanding of the sector, the roles within it, and the pathways that can lead them into a future aviation careers.