Aviation Management with Commercial Pilot Training in Helicopters

With over 20 years of experience, we specialise in preparing you for a dynamic career in aviation. In just three years, you will earn a full honours degree while completing your flight training and the ground exams required for your ‘frozen’ Air Transport Pilot Licence – Helicopters (ATPL(H)).

Led by seasoned lecturers who were former airline pilots with major airlines, you will benefit from real-world insights and professional connections. You’ll work with our UK-leading partner Heli Air towards your ATPL, and together, we’ll help prepare you for a career in the exciting world of rotary wing aviation.

Why study Aviation Management and Commercial Pilot Training at BNU?
Integrated Pilot Training and Degree
This programme offers a combination of academic study and professional pilot training. Unlike traditional aviation courses, you will graduate with both a BSc and a ‘frozen’ Airline Transport Pilot Licence – Helicopters (ATPL(H)). This dual qualification not only enhances your employability but also gives you knowledge of management and logistics within the aviation industry.

Industry partnerships
BNU has relationships with leading flight training organisations and major aviation companies throughout the country. These connections can help provide you with networking opportunities, which could lead to internships, and placements, increasing your exposure to the industry before you even graduate. We work closely with our industry connections to make sure that the course content is regularly updated to reflect real-world practices and standards, so you can be confident that you're learning what employers are looking for.

Aviation management skills
Studying topics such as airline operations, airport management, aviation law, and safety regulations will help you master Aviation Management. Our broad curriculum prepares you not only to fly planes but also to take on leadership and strategic roles in areas like airline management, logistics, operations, and air traffic control.

State-of-the-art facilities
Gain the opportunity for hands-on experience, allowing you to practice techniques, emergency procedures, and other critical aspects of pilot training in a controlled environment. Your practical training is complemented by classroom instruction, helping you develop both the technical skills and knowledge required to excel as a pilot and aviation professional.

Global career opportunities
The combination of a recognised UK degree and an Airline Transport Pilot Licence - Helicopters (ATPL(H)) opens doors to careers not only in the UK but globally. The aviation industry is offers a truly international career, and your qualifications will be valued in numerous countries, giving you the flexibility to work with airlines, airports, or aviation management companies all around the world.

What will I study?
On the management side of this degree, you’ll learn how airlines and airports operate, covering topics like airline operations, airport management, aviation safety, and security. You’ll also study aviation law and regulations, along with the economics of the industry, gaining insight into the financial and legal challenges faced by airlines.

For the pilot training, with our external training partner HeliAir you'll work towards an ATPL(H). This involves learning flight theory—covering aerodynamics, navigation, and flight planning—alongside hands-on flight training with approved providers. You’ll also practice using advanced flight simulators to handle complex procedures and emergencies. Additional studies include meteorology and aircraft systems, helping you understand how weather affects flights and how aircraft components function.

Year one
Core Modules
Aviation Operations
Academic and Professional Skills
Fundamentals of Management
PPL Theory
PPL Flying Helicopters

Year two
Core Modules
Research Methods and Academic Skills
ATPL Theory 1 (Helicopter) – Instrumentation and General Navigation
ATPL Theory 2 – Meteorology, Human Performance and Limitations and Mass and Balance
ATPL Theory 3 – Radio Navigation, Air Law and Communications
ATPL Theory 4 (Helicopter) – Aircraft General Knowledge and Flight Planning and Flight Monitoring
ATPL Theory 5 (Helicopter) – Operational Procedures, Principles of Flight and Performance

Year three
Core Modules
Sustainability and Ethics in Aviation
Extended Independent Work
Operational Management in the Aviation Industry
The Aviation Business

Optional Modules
Airline Assessment Preparation Course OR
Aviation Strategy and Financial Performance OR
Digital Technology and Innovation in Aviation OR
Network Planning

How will I be taught and assessed?

During your time at BNU you'll be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars, and simulation sessions.

Classroom-based learning will cover key aviation management topics, with lectures and seminars providing the theoretical foundation for your studies. These sessions will be interactive, often incorporating case studies, group discussions, and presentations to help you engage with real-world aviation issues.

For your pilot training, you'll work closely with HeliAir, where you'll receive practical, hands-on flight experience. This includes flight training leading to Private Pilot Licence for Helicopters (PPLH), ground school theory portion of ATPL(H), advanced flight training for your Commercial Pilot Licence for Helicopters (CPLH), Instrument Rating (IR), Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT), Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC). The university will coordinate the academic side of your studies, including PPL(H) ground school theory, while your flight school delivers the practical pilot training component.

For theoretical modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of written assignments, exams, presentations, and case studies. These assessments will test your understanding of aviation management concepts, industry regulations, and your ability to apply what you've learned to practical scenarios.

For your pilot training, assessments will be in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations, with 9 ground school exams for PPL(H), and 13 ground school exams for ATPL(H) theory, and practical flying tests for your flight training.

For more information, please visit: https://www.bucks.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bsc-hons-aviation-management-commercial-pilot-training-helicopters