While we would encourage you to attend this course in-person if you can, there is an option to study solely online.

A short-course for anyone with responsibility and interest in continuing airworthiness and maintenance - essential to both Civil and Defence aerospace.

The aims of the course are to enable delegates and organisations to reduce costs, optimise performance and meet the requirements for continuing airworthiness management.  The course describes and explains a wide variety of topics of interest to Original Equipment Manufacturers, Regulatory Bodies and Maintenance Repair & Overhaul companies.

The course includes the basic principles of aircraft maintenance philosophies, maintenance management and describes the process to improve supply-chain management.   As far back as 1963 Ken Wilkinson argued that many engineering degrees are biased in favour of the design and manufacturing disciplines – however there is a large gap within the airline industry, where skills in “Maintenance Engineering” are needed.  The latter should include the theory of reliability and maintenance, techniques for condition monitoring, economics of maintenance and human factors.

At a glance

  • Dates
    • Please enquire for course dates
  • Duration5 days
  • LocationCranfield campus
  • Cost

    £2,050 The course fee includes refreshments and lunch during the day. Accommodation is not included and must be booked separately.

    Concessions available

Course structure

The course is delivered over 5 days, from Monday to Friday, and is mostly in the form of lectures. Group work and tutorials are also used for a short maintenance planning exercise. Industry speakers are also scheduled, representing Lufthansa Technik, Airbus, CFM International and Giode Ltd. All delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the course.

What you will learn

At the end of the course, you should be able to:

  • Describe the principles of reliability as applied in maintenance 

  • Critically appraise the different philosophies for aircraft maintenance 

  • Outline a maintenance management programme, including the control of operational standards, supply chain and cost issues 

  • Develop a process for achieving continuing airworthiness management with the appropriate regulatory approval.


Core content

Reliability and Maintenance Processes

  • Reliability Centred Maintenance.  The process of analysing design, performance and failures of equipment in order to determine the maintenance requirements.

  • Introduction to MSG 3 and Maintenance Review Board (MRB) processes.

  • Maintenance Programme Development 

Continuing Airworthiness Management

  • Regulatory aspects (EASA Part M) with regard to Continuing Airworthiness Management. 

  • Aircraft integrity management by means of on-line systems e.g. health and usage monitoring, engine condition monitoring etc. 

Maintenance Management

  • Outsourcing versus In-House Maintenance, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, application of “Lean principles” to Maintenance operations

  • Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance

  • Relationship between Manufacturer, Operator and Maintenance organisation, including management of Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins.


Who should attend

The course is aimed at technical/commercial staff in the aerospace industry. Typical delegates who would benefit from this course include aviation engineers and managers with responsibility for aircraft maintenance and modification programmes. Staff from regulatory authorities, aerospace manufacturers and suppliers would also benefit.

Accreditation

This short course is a module within the MSc in Airworthiness which is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Speakers

Cranfield speakers 

  • Dr. Simon Place
  • Cengiz Turkoglu
  • Dr Yiguang Li
  • Prof Philip Irving

Visiting speakers include professionals from Airbus, CFM, Lufthansa, TAP Maintenance & Engineering and Giode Limited.


Concessions

Group Discount: Where more than three delegates are booking from within one site or one organisation, a discount for the course is offered. Please ask about discount scheme at time of booking. Accommodation fees are not included in the discount scheme.

Accommodation options and prices

This is a non-residential course. If you would like to book accommodation on campus, please contact Mitchell Hall or Cranfield Management Development Centre directly. Further information regarding our accommodation on campus can be found here.

Alternatively you may wish to make your own arrangements at a nearby hotel.

Location and travel

Cranfield University is situated in Bedfordshire close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The University is located almost midway between the towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes and is conveniently situated between junctions 13 and 14 of the M1.

London Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are 30, 90 and 90 minutes respectively by car, offering superb connections to and from just about anywhere in the world. 

For further location and travel details

Location address

Cranfield University
College Road
Cranfield
Bedford 
MK43 0AL


How to apply

To apply for this course please use the online application form.

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.