SubscribeIn October 2001, a few weeks after the attacks on the World Trade Centre and when the airline industry was struggling with their consequences, Julian Carr, along with 32 other students, started the MSc course in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University.
He was interested in the airline industry, but his background was in the entertainment industry. He had obtained the backing of Channel Express, a UK passenger charter and cargo airline, to attend the course on the proviso that his thesis was related to their activities (namely the possibility of operating aircraft in a combi configuration).
Even before completing the degree, Julian began working for the airline on a plan to set up a new low cost airline, this became Jet2 and he was employed as its Business Development Manager. Within a few months he helped set up the airline and see it enter operations from Leeds Bradford Airport. He then left Jet2 and joined another low cost airline, MyTravelLite, where he is, in June 2005, the Managing Director. Perhaps Julian’s story is unusual, but it does show the potential of studying for an MSc in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University.
The following sets some of the background to the course and information on its content:
In today's rapidly changing air transport environment, governments, airlines and airport authorities are facing increasingly complex and often conflicting pressures. Effective management, planning and training can help to solve these problems but the industry requires access to advanced and comprehensive knowledge, coupled with an in-depth understanding of its needs.
The Department of Air Transport at Cranfield University has been providing training in the fields of air transport management, operations and engineering for over thirty years and has developed and run its extremely successful MSc courses devoted to this industry. This article describes the contents and format of the one-year full-time MSc programme in Air Transport Management.
The course has necessarily changed over time. Originally envisaged as a means of training promising engineering staff for a role within technical management, the course, while clearly retaining its technical content, now places more emphasis on a wider range of air transport managerial issues, not just confined to the airlines, but involving airports, aircraft manufacturers, air traffic control, and suppliers of related services.
The programme is designed around a series of core modules which provide the necessary knowledge, together with analytical tools and management skills vital for participation in this industry. Students then have a choice of more specialised modules and are required to undertake an individual research project on which they produce a thesis which allows them to pursue a research topic in detail.
One thing that has not changed with time, however, is the fundamental goal of the course. That is that its graduates will be well equipped to make a significant contribution to the management of the global air transport industry, whether it be in airlines, airports, manufacturers or suppliers.
Programmed Overview
The programme involves 45 weeks of full-time study (equivalent to approximately 2000 hours), from the beginning of October to the beginning of September the following year.
The academic year is split between lectures, course work and exams in three teaching periods (from October to May) while students spend the remaining time exclusively on their individual research project.
The programme includes a series of mandatory core modules, plus a number of optional modules. During Teaching Period 1 (October to December) all students study core modules. Teaching Period 2 (January to March) provides opportunity for students to select modules in specialised areas while completing the core modules. Teaching Period 3 (April to May) is for final examinations and the major group project.
From January onwards students are undertaking research on an individual topic which is submitted in the form of a thesis in early September. An oral examination on the topic is conducted at the end of August in the presence of staff from the group and external examiners.
Assessment Procedure
Performance on the programme is based on continuous assessment with examinations at the end of Teaching Period 1 and the beginning of Teaching Period 3. Course work is spread throughout the first three teaching periods.
The approximate weighting of elements of the programme is as follows:
- Examinations 35%
- Course work 25%
- Thesis 40%
Overall a mark of at least 50% is required to pass the MSc.
Teaching Methods
The group employs a wide range of teaching methods designed to create a demanding and varied learning environment including: structured lecture programmes, tutorials and seminars, case studies, computer work simulations, group projects, individual projects, business games, company visits and guest lectures.
Programme Structure
Students entering the programme come from a wide variety of backgrounds and with an equally wide variety of interests. For example, some students may have a background in aeronautical engineering and may know how to design an aircraft but have little experience of its economic exploitation. Others may have a business, economics or management background, but not have much experience of other aspects of the industry. The programme is structured to embrace this diversity of interests and backgrounds by providing a series of common core modules plus a range of modules enabling students to focus on different areas of particular interest.
The Core Programme
The core programme comprises five modules which all students attend. These cover a wide range of air transport issues as well as analytical and management concepts plus skills that are considered essential to the content of a postgraduate course of this nature.
Introduction to Air Transport
This module comprises two main sections. The first contains a set of introductory lectures which present key elements of the air transport industry. Topics include the scheduled industry, the charter sector, cargo and regional operations, US and European liberalisation, aircraft manufacturing and airline organisation. The second section concentrates on the industry's regulatory and legal structure.
Analytical Skills for Air Transport Managers
This module serves as an introduction to a wide range of mathematically based tools and techniques demonstrating their use in solving problems in the air transport industry. The module is divided into two sections - statistics and operations research. Topics covered include probability distributions, sampling, hypothesis testing, forecasting, simulation and decision theory.
Airline Economics and Finance
This module provides a sound understanding of those concepts of economics and financial management which are particularly relevant to decision making in the air transport industry. Students will develop a detailed knowledge of airline cost structures and the factors affecting costs, and airline pricing and revenue management. It includes airline financial statements and an introduction to investment and project appraisal techniques.
Airports and Air Traffic Management
This module presents the organisation and operation of the infrastructure which supports the movement of transport aircraft. There are three main topics, the first covering airport operation and management, the second air traffic control together with navigation and communication systems, while the third introduces safety and security issues in air transport.
Airline Operations
This module is aimed at bringing all students up to a common standard of understanding in the basic theory and application of airline operations, engineering and maintenance. Topics covered include aircraft performance and propulsion, aircraft systems, maintenance management and flight operations.
Options, Case Studies and Thesis
Options:
In addition to the five core modules there are six additional modules. Students may choose two for assessment purposes.
Airline Marketing
This module provides a general view of marketing and an understanding of the key elements used in the airline industry. Topics include examining the marketing environment, airline product planning decisions, branding and corporate identity, yield management, distribution channels, advertising and promotion, airline market share analysis and marketing planning.
Air Transport Engineering
This module aims to cover those disciplines within air transport engineering not normally covered at first-degree level, though such qualifications would not be mandatory. Topics include reliability, maintenance techniques and philosophy plus how these can be affected by the design of mechanical systems, avionics and electrical systems.
Airport Planning, Design and Operations
This module aims to provide an insight into key issues affecting the airport industry. Topics covered will include the principles and problems of airport planning and forecasting as well as airport design and operations aspects, such as airport layout and capacity, terminal design, environmental issues, scheduling, slot allocation, access to airports, security and airfield operations.
Safety Management
This module shows how accidents occur and what lessons must be learned in order to avoid their recurrence. Topics include organisation and management, the investigation process, sources of evidence, sabotage, crashworthiness and survival, accident reports, incident reporting and accident prevention.
Air Transport Forecasting
In this module students gain an understanding of advanced forecasting techniques and of their application in the air transport industry. Forecasting techniques considered include time series analysis, econometric forecasting, market share modelling, and gravity modelling.
Case Studies
Many of the modules include case study project sessions where students, usually in groups, are asked to analyse problems and propose solutions. These may take the form of bilateral negotiations, an air law court case, a market research assignment or running an airline business simulation. A major case study taken in groups is undertaken after the exams in May and lasts for two weeks. This project draws together all the elements of the taught part of the course, requiring each group to produce and present a business case for a start up airline. This case study is highly intensive, but enjoyable, and the final presentations are made in front of faculty members and an invited panel of guests from industry.
Thesis
From January to September students will be working on their individual research projects. Up until the end of the third teaching period this will be on a part-time basis but from June onwards it will be full time. These projects are research oriented with some receiving considerable support from industrial organisations who contribute possible topics to the group. Students are encouraged to put forward their own ideas for research in addition to topics proposed by the group. Assistance is provided by group staff in developing and following a research plan which enables students to formulate a problem, undertake in-depth analysis and draw appropriate conclusions.
External Speakers and Visits
Throughout the year a series of lectures on topical issues are given by eminent speakers from the industry. Recent speakers include:-
- Paul Clark, Managing Director of AirBusiness Academy, Airbus
- Prof Rigas Doganis, Visiting Professor
- Martin George, Marketing and Commercial Director, British Airways
- Jason Holt, Flight Safety Manager, Virgin Atlantic
- Alan James, Strategy Manager, bmi british midland
- Stan Maiden, Research Director, BAA
- Dr Andrew Sentance, Chief Economist, British Airways, and Visiting Professor
In addition to the visiting lectures a number of visits are usually arranged, such as to the Royal Aeronautical Society in London and Monarch Airlines at Luton Airport.
Career Development
Every assistance is given to students to help them identify and pursue their career choice. The Department of Air Transport has close links with companies and organisations in the industry who consider our students a valuable source of potential recruits, as well as providing assistance with thesis research during the academic programme. In recent years this assistance has taken the form of a brochure featuring the résumés of those current MSc students who are seeking employment after their year at Cranfield. This is produced by the Group and distributed amongst its industrial contacts.
Past students have taken up employment in a variety of positions in a wide range of organisations (both public and private). Some of the main recruiting areas in recent years have included:
- airlines (e.g. British Airways, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, bmi british midland, Monarch, American Airlines, Lufthansa, easyJet, MyTravel)
- aerospace manufacturers (e.g. Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce)
- airports (e.g. BAA, Manchester, Birmingham)
- aircraft maintenance (e.g SR Technics)
- consultancy firms (e,g McKinseys, SH&E, Route Development Company)
- aviation leasing and finance (e.g. debis AirFinance)
- aviation journalism (e.g. ATI)
As the MSc in Air Transport has been running for nearly 40 years, around 800 students have now entered the air transport industry, many of them now in senior positions. The Department maintains a database of its alumni, who regularly return to Cranfield to contribute to the visiting lecture programme.
Further Research
Students have the option to postpone entry into industry by continuing research in Air Transport at Cranfield. Often an MSc thesis leaves many questions unanswered, due to pressure of time. For students who demonstrate academic excellence during their year in the Air Transport Group, there are good opportunities to stay on and read for a doctorate.
For futher information on the full-time MSc in Air Transport Management or its part-time version please contact:
Andy Foster, Course Director, MSc Air Transport Management
Email: a.foster@cranfield.ac.uk
Tel: 44 (0)1234 754232
Fax: 44 (0)1234 752207
