Courses

Avionics, Mechanical and Structures –what's the difference?

It's about power, heading in the right direction, and staying in touch.

This field concerns the electrical, electronic, instrument and radio systems, components and accessories of an aircraft. You will learn how to maintain inspect and undertake fault diagnosis in any of the following areas.

• Autopilot and integrated flight systems
• Environmental control systems, radar, navigation and communication systems
• Generators and power distribution systems
• Protection systems
• Electrical and instrument systems

It's about engines, airframes, and making sure the ride is smooth.

This field covers the airframe and engine systems and components and accessories together with some electrical systems and components. You will learn how to maintain inspect and undertake fault diagnosis in any of the following areas:

• Environmental control systems
• Pneumatic and hydraulic systems
• Landing gear, wheels and brakes
• Pressurization systems
• Fire detection and prevention systems
• Flight control systems
• Miscellaneous aircraft under-carriage maintenance
• Engines and propulsion systems
• Fixed and rotary wing aircraft

It's about appearances and ensuring the aircraft looks and flies like it should.

This field looks at how the airframe is integrated with the aircraft as a whole, and how to ensure its air-worthiness. You will learn how to maintain, produce and repair any of the following:

• Aircraft sheet metal fabrication
• Bonded and non-metallic composite material components
• Form and join metal components on an aircraft
• Work with fibre-reinforced plastic materials

For both the mechanical and the structures trades, QIAE also incorporates skills that make the student more competitive for employment selection.
These additional skills include:

• Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI)
• Fibre glassing
• Spray painting
• Welding
• Life skills
• Information technology sessions.

These 'value added' subjects provide a potential employer with an employee who is safe, flexible, up-skilled and motivated, requiring minimal supervision in the workplace.