The sky’s the limit for aerospace students at the University of the West of Scotland who undertook a course assessment on an airborne plane – marking the first learning experience of its kind in the institution’s history.

Aerospace Engineering students recently undertook a ‘Flight Laboratory’ mission onboard a Britten-Norman BN-2B Islander Aircraft, which saw them conduct flight experiments at multiple altitudes - turning textbook theory into practical, hands-on experience.

The aircraft took off from Cumbernauld Airport and followed a route past Stirling Castle, performing a range of tricky manoeuvres to test students’ knowledge before returning to its original destination.

The students were tasked with conducting real-time aircraft engineering measurements and collecting data for analysis at altitudes from 1000 ft, up to 2700 ft, giving them exposure to real-world aerospace operations and flight-testing environments.

The UWS Flight Lab marks a major milestone for the university, as it’s the first time that students have carried out coursework in the sky – helping them gain invaluable insight into professional flight operations, performance analysis, and aerospace systems engineering.

Gordon Morison, Dean of the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences

UWS currently has a full-motion flight simulator at its Paisley campus for use by Aerospace Engineering students, allowing for familiarisation of aircraft flight instruments and avionics.

However, this is the first real airborne flight experience introduced by UWS for those in their third year of undergraduate study, with hopes of helping to bridge the transition from university into the world of work.

Gordon Morison, Dean of the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of the West of Scotland, said: “The UWS Flight Lab marks a major milestone for the university, as it’s the first time that students have carried out coursework in the sky – helping them gain invaluable insight into professional flight operations, performance analysis, and aerospace systems engineering.

“At the University of the West of Scotland, we are committed to providing the best learning experience possible for our students, and to preparing the next generation of engineers who are fully equipped for careers in aviation and aerospace innovation.”

The work directly addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4, Quality Education, and Goal 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.