During their trip to Heathrow Terminal 5 as part of the British Airways National Work Experience Week, our students had access to the airside and were given the opportunity to view the British Airways ramp operations and interact with "below the wing employees".
They were also fortunate enough to visit and view part of the 12 mile long conveyor belt that transports passenger baggage and caro, see aircrafts guided into gates, witness the servicing of aircrafts and observe the complete turnaround of a British Airways A319. One of our students was also given the opportunity to participate in a pushback.
We are very grateful to the British Airways and the four representatives who worked with our students throughout the day. They provided a guided tour of the airside operations and gave an excellent explanation of ramp processes and procedures as well as providing valuable information about BA and various routes available if students wish to join the company in the future.
The tour of the airside was an excellent experience for our students, on top of being able to observe the different types of ramp activities such as aircraft refuelling, seeing the baggage and cargo system in practice and witnessing aircrafts landing and taking off, they were also able to see health, safety and security measures in practice. A fantastic enrichment activity to complement the knowledge our students are gaining on their Aviation courses.
If you are interested in a career in the aviation industry, come along to our Open Day on Saturday 12th November 10am-1pm to meet our lecturers and students, ask questions about the courses and apprenticeships we offer and have a tour of our incredible facilities. Register now at www.west-thames.ac.uk/en/events/open-days.cfm.
