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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1313.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 29, 1932 For the Training of Ground Engineers 9& Where and how to get sound and adequate training is always a problem. In the case of aircraft engineering, however, the new scheme outlined below provides a ready solution. This training scheme has been laid out by the College of Aeronautical Engineering in collaboration with the Directorate of Aeronautical Inspection and should therefore "fill the bill" perfectly. NEW and apparently very sound scheme indeed " A " and " C," and those who pass obtain the College's has been inaugurated by the College, of Aero- Intermediate Certificate. nautical Engineering at Chelsea, which provides A further side of the training during the 21 months they for a scheme of training designed to raise the are at Chelsea and Brooklands takes the form of theoreti- status of the Ground Engineer and provide an adequate cal training in aero engines, materials of construction supply of well-trained youths for the aircraft industry. wireless, electricity and magnetism, theory of flight, navi- In its essentials it consists of a scheme of training whereby the College at Chelsea co-operates with well-established firms in the aircraft industry, supplying them in the first place with youths who have already received a sound engineering training at the College, and who will therefore be of some considerable use to the co-operating firms during the final part of the training. The career of an aeronautical engineer is one which should be attractive to the better type of public school boy, because aviation is a growing industry and one which offers great scope for initiative and personal success. At the present time, however, its size is small, and it is essen gation and meteorology, and aerodrome management, while those students who, prior to joining the College, possess a sufficiently high standard of mathematics, may study and sit for the examination for the Associate Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society. So far the training is as has hitherto been carried out at the College, and it is now that the new part of the training comes into effect. After gaining the Inter mediate Certificate the students next pass to an aircraft or aircraft engine manufacturing firm, where they undergo a scheme of training definitely planned and carried out with the co-operation of the College. By this means they tial therefore, that the number of youths taken into the get actual experience of work on aircraft and engines in industry should be limited to the requirements. This is daily use. The students may spend the whole of the re- necessary because the demand for the better class of maining nine months of their training with one company, Ground Engineer cannot but be comparatively small for or they may pass from one company to another, according some time. to the facilities available and to the licences they require The scheme starts when the students are enrolled for a probationary term at the College in Sydney Street, Chelsea. During this time they are tested, and those who are con sidered unsuitable, are told so quite candidly, so that both For those students who wish to gain their " B" licence on aircraft, it is necessary to spend a longer period with the selected firm. In the case of manufacturing firms of aircraft or engines their parents' money and their time may not be wasted the students will work to a special schedule drawn up bv in further training. This then ensures that only suitable youths are carried in the College for the full period. For the next twelve months their work lies mainly in the engine overhaul shops, where a large stock of all sorts and descriptions of aircraft engines is carried. They overhaul these, actually doing the work themselves, so that they become thoroughly conversant with the engines in every way. During this time they also go to lectures in conjunction with their shop work, and are, as well, taught fitting, machine shop work, testing materials, foundry work, engine testing, carburetter work, welding and machine drawing. At the end of each term the stan dard they have to attain is rigor ously maintained by both oral and written examinations. Working on engines in this manner has the advantage of the fact that the students are enabled to overhaul the engines from the beginning to end, and actually to run them up on the test bed, thereby becoming conversant with engine overhaul from every point of view, a matter which they would not be permitted to under take on airworthy engines at an aerodrome or in a factory. After examination at the end of this twelve months the students who pass satisfactorily are trans ferred to Brooklands, where for a minimum period of six months they are engaged on rigging, power plant installation, dope shop practice, instrument and compass maintenance and adjust ment, daily and periodical inspec tion, overhauls and final inspec tion after C. of A. overhauls and re-fits, and care and maintenance of wireless equipment. At the end of this period the examina tion is similar in every respect to that laid down for the Air Minis try Ground Engineer's Licences the College in collaboration with that firm, while in the case of students working at operating companies, their schedule will be as follows: — Maintenance of rigging and flying controls under operat ing conditions ; particulars of controls incorporating dif ferential action ; locating defects, etc., that are encoun tered during operations ; recording angles of incidence, dihedral, stagger, and tail setting, etc. ; methods of effect ing repairs and replacements, including information on the processes involved ; method of examination of aircraft after a heavy landing ; diagnosing of faults experienced during flight and methods of correction ; checking of THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE SHOP AT CHELSEA : In this shop embryo ground engineers are instructed in the art of pulling aircraft engines to pieces and then assembling them in such a way that they will work ! Engines of all the best known types are to be found here. (FLIGHT Photo.) 1229 p.
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