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International Aviation Academy

Aviation Academy
Written by Roma Publications

International Aviation Academy

The International Aviation Academy in Norwich (IAA-N) opened in April 2017 and is a purpose-built training academy aimed at creating the next generation of aviation professionals. The IAA-N is the first of Aviation Skills Partnership’s skills academies and is providing students with comprehensive, cutting edge and hands-on training.

Housed within a former hangar at Norwich International Airport, the IAA-N was created following major construction project that transformed the structure into a suitable learning environment. The works, which commenced in April 2016 and included a 4 month build period, have now been recognised with two RICS East of England Award nominations. The project was shortlisted in both the ‘Commercial’ and ‘Regeneration’ categories. The IAA-N was designed by architectural practice Hamson Barron Smith and R G Carter Construction as the main contractor.

The building is divided into two separate zones, a learning resource area containing classrooms, exhibition space, café and offices and an aircraft emulation zone containing hanger space for aircraft and engineering workshops. Each of these two areas also has a first floor area that covers 25% of the space and also creates a large atrium space within the learning resource area and open hanger to accommodate various aircraft. Partition walls are made from traditional plasterboard and internal steel studwork achieving either 30 or 60 minute fire rated compartments.

The origins of the hangar could be traced back to the 1930s and as such its original hanger walls, floors and cladding were removed leaving only the steel frame. The frame was shot blasted and repainted before modern insulated cladding panels were added. Further insulation was added to the roof through a flexible Sarnafil membrane. Internally, the hangar’s concrete floor was painted using a specialist paint resistant to hydraulic fluids and lubricating oils.

Another significant element of the project was the addition of an additional bay at the hangar end of the building to accommodate the tail section of a Boeing 737 aircraft. The original roof trusses were too low, therefore an alternative roof section was necessary. Equally, the end wall of the hangar has been constructed as a demountable structure, allowing for the aircraft to be changed to a new model every 5 years. Ensuring that the building was able to accommodate the movement of aircraft in and out of the building proved to be one of the project’s biggest challenges.

From an environmental standpoint a number of measures were introduced to help the building achieve a BREEAM standard. This includes automated LED lighting, ventilation with heat recovery and low water use toilets.

Commenting on the RICS Award nomination, Aviation Skills Partnership General Manger Emma Darby said:

“The Aviation Academy is the first of its type anywhere in the world, offering students an independent route to becoming a fully qualified aircraft engineer. Having its own ‘live’ aircraft available solely for use by students is unique, as usually restrictions will apply to students working on ‘flying’ aircraft, limiting the number of practical hours necessary  for obtaining an engineering licence. Other facilities using this training model are planned both in the UK and abroad, therefore any increased exposure promoting the academy will only help us in achieving this goal, benefiting future students, industry and wider society.”

The International Aviation Academy has a capacity for over 450 students and offers a range of aviation and allied programmes. Alongside aviation engineering, 5 other course will be delivered from September 2018 in professional pilot, air traffic control, airport operations, operations and cabin crew. It was made possible by Norfolk County Council, the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and Norse Group, plus supporting partners Norwich City Council, Norwich International Airport, KLM UK Engineering, University of East Anglia and City College Norwich. To find out more, please visit www.aviationskillspartnership.com/iaa-n.

Aviation Academy

 

 

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Roma Publications