Ottobrunn, 22 May 2015 - Dual education combines engineering skills and aviation expertise. The Universität der Bundeswehr München establishes the first ever study program for military pilots of the Bundeswehr. The new study program Aeronautical Engineering starts on October 1, 2015, with an initial number of 13 future pilots. [ more... ]

Academic training will both take place at the Ludwig Bölkow Campus in Ottobrunn as well as on the campus of the Universität der Bundeswehr München.

The dual bachelor’s degree program Aeronautical Engineering aims to serve officers of the air force and navy as an academic foundation for their professional careers. The study program has been precisely tailored to the target group of future pilots in order to ensure a smooth link between both academic and flight training. In the past it has been possible for pilots of the Bundeswehr to study at one of the Bundeswehr universities; so far it was, however, not obligatory. “This study program is a real asset for our university. I am happy that as the last group of officers now also the pilots of the Bundeswehr receive an academic education as important part of their overall education”, explains the President of the Universität der Bundeswehr München Prof. Dr. Merith Niehuss. “The Ludwig Bölkow Campus is the ideal location for a close integration of theory and practice, and we look forward to receiving the students”, says Alexander Mager, managing director of the Ludwig Bölkow Campus GmbH.

“The idea behind the bachelor’s degree program Aeronautical Engineering is to combine aviation expertise with engineering and economic skills”, explains the Vice-President of the College of Applied Sciences Prof. Dr. Matthias Heinitz. The study program creates the prerequisites for a lifelong fulfilling career in a challenging aeronautical environment. The objective of the study program is to obtain a professional qualification for a career in aviation with a technical or management focus. Graduates shall be enabled to apply scientific methods in the fields of aviation and aviation technology.

In order to meet these requirements the study program combines both studies primarily focusing on engineering as well as a flight training to become a pilot. The study program has been designed as a dual study

program: It integrates academic contents and vocational training elements. “I am certain that the new and first study program at the Ludwig Bölkow Campus will generate an enormous traction for further study programs”, says Prof. Dr. Klaus Drechsler of the executive board of Munich Aerospace e.V.

Six New Professorships

The objective of the vocational training part of the study program is to acquire aviation qualifications and to obtain a military pilot license. The advantage of dual study programs is a mutually beneficial combination of theory (engineering and economics) and practice (flight training). The study program including flight training will run for four and a half years. The academic training will be achieved by six new professorships and 25 additional employees. Furthermore, a new laboratory for composite materials will be set up on the Ludwig Bölkow Campus and new laboratory equipment such as flight simulators and test turbines will be purchased for practical training.

The number of students is expected to increase to 55 students per year by 2019.

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