Today, the aerospace industry in the world is growing very rapidly and considered one of the major driving forces behind technology development. In most industrial countries it is also a cooperation of public and private industries with an international character and English as communication medium. The Netherlands (and the European Union) has a great need for technically trained people in the aviation industry and the aim of the minor Aerospace Engineering & Maintenance is to expose students to this industry and its main engineering elements. The minor is conducted in English and open for international students and the Erasmus Exchange Program. The minor is developed and deployed within the Academy for Technology & Innovation (ATIx) in Breda in close collaboration with the industry and research institutes.

Aerospace engineering deals with designing and building machines that fly. It is one of the newest branches of engineering, and began in the 19th century with the first experiments in powered flight. As technology progressed, two specialties emerged; aeronautical engineering, which involves designing aircraft such as powered lighter-than-air craft, gliders, fixed-wing airplanes and jets, autogyros, and helicopters; and astronautical engineering, which focuses on the design and development of spacecraft. Aeronautical engineers are primarily involved in designing aircraft that fly within Earth's atmosphere, while astronautical engineers work with the science and technology of spacecraft that fly outside Earth's atmosphere.

Aerospace maintenance is the overhaul, repair, inspection or modification of an aircraft or aircraft component. Maintenance may include such tasks as ensuring compliance with Airworthiness Directives or Service Bulletins. The maintenance of aircraft is highly regulated, in order to ensure safe and correct functioning during flight. National regulations are coordinated under international standards, maintained by bodies such as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The maintenance tasks, personnel and inspections are all tightly regulated and staff must be licensed for the tasks they carry out.

The AE&M minor provides students with a broad introduction to the various disciplines in aerospace engineering and maintenance. This includes courses in aerospace engineering, aerospace maintenance, aerospace industry, aerospace multi-disciplinary projects, aerospace industry excursions, UAV operation, human factors & safety, composites, aerodynamics, space engineering, maintenance engineering, flight mechanics & propulsion, and safety management systems in aerospace.

After the program you will have gained insight into the world of aerospace through both company visits and introductions to subjects like aerodynamics and flight mechanics, maintenance management, aviation legislation (certification) as well as human factors & safety (attitude and behavior).

After the program you will be able to:

• Understand both the Dutch and global aerospace industry. This includes visits to Netherlands and International aerospace companies and military air bases and exposure to engineering managers and recruiters in order to find internships and graduation projects.
• Understand the various engineering processes within aerospace engineering and maintenance.
• Show practical experience covering the design, development, manufacture, testing and marketing of aerospace systems through multi-disciplinary projects. You will be able to apply the knowledge you learn in the courses to these projects.

• Propaedeutic (P) diploma
• Minimum 45 EC’s from the second study year
• Proficient in English (could be tested beforehand if deemed necessary)
• Study program relevant to the courses offered within the minor. Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the minor we would consider students from study programs outside the normal engineering disciplines. We do offer multi-disciplinary projects where other than engineering skills would be relevant and applicable; please make enquiries to the minor coordinator

Required handbooks will be specified during the Welcome Day in June 2024. Further study material will be provided during the minor.

Duration: 20 weeks, one semester (period 1 and period 2, Sep to Jan); 30 ECTS (15 ECTS per period);

Welcome Day at Avans Breda (possibly online) end of June 2024.

Exams and assignments.

The minor is executed at the Avans Breda Campus (LA and LD Buildings).

For 2024/25 the minor is limited to 60 students.