Aircraft engineers of the future put through their paces at Cardiff and Vale College Aero Challenge

Budding aircraft engineers from schools across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan have been put through their paces at a special Aero Challenge held by Cardiff and Vale College.

The Year 10 pupils travelled to the College’s renowned International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT) at Cardiff Airport for the Aero Challenge. Held to mark National Science and Engineering Week, the competition has been designed to give school pupils a taste of the various tasks involved in the aerospace engineering industry and to show the value of vocational education.

Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr beat off competition from ten other schools to win the Aero Challenge. Tasks involved hand and eye skills and project management. The pupils also got to try their hands at a flight simulator.

Pupil Eleri Davies said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my day at the ICAT Aeronautical Challenge. I never realised that there was such a variety of career pathways within the industry. 

“It really opened my eyes to see that a career in this field would be so interesting and well paid.  I will definitely be looking into a career in Aeronautical Engineering or even as a pilot!”

Fellow Ysgol Plasmawr pupil Iwan Bleasdale added: “The day at CAVC really hit home that I had an interest in engineering that I never knew I had!  I especially enjoyed using the flight simulator – what an experience – thank you! I would thoroughly recommend schools to take part in this team event.”