SubscribeThe Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE) was established on 1 April 2004 as a result of the Defence Training Review (DTR) and is an important step in the migration to a partnered solution for Defence Training.
The principal task of the DCAE is to provide a high quality, relevant and up-to-date aeronautical engineering (AE) training to fulfill the needs of tomorrow's front line. To that end, the College is exploiting the opportunity to combine the best aspects of the Services' current AE training; such refinement will contribute to the development of Defence Aeronautical Training for the future. Concurrently, the DCAE is supporting the development of a partnered solution for Defence Training.
Comprised of training establishments across 5 sites, the DCAE embraces the AE and survival equipment elements of RN training at HMS Sultan (Gosport), the REME School of Electronic and Aeronautical Engineering at Arborfield, the RAF No 1 School of Technical Training at Cosford, specialist RAF Engineering Officer Training at Cranwell and the RAF`s Painter and Finisher training at St Athan. Although the DCAE is a federation of military units, it is first and foremost a cost-effective business. For example, Cosford was one of the first Defence College sites to become fully accredited to an ISO 9000-2000 quality assurance system and it has now embarked on substantial business initiatives to secure International Defence Training contracts.
The Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering is centre on DCAE Cosford, a centre of excellence in Aeronautical Engineering. As with most defence training sites DCAE Cosford has the facilities and capability to deliver training to the absolute beginner all the way through to upgrading/refresher training for experienced engineers. All aspects of aeronautical engineering are covered including:
- Airframe maintenance and repair
- Propulsion systems
- On aircraft electrical systems
- Avionics
- Weapons systems
- Survival equipment maintenance and repair
- Expedient repair