Express logistics managers at the University of West London returned this week for the first day of their second year. Syllabus opened with compliance, first lectures focused on delivery at door, legal challenge including prohibited goods and age-related challenge from knives to fireworks, alcohol and over-eighteen media. It’s a busy term ahead focused on behaviour, management and service in delivery.

First day back was in the air for year two of the Express Delivery apprentice course. A team building special, a unique morning in the Heathrow Universities Boeing simulator had logisticians focused on landing times and air space for both passengers and freight.

UWL delivered a unique full-thrust 747 Boeing take-off. Students were treated to an extraordinary team-building, full pilot training exercise at the UWL Flight simulator for pilots. Richard, a commercial pilot himself and the simulator instructor gave the pre-flight briefing and covered air traffic departure and arrival, the impact on timings for delivery.

Express Managers in the air. ‘Instructions, ‘push to make the houses bigger, pull to make the houses smaller’ would become clearer when flying but first you need to know banking, yoke, flat wings, and level.’

With the cohort clustered in the cockpit of the flight simulator, anticipation of take-off was intense. Safety details like ‘how do you get in the pilot seat?’ were overcome, but height was an issue. BA pilots are not allowed to be over 6’3” otherwise you have to prove you can fit in the pilot’s seat! Ready for take-off over London’s skyline. Ryan took to the seat, ‘hand on the thrust level please! Instructions flowing, push, tilt, flaps, level wings. Sky is Blue, ground is Brown, look out for the landmarks, flying below 2,000 feet over London is not allowed, but this is only a simulation.

Management behaviour at the heart of it, can-do attitude, getting it delivered. Every student taking a seat experienced the realistic feel of a pilot flying a 747 Boeing. Real life stress levels raised, as a deep husky voice called ‘too low terrain / sink rate / 1000ft amongst the siren of drop landing gear.’ The view was amazing, as the landmarks of London helped you fly the plane in the right direction. With Simon going at 460mph (not possible in reality), Russell spinning, Robert landing and Chris seeing 6 lights along the runway and taking off smoothly; each student flew and took controls with landing or take off procedures. As the cohort had learnt about the Numbering and Naming of roads, so the airport runways are named and numbered after the compass. Runway 27 after 270 West on the dial. Taking a sharp right for a quick view of Windsor Castle or left over to Canary Wharf, but not that close, Dom landed with precision. Sarah practising the gliding technique for running out of fuel (it happens) and Ryan asking ‘where’s the clutch?’, every student engaged enthusiastically and attentively but the final question comes down to Richard asking the instructor ‘Do you do all this all the time?’. Well, the answer is this ‘George flies it really.’

Who’s George? That’s the auto pilot.

Course lead, Dr Tracey Worth, IOC,

This was a great team-building opener for the second year students, with a magic focus on behaviour under stress with a real can-do attitude for delivery. A huge thank-you to the UWL for allocating the Express Delivery Apprentices a take-off slot on the runways of Heathrow and City Airport. Next time I fly, I won’t be that critical of the pilot.