Full-time Diploma of Technical Studies 1015dipts

Overview

Until 1992, airports in Canada were operated and maintained by Transport Canada. Since then, airport operations have fallen within the domain of advisory boards comprised of individuals from municipalities and private enterprise. This change has resulted in a need for airports to have professionally-trained personnel.

As well, the Asia Pacific airports are moving into a growth phase, with regional governments realizing the increasing need to both build world class airports and upgrade the existing ones to international standards. Governments in the region are looking to fast track privatization. These airports by themselves promise opportunities as none of them meet the latest international quality standards. The award-winning BCIT diploma program in Airport Operations is designed to meet the demands of today's unique and dynamic global airport operation environment. In the next 10 years, this exciting industry is expected to see a major increase in capacity and many opportunities for skilled entry level airport operation personnel world-wide are becoming available.

View career video.

The Program

The 16-month BCIT diploma program in Airport Operations, supported and approved by the aviation industry, provides students with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program of study. This is the only program of its type in Western Canada. To maintain a current, high-calibre standard, the program has an industry Advisory Committee made up of airport and airline managers, airport field staff from Canada's local regional and national airports, and Transport Canada representatives.

BCIT also offers an online Airport Operations Part-time studies Associate Certificate.

Program Entry

Entrance requirements

  • High school graduation
  • English 12 or English language proficiency
  • One of the following math requirements:
    • Principles of Mathematics 11
    • Applications of Mathematics 11
    • Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 11 (C)
    • Foundations of Mathematics 11
    • Pre-Calculus 11

  • Completion of the BCIT Aviation Pre-entry Test for English, math and spatial perception.

    Note: The test fee is $70*. If a student fails any portion of the test they must re-write the failed portion Applicants can only attempt to write the test twice. If they fail both times they will be withdrawn from the selection process and must re-apply with proof of upgrading.

Check for acceptable equivalents or upgrading courses taught at BCIT.

*Price is subject to change without notice.

Additional Requirements

  • Once all entrance requirements are met, a meeting will be scheduled with department faculty.

  • A good understanding of MS Office (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) computer software is highly recommended.

  • Driver's license valid in BC (is an asset but not required)

  • A valid passport and/or documentation allowing entry into the United States of America is recommended.

Applicants 19 or older, who have not graduated from high school and have been working for a number of years, may be considered as mature students. All other entrance requirements specified for this program are required by applicants applying as mature students. Acceptance of mature students is at the discretion of the program selection committee.

Admission does not happen on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the large number of applicants and limited number of seats, top-down selection is employed with the most suitable applicants invited to join the program. Some applicants may meet the minimum requirements for admission and not be invited to join the program.

International Student Option

International students may want to consider the BCIT International Student Entry Program (ISEP) or the Dorset College preparatory program as an alternate mode of entry to this program.

BC provincial exams

Provincial exam marks are required for English 12, Communications 12, and Technical and Professional Communications 12. BCIT does not require provincial exams for Grade 12 Math and Science courses.

Apply to program

Submit an application: online or by mail [PDF].

You can check the status of your application online at any time using the Student Information System.

Scheduled intakes

September each year.

Application processing

October 1* of the previous year until the program fills.

Applications are considered for a specific intake.

*Or next business day

Selection Process

The process is competitive. Candidates will be selected on the basis of highest academic standing and admission test results.

myCommunication

Within 2 to 3 weeks of applying to a program, you will be sent a letter in the mail confirming receipt of your application. The letter will identify your student number, BCIT e-mail address and instructions on how to login to your myBCIT account.

All official BCIT correspondence will be sent to your myBCIT account. Check myCommunication often during the application process and throughout your studies at BCIT.

You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within 2 to 8 weeks.

Costs & Supplies

Tuition fees

Please see the Fees, Payments and Refunds section of the website for more information on full-time tuition fees.

Books and supplies

Term 1: $600; Term 2: $500; Term 3: $200; Term 4: $200 (general estimated cost, subject to change)

Additional costs such as travel expenses for field trips and practicums are the responsibility of the student. Students will be required to purchase a BCIT Airport Operations Golf Shirt (approx. value $30.00)

Financial assistance

Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.

Courses

Class hours

0800–1530, Monday through Friday

Program matrix

Term 1 (16 weeks) Credits
  AIRC 1001 Employability Skills for Aviation Professionals 10.0
  AIRC 1002 Fundamentals of Aeronautics 2.0
  AIRC 1003 History of Aviation 2.0
  AIRC 1004 Introduction to Airport and Airside Operations 4.0
  AIRC 1005 Air Navigation and Air Traffic Services 3.0
  AIRC 1006 Aviation Meteorology 2.0
  AIRC 1007 Occupational Health and Safety in Aviation 2.0
  AIRC 1008 Introduction to Safety Management Systems 3.0
  AVAO 1190 Airport Master Planning and Certification 2.0
  AVAO 1200 Airport Familiarization 2.0
 
Term 2 (16 weeks) Credits
  AIRC 2126 Aviation Safety and Risk Management 4.0
  AIRC 2270 Airfield Design and Planning 4.0
  AVAO 2200 Basic Aircraft Systems and Services 2.0
  AVAO 2222 Human Factors in Aviation 1.0
  AVAO 2241 Airport Management 1 3.0
  AVAO 2245 Marketing Airports for Revenue 3.0
  AVAO 2255 Airport Environmental Management Systems 3.0
  AVAO 2262 Airport Security Systems 3.0
  AVAO 2295 Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices 2.0
  AVAO 2300 Workplace Practicum 1 6.0
  AVAO 2500 Applied Project 1 1.0
 
Term 3 (16 weeks) Credits
  AVAO 3305 Airport Drawings 2.0
  AVAO 3310 Quality and Service at Airports 3.0
  AVAO 3322 Airport Emergency Management 1 3.0
  AVAO 3330 Airline Economics 4.0
  AVAO 3370 Airport as a Retail Entity 3.0
  AVAO 3383 Terminal and Groundside Planning 6.0
  AVAO 3400 Workplace Practicum 2 10.0
  AVAO 3500 Applied Project 2 1.0
 
Term 4 (16 weeks) Credits
  AIRC 4410 Training Skills for Aviation 3.0
  AIRC 4420 Community and Public Relations for Aviation 3.0
  AVAO 4400 Ramp Operations 2.0
  AVAO 4430 Airport Law 2.0
  AVAO 4442 Airport Emergency Management 2 3.0
  AVAO 4450 Airport Maintenance 2.0
  AVAO 4460 Strategic Planning for Airports 3.0
  AVAO 4480 People Resources at Airports 3.0
  AVAO 4485 AutoCAD: Enhanced Applications for Airports 3.0
  AVAO 4500 Final Applied Project 4.0
 
Total Credits: 124.0

Note: Course work includes lectures, demonstrations, and applied training. Students will be assigned industry-based activities that will be completed at local and/or regional and national airports. As well, students will be taking field trips throughout the program, one of which is to the United States. A valid passport and/or pertinent travel documents are required.

The practicum in Term 1 is a self-directed field trip to a variety of local airports. Practicums at the end of Term 2 and 3 are projects, studies and/or job-shadowing conducted at local, regional and international airports, airport businesses and airport suppliers. Since some practicum assignments may be outside of Canada, a valid passport, pertinent travel documents and the ability to travel to practicum locations may be required.

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

Program length

64 weeks, full-time

The program is delivered in four terms of 16 weeks each, beginning in September and ending in December the following year, with a short break during each term.

Grading

Student learning is evaluated at the end of each course. To complete the program, a 70% pass mark is required for each course.

Note: Students must achieve a pass standing in all courses in each term to successfully complete the term. Students who fail or withdraw from one or more courses in a term may be prohibited from continuing in the program, and may be required to apply for re-admission. When students are permitted to continue with the program, it is their responsibility to present evidence of successful completion of the failed course(s) to the Registrar's office prior to the end of the next term or before the appropriate credential is awarded, whichever condition is specified at the time or subsequent to the failure.

Program location

Aerospace Technology Campus
3800 Cessna Drive
Richmond, BC

Graduating & Jobs

Job Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for a wide range of entry-level positions at airport businesses, suppliers and airports. This could include positions such as: Ground Transportation Coordinator; Baggage/Gate Scheduler; Airside Operations Project Coordinator; Communications Coordinator; Administrative Assistant; Airfield Operations Specialist; Emergency Response Specialist; Airport Operations Officer; Security Officer; Project Specialist; Pre-screening Security Supervisor; Airport Duty Officer, Noise Information Officer and Terminal Operations (airline).

Graduate employment outcomes

The following link takes you to graduate outcome survey results containing mostly labour market results from the 2009-2011 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2008-2010 Graduates.
Note: The survey results will be displayed in a separate browser window. To view these results, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.

International Student Entry

Are you an international student? Do you find aviation, airports and travel interesting?

If you answered yes, the Airport Operations Diploma Program may be the right choice for you.

There are two recommended options. Upon successful completion of the requirements in either option, students are able to begin the Airport Operations Diploma Program (16 months full time study).

  1. BCIT International Student Entry Program (ISEP)

    English Language Entrance Requirements for the Airport Operations Program can be met by completing ISEP 0500 with pass mark of 65%.

    More information on the ISEP program ›

    Contact:

    Cynthia Fan, Program Assistant
    BCIT International
    Tel: 604-412-7648
    Email: Cynthia_Fan@bcit.ca

  2. The Dorset College preparatory program

    Dorset College offers an 8 month preparatory program (26 weeks full-time) starting in January each year. Graduates from this program can be admitted to the Airport Operations Program in October.

    An international student enrolled in the Dorset College preparatory program is granted BCIT provisional student acceptance and upon successful completion of Dorset College studies is granted full acceptance into the Airport Operations Diploma program.

    More information on the Dorset program ›

    Contact:

    Vivien Wen, Chief Administrator
    Dorset College
    Tel: 604-879-8686
    Email: VWen@dorsetcollege.bc.ca

Faculty, Advisors & Staff

Faculty & Staff

Contact Us

International students may want to consider the BCIT International Student Entry Program (ISEP) or the Dorset College preparatory program as an alternate mode of entry to this program.

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