Aviation Technology

Return to: Colleges and Departments

Chairperson: Dr. Richard Baker
Department Office: Myers Technology Center, room 216A
Web site: http://technology.indstate.edu/AVT/

The Department of Aviation Technology prepares students for careers in the aviation industry. Students may elect baccalaureate degrees offered in professional aviation flight technology, aviation management, and unmanned systems. An aviation technology minor is available for students interested in aviation as an adjunct to a major, and the department also offers an unmanned systems minor.  Students must pass each aviation course in the major with a grade of C or higher.

Students enrolled in flight courses pay flight and seminar course fees which are in addition to regularly scheduled course fees listed earlier in this Catalog. The flight fee schedule is available in the department.

The Department of Aviation Technology recommends that all students seeking a degree in the Professional Aviation Flight Technology Program complete as a minimum a FAA Class II flight physical examination with a physician in their local area prior to coming to campus for classes. However, if students cannot complete a flight physical examination prior to beginning classes the following policy is in effect: all pilot applicants must pass a FAA Class II flight physical examination prior to starting the third week of classes.

PROFESSIONAL CURRICULA

Baccalaureate Degree Programs

The Aviation Management Program is designed for students seeking careers in air traffic control, airport or airline operations, or supervision in the aviation industry. Graduates are qualified for positions in airport and air carrier operations, airport service industries, aircraft sales, passenger services, and aircraft operations.

The Professional Aviation Flight Technology Program combines four years of flight training with technical support course work designed to prepare students for a career as a professional pilot. The curriculum combines classroom courses with simulator and flight instruction to provide students with the knowledge and FAA certificates necessary to qualify for employment in corporate, general aviation, military, and many other opportunities. 

The Unmanned Systems Program is specifically designed to address the need of students who wish to pursue opportunities and careers in this new and burgeoning field of technology.  The industry term is “unmanned”, but humans must operate, maintain, and support the vehicles, communications networks, computer systems, and other infrastructure elements.  Unmanned systems provide new methods to address problems such as disaster response, crisis management, crop yield improvement, construction, insurance, logistics, and many more industries.

Experiential Learning

Aviation Technology - This degree includes over 250 hours of experiential learning in the cockpit of an aircraft, plus many more hours in simulator training, all culminating in appropriate FAA flight ratings to qualify as a pilot in many career opportunities such as the airlines or corporations.

Unmanned Systems  - Students receive over 60 hours of experiential learning in assembly, testing, and remote piloting of unmanned vehicles as well as the applications of sensors and data analysis.  In the culminating project, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in unmanned systems programming, mission planning, operations, post-mission inspection, and mission analysis and debriefing.

Return to: Colleges and Departments