2009-2010 Aviation Studies (AVIA, AVFL)

Flight Operations: Goals | Program Requirements | Plan of Study
Aviation Management: Goals | Program Requirements | Plan of Study
Aviation Managment Minor | Flight Operations Minor | Course Descriptions

Aviation Department Chair: Gerald Fairbairn
Director of Flight Operations: Lance Vaculin
Faculty: Gerald Fairbairn, Michael Kraus and Bill Ogilvie
Director of Flight Education: Julie Paasch
Assistant Chief Flight Instructor: Jeremy Webster
Aviation Resource Manager: Gail Klofstad
Dispatchers: Cate Wade and Rex Patrick
Associate Instructors: Randy Berg, Jodi Howick, Bill Lowe and Michael Hannan

The Aviation Studies program offers majors and minors in the field of aviation which prepare students for flight and management careers with the airlines, airports, corporate aviation, and a variety of other aviation related fields. Students in the Aviation Studies program select a program of study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Flight Operation, a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management, or a Bachelor of Arts degree in Aviation Management. Minors in Aviation Management, Flight Operations and Business are also available.

Flight Operations Program Goals

Students completing a major in Flight Operations:

• Meet or exceed Federal Aviation Administration required knowledge and practical examination standards.
• Demonstrate proficiency in aviation professional issues such as: professional standards, aviation law, safety, ethics, and career development.
• Demonstrate proficiency with modern cockpit technology function and operation for satellite based navigation systems, autopilot, flight management systems, and electronic flight information systems.
• Demonstrate proficiency in flight dynamics, applied aerodynamics and critical attitude recovery.
• Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for the history of aviation and its key contributions to society and how its development has affected our nation’s political and economic structure.

Flight Operations Program Requirements

To fulfill requirements for a major in Flight Operations, students must complete the courses listed below. Students must maintain a 2.3 GPA in courses required for the Flight Operations Major. In addition, because the program involves flight activity there are a number of criteria that must be met during the period the student is enrolled.

• An FAA Class II medical examination is required prior to beginning flight training. At least FAA Class III medical standards must be maintained throughout training. A student pilot certificate is required for those just starting flight training. Student pilots must obtain a student pilot certificate with their medical certificate.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship verified by an original or certified copy of a birth certificate or current passport is required prior to beginning flight training. Foreign-born students must register with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prior to beginning flight training. This registration process is conducted with the assistance of Westminster College aviation personnel after the student is enrolled at the college.
• Students must maintain a minimum balance in their flight account in order to continue flying. All flight lab fees must be paid in full at the beginning of each semester unless prior arrangements have been made with the Aviation Resource Manager.

Students will not be permitted to begin a flight lab unless these requirements have been met. Consult the “Westminster College Minimum Flight Training Costs” handout for specific details about flight trainings costs and required account balances for each rating.

Flight training courses are conducted at Salt Lake City International Airport. Students must arrange their own transportation to and from the Flight Operations Center.

Westminster College will consider prior learning credit for students who have received flight and ground training at other institutions under FAR Part 141 for Private and Commercial pilot certificates, and the Instrument rating. For students who have received flight and ground training under FAR Part 61, the college will consider awarding credit only for the Private certificate and the Instrument rating. In all cases, prior learning credit will be awarded only at the discretion of the Chief Flight Instructor based on an evaluation of the student’s previous academic and flight instruction experiences. Transfer students may be required to supplement their flight labs with additional flight or academic instruction in order to meet Westminster College proficiency standards. Once a student has enrolled at Westminster College, all subsequent flight training required in the academic program must be completed with the Westminster College Flight Operations Center (including flight labs and ground schools).

A unique hallmark of the Westminster College aviation program is that our students are generally not billed for regular ground instruction. Students are billed for ground instruction under certain circumstances, such as taking an abnormally long time to complete a rating or by choosing to train under FAR Part 61. (Refer to the Westminster College Aviation Student Handbook for complete details about ground billing policies and expected flight training progress.)

Bachelor of Science in Flight Operations

Note:All students must complete 124 hours of coursework to graduate, 40 hours of which must be upper division (300 level or above). Students will need to take other courses to complete the college hours requirement.

Recommended Plan of Study for Flight Operations (B.S.)

This plan does not include Liberal Education requirements.

Note:The above plan does not include summer flying. Students who fly during the summer can progress more rapidly through the flight lab courses, and potentially complete through Multi-engine Instructor rating and do part-time instructing for the college prior to graduation.

Students who do not finish flight lab requirements during the semester in which they registered for the flight lab are required to register for AVFL*499 (Continuing Registration for Flight Training) in subsequent semesters until lab requirements are completed. This zero (0) credit flight lab is restricted to continuing students who are completing flight requirements for specific FAA courses.

Aviation Management Program Goals

Students completing a degree in aviation management:

• Demonstrate the ability to use operational decisions making techniques to manage large or small aviation businesses.
• Understand the role of human factors in aviation resource management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the air transportation industry to include airline operations, marketing, aircraft performance and economic factors
• Demonstrate proficiency in aviation professional issues such as: professional standards, safety, ethics, and career development.
• Develop an understanding and appreciation for the history of aviation and its key contributions to society in our national political and economic structure.

Aviation Management Program Requirements

To fulfill requirements for a major in Aviation Management students must complete the courses listed below. Students must maintain a 2.3 GPA in courses required for the Aviation Management Major.

Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management

Note: All students must complete 124 hours of coursework to graduate, 40 hours of which must be upper division (300 level or above). Students will need to take other courses to complete the college hours requirement.

Students who wish to participate in the MBA program should apply for admission to the MBA program during their senior year. Students are encouraged to meet with their program advisor for specific requirements. Information on the MBA program admission requirements is found in the MBA section of this catalog.

Bachelor of Arts in Aviation Management

Note: All students must complete 124 hours of coursework to graduate, 40 hours of which must be upper division (300 level or above). Students will need to take other courses to complete the college hours requirement.

Students who wish to participate in the MBA program should apply for admission to the MBA program during their senior year. Students are encouraged to meet with their program advisor for specific requirements. Information on the MBA program admission requirements is found in the MBA section of this catalog.

Recommended Plan of Study for Aviation Management (B.A. & B.S.)

This plan does not include Liberal Education requirements or the requirements associated specifically with the B.A. degree.

Aviation Management Minor

Note: Students pursuing a minor in Aviation with a major in another Gore School of Business program cannot use their AVIA electives in both programs.

Flight Operations Minor

Students in any Westminster major program may choose to add a flight operations minor to their program. Students interested in completing this minor should meet with aviation faculty or staff to discuss addditional requirements of the program. Flight time and the additional costs associated with flight training are required.

Note:Students pursuing a minor in Aviation with a major in another Gore School of Business program cannot use their AVIA electives in both programs.