Ready for takeoff: How Western Michigan University trains the next generation of pilots

Yahoo

16-03-2025

Editor's note: This story is part of a series tracking the experiences of four graduating seniors at four different Michigan universities. It is a partnership between the Detroit Free Press, Michigan State University student reporters and the American Communities Project.
Mohamed Diouf was only 5 years old when he realized he wanted to become a pilot.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Diouf spent the first 11 years of his life growing up close to the airport in Dakar, Senegal. He would often look up to the sky and wonder what it would feel like to fly in one of those planes.
It was exactly this curiosity that convinced him to pursue aviation. He knew he made the right decision when he took his first flying lesson years later.
'I was nervous but also really excited,' he said. 'Because I am actually doing this and I am fulfilling my childhood dream.'
Diouf is a student at Western Michigan University, a midsize public university with an enrollment of 16,617 students. Its main campus in Kalamazoo is located right between Detroit and Chicago and only a short drive away from Lake Michigan.
Home of the Broncos, the university is a destination for students from all over the world. Recent enrollment data shows students from 76 Michigan counties, 49 U.S. states, and 94 international countries.
Following years of decline, the university has been able to increase student enrollment for two consecutive terms now. Part of this growth is from international students, who make up 12.6% of the total student population.
'I think we are an attractive destination for international students because they are confident that they will get that support that is needed,' Interim Provost Christopher Cheatham said. Efforts have also included increasing international agreements with other universities.
The institution has made significant investments in recent years. In August 2023, the new student center became the heart of the main campus and was part of a series of renovation projects that gave the university its modern feel.
It also allocates the funds received through a $550 million donation, which was the largest single gift ever given to any public university in the nation. Known as the Empowering Futures Gift, it aims to provide an inclusive education and help students succeed. This has in part funded the creation and expansion of experienced-driven learning projects.
The university prides itself on this concept. Experience-driven learning was implemented to equip students for their future careers through practical coursework. The goal is to prepare them for their chosen industry while also teaching broader skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking and global awareness.
'I think that one reason students really come to Western is that idea that we're going to focus on really giving you those experiences beyond the classroom but also integrated into the classroom,' Cheatham said.
Being an aviation flight science student, Diouf certainly received such practical education throughout his past four years at the university. But a typical weekday in his major is perhaps a little different than that of other undergraduate students.
The night before a training session, Diouf sets his alarm to about two hours before his scheduled flight. He wakes up, takes a shower, eats breakfast, checks the weather conditions and begins to prepare for his upcoming lesson.
An hour before takeoff, he drives from Kalamazoo to Battle Creek, mentally preparing for another day in the air. Is he nervous knowing that he is about to fly a plane solo? Not really. 'After you do this for a while, it just becomes kind of like second nature,' he said.
At the College of Aviation, he checks in to grab a key to the plane, completes his preflight procedure, gets on the runway, and takes off. Today's destination, Pellston, is about two hours away by air. There, he lands, takes a quick lunch break at a nearby restaurant and is up in the air again. Back to Battle Creek. A few more hours of flight training logged.
Western Michigan University is known for its College of Aviation. It is ranked among the best in the nation and is the only comprehensive program at a public university in the state, offering majors in management, maintenance and flight science.
Despite a national trend that has seen a decline in male college enrollment, the aviation college has 77.1% male students, which is significantly higher compared with 44.9% at the university level.
'Part of the difficulty you've had in aviation is, historically, it was a white, male-dominated, and the industry still is,' Dean of the College of Aviation Raymond Thompson said.
'The only way you change that is to provide graduates with a greater set of gender and ethnic backgrounds. It just takes time,' said Thompson. His goal for the college is to eventually mirror the makeup of the state of Michigan, which currently features an almost equal number of men and women.
The aviation flight science program is competitive. Part of what makes it a top choice for students is the modern fleet of airplanes. The college recently invested in 32 new Cirrus SR20 Generation 7 training aircraft through a $20 million loan.
'It's not the least expensive airplane to learn to fly in, there are lesser cost options. But the airplane requires a greater skill set that is similar to what you would need entering the industry as a commercial airline pilot,' Thompson said.
After four years in the program, Diouf feels properly equipped for a successful career start. He already walked at graduation at the end of last semester, but needs to round up a few more hours of flight training before officially completing his degree.
His final examination will be a commercial check ride that consists of a ground discussion and flight portion and covers everything he has learned during his time in the program. Nervous? A little bit. 'But I'm feeling good about it,' he said.
After passing and receiving his commercial pilot license, Diouf wants to gain even more experience as a flight instructor. But in terms of a 10-year plan, he dreams of working for a top airline like Delta or United Airlines as an international airline pilot.
Ever since watching the planes fly over Dakar, Diouf knew he would not want to stay in one place for a long time. Flying across continents will let him explore the world and enjoy his destinations during layovers. Essentially, 'you get paid to travel,' he said.Do you have feedback on this article or project? Contact Detroit Free Press State Government & Politics Editor Emily Lawler: [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Western Michigan University trains next generation of pilots