6 days ago
ASU Commercial Aviation Program introduces helicopter pilot degree track
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) —Angelo State Universities Commercial Aviation Program is reaching new heights. Starting this fall semester, the Commercial Aviation Program will offer a helicopter pilot degree track. Scott Turner is the program director.
''Commercial aviation flight operations helicopter and aviation air traffic control operations so obviously for helicopter people who want to become pilots for EMS law enforcement or something like that and then for air traffic operations…people who want to be air traffic controllers and that sort of thing,' Turner said.
With the addition of this degree track, Turner said ASU is now one of the few universities nationwide to offer a degree for both helicopter and fixed wing pilots. Even fewer universities offer air traffic control and aviation administration. He says this new degree track is being offered to help meet a growing industry demand.
'There is always a need for that type of service-based pilot career path. It just kind of fit naturally with what we are already teaching,' Turner said.
One aspect of this program is the importance of hands-on training for the students.
''We want them to be able to fly as soon as possible I mean if you are coming in to get a degree and you want to fly an aircraft you don't want to wait two years before you do it ,so we don't do things like get a bunch of core classes knocked out before you get to do the thing that you want to do…we recognize that as a need of the student,' Turner said.
Currently the Commercial Aviation Program has about 175 students with applications still open for the remaining seats in the program. Turner said they hope to add around 100 more students.
'We still have some seats available, so I would encourage people if that is what they are wanting to do and look at that as a career apply to ASU as soon as you can let's get admitted let's get accepted into the program and let's go fly,' Turner said.
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