Western Michigan University College of Aviation - State of the College 2016
Happy New Year, although a bit late, to our aviation family and friends. I’ve got some really exciting updates to share with you and welcome any feedback or conversations you might like to have.
Dave Powell, Dean
- EXPANSION TO PUNTA GORDA, FL
- WMU AGAIN HOSTS MBAA AND WMBAA EDUCATION INITIATION
- IMPROVEMENTS TO POWER PLANT LAB AND COMPOSITE LAB
- CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP STAFF
- RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH
EXPANSION TO PUNTA GORDA, FL
Last year we reported to you that Western Michigan University's College of Aviation was exploring the possibility of starting an international pilot training program in Florida. As of today, we’re actually now pursuing training international and degree seeking pilots in Punta Gorda.
The waterfront building that we were hopeful to have such great potential is no longer an option for our operations. We are now seeking to construct new facilities at the airport, partner with a local community college for use of portions of their facilities for classroom teaching, and discussing housing options.
A delegation of Charlotte County officials will be visiting WMU in the next couple of weeks and will meet with the WMU Board of Trustees over lunch. They will tour our college, Health and Human Services, Engineering, and Fine Arts.
WMU is awaiting approval to teach in FL, as well as working to obtain M1 Visa certification.
More to follow on Punta Gorda as progress is made. However, please feel free to call or email me if you have questions, suggestions, or ideas about FL.
WMU PROUD TO HOSTS MBAA AND WMBAA EDUCATION INITIATION
For the third year in a row, the Michigan Business Aviation Association and the West Michigan Business Aviation Association have chosen WMU’s College of Aviation to host their Education Initiative. Leadership from some of the state’s largest corporate flight departments will network with students interested in corporate aviation. This year the event will be held on March 31 in our hangar facilities at the college. The initiative includes professional development mentoring for each discipline and the announcement of scholarship application process.
The purpose of this initiative is to encourage students to apply for corporate internships and scholarships, and to bridge the gap between graduation and business aviation. We are honored to have such generous corporate aviation partners in Michigan and look forward to working with them to create opportunities for our graduates in corporate aviation not ever seen before in aviation education.
POWER PLANT LAB AND COMPOSITE LAB
As a follow up to the Power Plant Lab upgrade, which is complete, we have also upgraded the Structures Lab. Both look amazing and we hope to host an Open House during the MBAA event, as well as Aviation Outlook Day on April 1. If you’re in the area sometime, please stop in and see why we’re so proud of these upgrades.
We are even more committed to believing these upgrades to our labs better reflect the quality of our program. They could not have turned out any better. Faculty members worked together to find the best tools and equipment at the most reasonable prices to benefit each and every maintenance student in our program.
CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP STAFF
As many of you may have already heard, the college has welcomed Captain Russell Kavalhuna, J.D., A.T.P, as the Executive Director of Flight Operations after the retirement of Captain Steve Jones.
Russ Kavalhuna
Kavalhuna holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and is a former airline captain at PSA and flight instructor. He is a licensed attorney and comes to WMU having served since 2009 as a federal prosecutor in the Western District of Michigan.
Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed him to the Michigan Aeronautics Commission in 2009, and Governor Rick Snyder reappointed him in 2013. He has previously served as Chairman and is currently serving as Vice Chairman of the Commission. He also is Chairman of the Commission's Air Service Committee. As a Commissioner, he one of five appointed citizens responsible for overseeing infrastructure spending, airport and flight-school licensing, and aviation regulation promulgation.
He graduated from Western Michigan University's College of Aviation in 2001, with a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Science. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, where he graduated in 2007, then later served as an Adjunct Law Professor teaching third-year law school courses concerning forensic evidence in criminal cases.
RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH
The college continues to see increases in enrollment, thanks in large part to Tom Thinnes and his amazing team. They’ve spent endless hours on the road traveling to spread the word about WMU. Many of you may have seen them driving the flaming Bronco wrapped Tahoe in your area. The recruitment and outreach team is unstoppable and has recently been tasked with informing departments all across campus about the benefits of Hubspot, our preferred inbound marketing software product. They are certainly a force to be reckoned with and the numbers reflect on their hard work and great success. We are grateful to be able to work with such a talented, hard working group of professionals.