Now is the Time! Become a Professional Pilot

As one of the top flight schools in the nation, Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation has been leading the charge in training the aviators of tomorrow, today.
Posted by Bradley Horstman on

Published by Tom Thinnes on Fri, Nov 16, 2012

Western Michigan University, we have a saying, “It’s a great day to be a Bronco.”  Similarly, at WMU’s College of Aviation, we add on by saying, “It’s a great time to be a Bronco in aviation!”

As one of the top flight schools in the nation, Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation has been leading the charge in training the aviators of tomorrow, today.  Our bachelors degree in flight science is consistently recognized as one of the premiere programs in the country.  Flying some of the most sophisticated aircraft, with the most advanced avionics package available in general aviation, our student pilots gain the experience and transferable skills that make them very sought after in the aviation job market.

As recently demonstrated in the Wall Street Journal, an aviation career as a pilot is in high demand.  Conservative reports by independent agencies indicate a demand of 5,000 pilots a year for the next 10 to 20 years in the United States alone.  With the aging population of current professional pilots coupled with the decrease in the number of students pursuing this career path, the supply of aviation jobs will be tremendous.  As stated in the WSJ, “More than half of U.S. airline pilots are over 50” and “FAA data show annual private and commercial pilot certificates – both required to become an airline pilot – are down 41% and 30%, respectively, in the past decade.”  Putting two and two together, “It is a great time to be a Bronco in aviation!”

Students in Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation flight science program are pursuing their dream to become a pilot.  The flight training portion of the program takes the students through the private pilot course, instrument, and commercial certification.  With the flight school a part of Western Michigan University, students also benefit from a solid, general education.  According to U.S. News and World Report, WMU continues to be recognized as one of the top 100 public universities in the country.

Setting the program apart is WMU’s commitment to advancing the field of aviation education by training in the most advanced aircraft and using the most sophisticated avionics package available in general aviation.  Students within the program do the majority of their training using the Cirrus SR20.  With a fleet of 26, all of them are equipped with the Avidyne R9, a fully functioning Flight Management System (FMS), and the DFC100, Avidyne’s attitude-based digital autopilot.  Both of these platforms represent the next generation of aviation technology.   The benefits to our students are numerous: the most significant, giving them a competitive advantage by allowing them to train on equipment that will teach them relevant and transferable skills.

The perfect storm of aviation is upon us.  Multiple sources beyond the Wall Street Journal article continue to express the looming pilot shortage.  Independent reviews by Airbus and Boeing support and reinforce the need for pilots.  As one of the best flight schools in the country, Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation is prepared and ready to help you “Learn to Live Your Dream!”