Eastern Kentucky University
Aviation
“EKU Aviation – Moving forward with innovation”
EKU Aviation Mission Statement
Mission Statement-To prepare students for careers in aviation, we
strive to be a world class aviation academic and flight training
institution. As such, we schedule our students for success and to be
job ready, two ways on day one after graduation, i.e. as a flight
instructor or as a commercial multi-engine on-demand air charter
pilot.
EKU Aviation Vision Statement
Vision Statement-Through strategic alliances with Kentucky Institute
of Aerospace Education (IAE) high schools, our 2+2 articulation
agreements with community colleges collocated with regional
airports, and using online modalities, our 2+2 partnerships with
aviation community colleges through out the country and overseas
(military bases), EKU will play an integral role in transforming
Kentucky into the state of choice for anyone interested in pursuing
aviation education from anywhere in the world.
Major Curriculum Change
To accomplish this…An innovative paradigm shift was used in
the development of the EKU flight training models based on:
• Congressional mandate, a response to 2009 Colgan Air Buffalo
Mishap
• FAA directs that all Part 121 air carrier pilots must possess an
ATP certificate (historically 1500 total hours).
• 250-hour Commercial pilots can no longer sit
in the right seat of regional or major carriers.
FAA ATP Tiers
In response to airline pushback, FAA creates three
restricted-ATP tiers:
1. Military-trained pilots - 750 total hours
2. BS degree graduates with 60+ aviation credits - 1,000 total hours
3. AS/AAS degree, with 30+ aviation credits - 1,250 total hours
* Other commercially certificated pilots - 1,500 total hours (traditional ATP)
* Additionally, all ATP candidates must have 50 hours of MEL training
Airline Industry Concerns
• The restricted ATP change, coupled
with a significant number of pending
retirements, will create a significant
demand (498,000) for pilots over the
next 20 years.
• A large percentage of this demand is
forecasted to be in Asia.
• Regional carriers are already parking
aircraft due to a pilot shortage!
• Major Airlines are pulling pilots from
the regionals, so they haven’t felt the
pinch yet.
Impact of Pilot Shortage
Also confirming the shortage
• USA Today states “Boeing, the Chicago-based airline manufacturer, said today that airlines will
have to hire 498,000 pilots — about 25,000 each year — to support all the new aircraft they are
expected to add to their fleets over the next two decades. They also will need 556,000 new
maintenance technicians, or about 28,000 a year.”,
• Washington Times states “Pilot shortage could put strain on airline industry”,
• Air Transportation World (ATW) states “Looming pilot shortage major concern for US regional
airlines”,
• Reuters states “UPDATE 1 - Regional airlines face shortage of pilots - U.S. GAO”,
• CNN states “World needs pilots! Record growth leads to record need”,
Airline Opportunities
EKU is collaborating with 9 regional carriers, with more to follow during AY
2014/2015:
• Great Lakes Airlines
•
PSA Airlines
• Silver Airways
•
Express Jets
•
•
Envoy Airlines (American Eagle)
Air Wisconsin
• Endeavor Air
• Republic Airways
•
Commut Air
With a signed pathway agreement, the airlines will interview our students
as Juniors, offer them a guaranteed interview, and in some cases
a guaranteed job as soon they complete their degree and hit 1000 total flight
hours.
Eastern Kentucky University
Aviation – EKU Fleet
The Elite and the Alsim MC200 Flight Simulators
EKU Aviation 5 Year Plan
2014 Growing traditional aviation enrollment from 125 to 150
2015
• Add 2+2 partnership with KCTCS sites that are collocated with a regional community airport.
• Two agreements already signed with SE in Middlesboro and UCM in Perry County.
• Two others waiting for signing ceremony., i.e. Owensboro and Somerset.
• Market online 2+2 partnership with aviation community colleges across the U.S.
• * This has the potential to exponentially increase EKU Aviation enrollments.
2016 or beyond
• Add an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) option to the Aviation degree to include both private pilot
and instrument pilot certificates.
• Add helicopters to flight option, with an associated 10 helicopters.
• Add international training component with 10 more airplanes [5 single engine land (SEL) and 5
multi-engine land (MEL)] to support a total 40 aircraft and 400 aviation students
Eastern Kentucky University
Aviation
The Future and Active Pilot Advisors (FAPA) organization has
published a comprehensive list of University Flight programs.
Based on its national comparison…EKU Aviation is the
ONLY University Professional Flight program in U.S. to
offer 100 hours of multi-engine flight as part of a
commercial pilot certificate with a pathway to the 1000hour Airline Transport Pilot (ATP).
EKU Aviation – The Only One
On October 7, 2013,
Dr. Benson presented the first
“1000-power hour” certificate in
its history, and most probably,
the first in the United States!
Airport Issues
•
Adequate hangar space
•
Ramp parking design, specifically for aircraft movement into and
out of parking spot.
•
Adequate ramp lighting
•
Crosswind runways
Airport Issues
•
Mixing fixed wing and rotary wing flight operations
•
De-conflict by altitude and pattern direction
•
Mixing General Aviation (GA) and EKU flight operations
•
Non-tower controlled flight operations with ever increasingly
higher volumes of daily sorties. May need tower to safely control
all flights.
Reading the Tea Leaves
•
Given the Asian demand, US Aviation Universities have a unique
opportunity to train Chinese and Korean pilots and…
•
Send our graduates over to a better paying initial First Officer job
than is available in the US!!
•
Questions?
EKU Aviation
EKU Aviation at sunset
Madison Airport 2012