Professional Pilot Option

• Obtain your Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificates and ratings.  The usual sequence is:
  • Private Pilot Certificate
  • Instrument Rating
  • Commercial Pilot Certificate
  • Multi-Engine Rating
• Airlines hire pilots based on the applicant's total flight time.  Most pilots will have about 260 flight hours upon completion of the program.  When the supply of pilots is low compared to hiring needs, the airlines will require a lower number of minimum flight hours; when the supply of pilots is high compared to hiring needs, the airlines will require a higher number of minimum flight hours.
• When the supply of pilots is high, airlines will use college degrees (A.A.S. or B.S., etc) as a decisive factor.
• Many pilots choose to become flight instructors to build their total flight time up to the hiring flight-time minimums
• Your first airline job will be at a regional airline flying turbo-prop and/or regional jet aircraft
• Eventually you will have accrued enough flight time to apply to the major carriers such as American, Continental, Delta, United, or US Airways

A professional pilot must also consider the lifestyle and airline qualifications when choosing a career path.

• Airlines operate 24/7
• Pilots bid their flight schedule and domicile (home base) by seniority
• Pilots are away from home about 16 days per month, more if they commute to their domicile
• Pilots receive recurrent training and check-rides on a regular basis
• Extensive background checks, including driving records, are conducted prior to an employment offer
• Airline pilots must hold a First Class Medical Certificate, requalification is required every six months
• Must be able to read, speak, and understand the English language (meet International Civil Aviation Organization level 4 standards)
• Pilots are subject to pre-employment, random, and "for cause drug screening
• Current FAA regulations require pilots to retire from the cockpit at age 65

Small regional:
First year, First Officer	$1,200 - 2,320
First year, Captain	$2,475 - 5,680
Twelfth year, Captain	$3,600 - 8,080
Large regional
First year, First Officer	$1,444 - 2,870
First year, Captain	$4,270 - 4,800
Twelfth year, Captain	$6,375 - 7,910
Major Carrier
First year, First Officer	$1,800 - 4,056
First year, Captain	$1,800 - 13,572
Twelfth year, Captain	$11,400 - 15,444

*Note: Some employers pay relocation/hiring and other types of bonuses

1st Semester	Credits
AVT 101 Private Pilot Ground School	4
AVT 102 Private Pilot Flight	4
AVT 105 Aviation Meteorology	4
ENG 121 English Composition	3
Total Credits	15
2nd Semester
AVT 103 Introduction to Air Traffic Control	3
AVT 111 Instrument Pilot Ground School	4
AVT 112 Instrument Pilot Flight	4
AVT 113 Instrument Flight Trainer	4
Total Credits	15
3rd Semester
AVT 201 Commercial Pilot Ground School	2
AVT 202 Commercial Flight I	3
AVT 206 Crew Resource Management	1
AVT 207 Multi-Engine Ground School	1
AVT 209 Multi-Engine Flight Trainer	2
AVT 229 Aviation Management & Economics	3
MAT 121 College Algebra	4
Total Credits	16
4th Semester
AVT 203 Commercial Flight II	4
AVT 208 Multi-Engine Flight	1
AVT 226 Flight Deck Crew Management Transition Trainer	3
AVT 227 Transport Category Aircraft Systems	3
AVT 228 Regional Transport Aircraft Transition	2
PHY 105 Conceptual Physics	4
Total Credits	17
5th Semester
Arts & Humanities Course	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences Cource	3
Plus, select 6 credits from the following:
AVT 205 Mountain Flying Ground School	1
AVT 210 Multi-Engine Cross-Country Flight	2
AVT 211 Fundamentals of Instruction	2
AVT 212 Flight Instructor Ground School	2
AVT 213 Flight Instructor Flight	1
AVT 222 Instrument Instructor Flight	1
AVT 223 Multi-Engine Instructor Flight	1
AVT 230 CL-65 Type Rating Prep Training	5
AVT 231 Advanced Regional Transport Transition	2
AVT 236 Tail Wheel Transition Flight	1
AVT 237 Basic Aerobatics	1
AVT 275 Special Topics	1-6 credits
AVT 285 Independent Study	1-6 credits
Total Credits	12
Total credits for 5 semesters	75

	In District	Out-of-District	Out-of-State
College tuition and fees*	$ 7,947	$ 11,839	$ 35,777
Books and supplies*	1,749	1,749	1,749
Pilot supplies*	300	300	300
Miscellaneous fees*	2,305	2,305	2,305
Private Pilot Certificate flight costs*	9,550	9,550	9,550
Instrument Rating flight costs*	7,255	7,255	7,255
Commercial Pilot Certificate flight costs*	18,157	18,157	18,157
Multi-Engine Rating flight costs*	4,657	4,657	4,657
Electives (depending on selection)*	0 - 10,543	0 - 10,543	0 - 10,543
Approximate total costs for program:	$ 51,920 - 62,463	$ 55,812 - 66,355	$ 79,750 - 90,293

* All costs are approximate and are subject to change without notice.

Note:  Flight training costs are not included in college tuition or fees.  They are determined on an hourly basis for aircraft rental and flight instruction, and are in addition to tuition, fees, and any other incidental expenses charged during registration.  Students enrolling in flight courses are required to deposit money into their flight accounts on a regular basis to cover their flight training costs.