An aviation program student exits a plane on the tarmac at the Aims Community College flight school.

General Aviation PilotRequirements

Begin your journey as a pilot with this aviation associate degree that builds your skills and confidence in concrete steps. Each semester, you can earn an aviation certificate and take the FAA certification exam for piloting larger and more complicated aircraft.

The process starts with private pilot flight training that allows you to fly with friends and family. The next semester builds your instrument rating, which teaches you to fly in more difficult weather conditions. The last two semesters cover commercial flight of small aircraft with the option for you to learn multi-engine aircraft. All the while, core and elective classes build your communication and professional skills that are important to any career.

How to get started

Step 1 – Apply

Apply to Aims Community College
Select Pre Aviation AAS as your intended major.
Apply for Financial Aid if applicable.

Step 2 – Are you a VA or Transfer Student

If you are a VA Student, submit your DD214 and Certificate of Eligibility to the Financial Aid Office
If you are a transfer student, please have your previous institution send an official transcript to Aims. Learn more on the Transfer Information webpage.
If you are not a VA Student or a Transfer Student, go to step 3.

Step 3 – Aviation Medical Certificate and Proof of US Citizenship

If you want to apply for the Air Traffic Control (ATC), Professional Pilot, or General Aviation Pilot degree, it is a requirement that you obtain a valid First- or Second-class FAA Medical Certificate before applying.
You must schedule an exam with an FAA-approved Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and pay for this exam. You can find a Colorado Aviation Medical Examiners list here or on the FAA's website.
All students must have either the original version OR a combination of the following documents listed by the TSA before starting the program. A list of approved documents can be found here.
- Training can't begin until this documentation is provided to Aims. If you are a non-U.S. Citizen and unable to obtain one of the documents approved by the TSA, please email aviation@aims.edu.

Step 4 – ACCUPLACER

Contact the Testing Center to set an appointment to take the Next-Generation ACCUPLACER test. You will only need to complete the writing and math portions of the test.

Step 5 – Complete the Aviation Application

Complete the Aims Aviation Application
Applications must be completed no later than:
- Fall Term: First Monday of April
- Spring Term: First Monday of November
- Summer Term: Aims Aviation does not accept new students for Summer Term

Step 6 – Advising Appointment

Schedule an advising appointment by contacting the Windsor Pathway Advising Team at (970) 339-6610, option 2.

Row Groupings	Required General Education Courses:	Credits
required	ENG 1021 - English Composition I: GT-CO1 Emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions, including the development of critical and logical thinking skills. This course includes a wide variety of compositions that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.	3
required	MAT 1340 - College Algebra: GT-MA1 Focuses on a variety of functions and the exploration of their graphs. Topics include: equations and inequalities, operations on functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, linear and non-linear systems, and an introduction to conic sections. This course provides essential skills for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) pathways. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-MA1 category. Course readiness is determined by review of high school transcripts, assessment, and/or meeting with an Aims Academic Advisor. Course is not repeatable for credit.	4
required	PHY 1105 - Conceptual Physics with Lab: GT-SC1 Focuses on mechanics, heat, properties of matter, electricity and magnetism, and light. Incorporates laboratory experience. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SC1 category. It is recommended that ENG 1021 and MAT 1340 be completed prior to or be taken concurrently with this course. Course is not repeatable for credit.	4
Note:	Arts & Humanities Course Credits: 3 Behavioral & Social Sciences Course Credits: 3

Total General Education Credits		17

Row Groupings	Required Aviation Courses:	Credits
required	AVT 1001 - Private Pilot Ground School Prepares student for the Private Pilot Airplane, Single Engine, Land ~ FAA Knowledge Exam. Restricted to Air Traffic Control, General Aviation Pilot, or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.	4
required	AVT 1002 - Private Pilot Flight Focuses on flight training in preparation for the Private Pilot Airplane, Single-Engine, Land FAA Practical Test, and completing requirements for the Private Pilot Certificate. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Corequisites AVT 1001	4
required	AVT 1003 - Intro to Air Traffic Control Focuses on the history of the Air Traffic Control System, including its structure, function, and operation. Also includes radar operations and the future of the National Airspace System. Restricted to Air Traffic Control, General Aviation Pilot, or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.	3
required	AVT 1005 - Aviation Meteorology Focuses on recognition, interpretation and evaluation of atmospheric weather as it relates to and affects aviation. Restricted to Air Traffic Control, General Aviation Pilot, or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.	4
required	AVT 1011 - Instrument Pilot Ground School Focuses on preparation for the FAA Instrument Rating Knowledge Exam. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 1001 with a grade of "C" or better	4
required	AVT 1012 - Instrument Pilot Flight Focuses on flight training in preparation for the Instrument Rating, Single Engine Airplane FAA Practical Test, and completing requirements for the Instrument Rating. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 1001 and AVT 1002 with grades of "C" or better	4
required	AVT 1013 - Instrument Flight Trainer Develops the skills necessary to operate in IFR conditions, using a single-engine flight trainer. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 1001 with a grade of "C" or better	4
required	AVT 2001 - Commercial Pilot Ground School Prepares the student for the Commercial Pilot Airplane, Single Engine, Land FAA Knowledge Exam. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 1002 and AVT 1011 with grades of "C" or better	2
required	AVT 2002 - Commercial Flight I This course is the first of a two-part sequence of flight training in preparation for the Commercial Pilot Certificate, Airplane, Single Engine Land FAA Practical Test. Consists of the cross country aeronautical experience required for the Commercial Certificate. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 1012 with a grade of "C" or better	3
required	AVT 2003 - Commercial Flight II Continuation of flight training in preparation for the Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine, Land FAA Practical Test, completing requirements for the Commercial Pilot Certificate. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 2002 with a grade of "C" or better	4
required	AVT 2048 - FAA Safety Program Management Focuses on initial orientation to the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), introduces the concept of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and provides insight into the management of aviation safety programs. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.	2

Total Required Aviation Credits		38

Row Groupings	Aviation Elective Courses:	Credits
Aviation Elective Courses:	Choose five (5) credits from the following AVT courses, with advisor approval.
required	AVT 1016 - ATC Phraseology Introduces and emphasizes proper usage of phraseology and flight progress strip preparation in the air traffic control system. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Air Traffic Control majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.	2
required	AVT 2006 - Crew Resource Management/Human Factors Focuses on classroom instruction covering human factors/crew resource management (CRM)/single pilot resource management (SRM). Specific topics include aeronautical decision making (ADM), situational awareness, crew coordination, communication, human error, fatigue, fitness, attitudes, training devices, controls, and workload management. Students will learn about and identify human performances that affect aviation in both crew and single pilot environments. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 1011 with a grade of "C" or better	1
required	AVT 2007 - Multi-Engine Ground School Prepares the student for the FAA Practical Test for Private or Commercial Pilot, Airplane Multi-Engine Land. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 2002 with a grade of "C" or better	1
required	AVT 2008 - Multi-Engine Flight Focuses on flight training in preparation for the Airplane, Multi-Engine Rating and completing requirements for this Rating. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 2003 with a grade of "C" or better	1
required	AVT 2009 - Multi-Engine Flight Trainer Develops the skills necessary to operate in a single-pilot flight environment in IFR conditions, using a multi-engine aircraft flight trainer. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 2002 with a grade of "C" or better	2
required	AVT 2010 - Multi-Eng Cross-Country Flight Focuses on cross-country flight in multi-engine aircraft. Flights will be conducted to and from high-traffic airports with approach control and tower facilities. All flights will be conducted under instrument flight rules. . Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/departments/cashiers-office/tuition-feesDifferential tuition rates apply Course Prerequisites AVT 2008 with a grade of "C" or better	2
required	AVT 2011 - Fundamentals of Instruction Focuses on preparation for the FAA Fundamentals of Instructing Knowledge Exam. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 2002 with a grade of "C" or better Course Corequisites AVT 2012	2
required	AVT 2012 - Flight Instructor Ground School Focuses on preparation for the FAA Flight Instructor Airplane Knowledge Exam. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 2002 with a grade of "C" or better Course Corequisites AVT 2011	2
required	AVT 2013 - Flight Instructor Flight Focuses on flight training in preparation for the Flight Instructor Airplane, Single-Engine Land FAA Practical Test, completing requirements for the Flight Instructor Certificate. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 2003, AVT 2011 and AVT 2012 with grades of "C" or better	1
required	AVT 2027 - Transport Category Aircraft Systems Focuses on basic transport-category aircraft systems. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot or Professional Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 2001 with a grade of "C" or better Course Corequisites AVT 2033	3
required	AVT 2036 - Tail Wheel Transition Flight Focuses on flight training in preparation to receive the Tail-Wheel Endorsement from a Certificated Flight Instructor. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to General Aviation Pilot majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites AVT 1001 and AVT 1002 with grades of "C" or better	1
required	UAS 1055 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Training Covers the regulations pertaining to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations including airspace, weather, and flight parameter limitations. This course covers UAS components and systems, maintenance, autonomy, ground stations, and telemetry in preparation for the UAS Operator written test. Differential tuition rates apply. Course is not repeatable for credit.	3
required	UAS 2055 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ground School Introduces the regulations pertaining to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), operations including airspace, weather, and flight parameter limitations. This course also covers UAS components and systems, maintenance, autonomy, ground stations, and telemetry. The topics covered are included in the UAS Operator written test. Differential tuition rates apply. Course is not repeatable for credit.	2
required	UAS 2056 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems Commercial Applications Focuses on the wide variety of commercial applications of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and operating procedures to ensure a safe outcome for executing such applications including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), aerial imaging and survey techniques, multispectral and Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging systems (LIDAR) agriculture, and other UAS mission types. Differential tuition rates apply. Course is not repeatable for credit. Course Prerequisites UAS 1055 and UAS 2055 with grades of "C" or better	3

Total Required Aviation Elective Credits		5

Total Credits for A.A.S. Degree		60

Next Steps

This program has a multi-step application process.

How to Apply

Do you have questions?

Meet with an Enrollment Coach!

Degree at a Glance

Degree Type

Associate of Applied Science

Location

Windsor Campus

Credits

Tuition*

Est. Lab/ Course Fees

$200

Other Fees

$51,491

In-District

$7,554

In-State

$12,455

WUE

$18,376

Out of State

$36,038

*Check Cashier's Office for current tuition rates

Aims Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs or activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Dee Shultz, Chief HR Officer
504 W. 20th Street Greeley, CO, 80634
dee.shultz@aims.edu
970-339-6434