MCC students can now earn a degree in professional piloting through an agreement with Jamestown Community College. Currently-enrolled and new students interested in the program can earn an Associate in Applied Science-Professional Piloting degree from JCC and a pilot license.
An information session for the general public will be conducted at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, in the Warshof Conference Center, Flynn Campus Center (Empire Room) on the Brighton Campus. Faculty, staff and community residents are welcome to attend the free event. Representatives from MCC, JCC and Rochester Air Center will be on hand to discuss the program, admission and financial aid.
In an agreement signed last November, students who have successfully completed an approved list of general education core requirements at MCC will have all of those credit hours transferred to JCC, where they can earn the 31 credit hours of aviation-related course work. Students enroll in the aviation courses through JCC and have the option of doing their ground school and flight training at Rochester Air Center, Executive Aviation in Batavia or Prior Aviation in Buffalo. In addition, two of the required aviation lecture courses are now being offered at Genesee Community College in Batavia.
JCC’s aviation degree program, approved in 2000 by the State University of New York and the State Education Department, is designed to prepare students to work toward becoming a pilot with options of flying for major or regional airlines, charter businesses, freight or private individuals or companies. JCC graduates have landed jobs with a commercial commuter airline, managing a flight school and as a metro traffic reporter – just to name a few.
“Through 2010, there will be thousands of openings created by mandatory retirement from the airlines of pilots who reach the age of 60,” said Rick Rupprecht, JCC’s aviation coordinator. “Because of the glamour, prestige and salary involved, piloting jobs will continue to be highly competitive. Students considering this career should plan to earn a four-year degree.”
The cost for flight training can run $30,000 depending on the flight school attended. However, students taking college credit courses can become eligible for financial assistance, including loans and Pell and TAP grants, according to Rupprecht. Aviation students complete about 250 flight hours and can earn a private pilot license, instrument rating, commercial pilot airplane single-engine land certificate and certified flight instructor-airplane rating. Students also can earn multi-engine land and flight instructor-instrument ratings certifications.
For more information on the degree program, call Rupprecht at 716.665.5220, x2384.
Dianne E McConkey
Public Affairs
02/24/2005 |