New Aviation Degree Combines Flight, Aircraft Mechanic Training Into Four-Year Program

Beginning this Fall, the Liberty University School of Aeronautics will offer a versatile new degree that combines flight training and maintenance.

The Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology provides students with the requirements needed to pursue their commercial pilot license and aviation mechanic certification.

Steven Brinly, chair of aerospace technology, said the degree is unique because it qualifies students in both areas in four years rather than the more traditional five-year track for the combined degree.

“By combining these two areas into a single degree, we are providing our students with a diverse set of skills that will enable them to both fly and maintain aircraft,” said Brinly. “In today’s aviation profession, these are two highly sought-after skill sets that are now available through one program.”

Liberty’s School of Aeronautics is one of only a few in the nation to offer this type of degree.

The flight portion of the degree will include ground and air instruction for the private pilot, instrument rating, and commercial pilot certifications, while the maintenance training will take students through the complete FAA mechanics program, preparing them to obtain both Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) ratings.

The new degree was created as a result of input from the School of Aeronautics’ Industry Advisory Committee, a group of representatives from throughout the aviation profession, to equip students pursuing a career in mission aviation. Many mission organizations require their pilots to hold both a commercial certificate and an A&P certification.

Students in the B.S. in Aviation Technology program will receive ground and air instruction toward their commercial pilot certificate.

The combined degree also expands career options for graduates, Brinly said. Pilots flying for smaller aviation companies may be required to change a tire, repair flight controls, or perform routine maintenance, so having the A&P certification is an additional skill set that is attractive to employers.

The added maintenance training can also benefit pilots should they become unable to fly due to a medical condition, or if the aviation industry sees a downturn such as it is currently experiencing as a result of COVID-19.

Brinly said that while many airlines are furloughing or freezing hiring for pilots, many companies are hiring mechanics because aircraft still need to be serviced and maintained. For pilots and others in aviation, he believes that the negative impacts COVID-19 has had on the industry will slowly ease and companies will gradually rebound.

“I think this downturn in aviation is a temporary situation. The factors that existed in aviation prior to COVID-19 will still exist when the industry rebounds,” said Brinly. “There will still be a pilot shortage, there will still be a mechanics shortage, and when our graduates are entering the workforce over the next couple of years, they will be poised to meet that demand.”

FMI: http://www.liberty.edu/