Dean Says The Economy Is The Culprit

While Dean David Powell is optimistic about the school's future, he admits the Western Michigan University's College of Aviation is facing challenges in this lackluster economy. 

In an interview with the Western Michigan Business Review, Powell said enrollment has remained strong, but job placement is very low. About 20 percent of the students have switched from flight training to a management track, and some students were taking jobs in such far-flung places as Saudi Arabia in order to find work.

Part of the reason for the switch to management training is due to an increase in flight fees, he said.  Students pay to train as pilots, and the costs do not include tuition or room and board.  Students are having a hard time coming up with the $45,000-$50,000 to learn to fly, and getting a student loan to cover those costs has also become increasingly difficult. Powell said three of their six lenders have dropped out of the program entirely, and the remaining three have tightened up their credit. That leaves flight students relying on their parents or other sources for the increased costs.

The reason for his optimism, he said, is his faith that the economy will recover, and that will make flying a more attractive career choice.

"Before the economy slowed, the FAA's forecast was for a need of 15,000 pilots. This is significant for places that produce professional pilots, which is exactly what we do here," he told the paper.

And despite the poor economy, Powell said the school has plans to offer training for Air Traffic Controllers, and that will create more opportunities for graduates. "We recently had the Federal Aviation Administration come to and do a site visit," he said. "If the FAA approves our application, we will be able to add air-traffic-control training to our program here at the Battle Creek facility."

FMI: www.wmich.edu/aviation