Aviation Pilot Associate of Applied Science

Program Overview:

The Associate Degree Aviation Pilot Program is an immersive program that provides students with the basic and advanced skills required to pursue a commercial pilot license. Students gain industry knowledge with ground school classes taught by RCTC instructors. Then, trained pilots at Great Planes Aviation provide students with one-on-one flight lessons at an innovative facility located in Rochester beginning the first semester.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Aviation Pilot program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:

• Analyze and interpret data and apply pertinent knowledge in decision making.
• Make professional and ethical decisions.
• Communicate effectively, using both written and oral communication skills.
• Describe the professional attributes, requirements or certifications, and planning applicable to aviation careers.
• Discuss the impact of meteorology and environmental issues on aviation operations.
• Describe the principles of aircraft design, performance and operating characteristics.
• Evaluate aviation safety and the impact of human factors on safety.
• Discuss the impact of national and international aviation law, regulations and labor issues on aviation operations.
• Explain the integration of airports, airspace, and air traffic control in managing the National Airspace System.
• Operate an aircraft in simulated instrument conditions to federal standards.
• Determine factors impacting aircraft performance, including engine power output, weight and balance, airport requirements, and flight maneuvers.
• Maintain compliance with procedures and practices contained in the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's), Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), and other applicable FAA publications.
• Obtain the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification as a Private Pilot, Airplane Single-Engine Land.
• Obtain the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification as a Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single and Multi-Engine Land with an Instrument Rating.

Career Opportunities:

Upon completion, students receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in Aviation Pilot and will have a private pilot’s license, instrument rating, and an airplane single-engine land commercial pilot’s license. It is also the initial step in becoming a commercial airline pilot and will prepare students to transfer for completion of a bachelor’s degree. Aspiring airline pilots can elect to use their Flight Instructor Certificate to build flight time in an economical manner.

Additional Information:

Completion of this program is a path to becoming an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). Graduates of this program are eligible for a Restricted ATP certificate at 1,250 flight hours. Those interested in continuing their aviation education can choose to transfer to Minnesota State University, Mankato for the completion of a Bachelor of Science in Aviation degree.

AVIATION PILOT AAS

MINNESOTA TRANSFER CURRICULUM (MnTC)/GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (16 CREDITS)

GOAL 1: COMMUNICATION (7 CREDITS)

• COMM 1114 – Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 cr)
• ENGL 1117 Reading and Writing Critically I (4 cr)

GOAL 3: NATURAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)

• PHYS 1101 – Elements of Physics (3 cr)

GOAL 4: MATHMATICS/LOGICAL REASONING (3 CREDITS)

• MATH 1115 – College Algebra (3 cr) OR MATH 1117 – Precalculus (4 cr) OR MATH 1127 – Calculus I (5 cr) OR MATH 1128 – Calculus II (5 cr)

GOAL 5: HUMANITIES AND THE FINE ARTS (3 CREDITS)

• PHIL 2130 – Business Ethics (3 cr)

PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (44 CREDITS)

• AVIA 1100 – World of Aviation (3 cr)
• AVIA 1200 – Private Pilot Ground (3 cr)
• AVIA 1210 – Private Pilot Lab (1 cr)
• AVIA 1211 – Private Pilot Lab II (2 cr)
• AVIA 1300 – Aviation Weather (3 cr)
• AVIA 1310 – Instrument Ground (3 cr)
• AVIA 1320 – Instrument Pilot Flight Lab (2 cr)
• AVIA 1321 – Instrument Pilot Flight Lab II (1 cr)
• AVIA 2100 – Air Navigation (3 cr)
• AVIA 2110 – Aviation Safety (3 cr)
• AVIA 2115 – Theory of Flight (3 cr)
• AVIA 2200 – Commercial Pilot Ground (3 cr)
• AVIA 2250 – Commercial Pilot Flight Lab (2 cr)
• AVIA 2251 – Commercial Pilot Flight Lab II (2 cr)
• AVIA 2253 – Multi-Engine Flight Lab (2 cr)
• AVIA 2350 – Advanced Aircraft Systems (3 cr)
• AVIA 2450 – Aviation Human Factors (3 cr)
• AVIA 2600 – Flight Instructor Ground (2 cr)

RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES

Not all courses are scheduled every semester.

FULL-TIME – FALL START

• Semester 1 – Fall (13 CREDITS): AVIA 1110, AVIA 1200, AVIA 1210, AVIA 1300, MATH 1115 (MnTC Goal 4)
• Semester 2 – Spring (14 CREDITS): AVAI 1211, AVIA 1310, AVIA 2100, AVAI 2110, PHYS 1101 (MnTC Goal 3)
• Semester 3 – Summer (7 CREDITS): AVIA 1320, AVIA 1321, ENGL 1117 (MnTC Goal 1)
• Semester 4 – Fall (14 CREDITS): AVIA 2115, AVIA 2200, AVIA 2250, AVIA 2450, COMM 1114 (Goal 1)
• Semester 5 – Spring (12 CREDITS): AVIA 2251, AVIA 2253, AVAI 2350, AVIA 2600, PHIL 2130 (Goal 6)

Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions