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Flight Technology

Aviation Careers
by Harvey Birdseye

For the past five years, a major effort has been directed toward developing a first-rate aviation and airline careers training program in Oregon. After the initial flurry of activities, the project appeared to have gone strangely quiet; on occasion, creativity seems to enter sort-of a chrysalis phase.

The chrysalis has matured and a new aviation education partnership has emerged. Lane Community College provides all the practical and FAA certificate training as well as transfer degrees with an aviation emphasis. A new Human Factors course is being offered via the University of Oregon Psychology Department as a part of the NASA aviation safety research program. And, a new degree from Oregon State University College of Liberal Arts, called Aerospace Leadership Concentration, has been announced. It is a composite program composed of courses from Lane, Human Factors from UO and upper division courses to complete the degree from OSU. This degree is designed to meet the rapid changing needs of the airline industry. This new degree is structured to be a major; however, its structure encourages a second degree option from the OSU School of Education. For OSU graduates, the second degree can be completed within 32 credit hours. The initial reaction from the airline industry has been very positive - this double degree promises to be a hot item with aviation employers. A central partner is Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA) which facilitates links to major airlines, airframe manufacturers and avionics equipment manufacturers as well as other state and federal agencies.

Lane offers an alternative version of the transfer degree, an AAOT with an aviation emphasis. Transfer students can pursue university degrees in many traditional fields, and add an aviation component; the combined program enhances chances for jobs in the airline industry. Many education courses offered by Oregon community colleges may be accepted by OSU and count toward the second degree in education.

The next major task is to develop a highly efficient working partnership with area high schools. As a initial effort to integrate high schools, Lane is hosting a two week aviation summer camp, August 2004. Participants will receive eight hours logged dual instruction, ground training and engage in a series of “mini-internships” to provide exploratory opportunities in several aviation related career fields. Looking ahead, it is apparent that thousands of pilots, technicians and air traffic controllers will need to be trained and qualified for responsible positions.