Flight Technology

"Dr. Harvey Says"

December 30, 2002

Change, The Challenge and The Reward

Change always opens doors leading to new opportunities; there have been many dramatic changes thrust upon Oregon's Higher Education - and as Martha Stewart might say, "that is a good thing." Well, maybe.  It really depends upon how we view ourselves and how skilled we are at creating useful paradigms from which we frame our future.  We must accept the fact that life will never be the same again, and that is just a fact of life.  Change always represents a challenge.  Those that have the courage to embrace challenge are our vanguard and banner bearers.  Professional technical educators are faced with multiple challenges:  tighter budgets, the need to accommodate rising costs, changing economic and political climates and the absolute demand to master a plethora of new technologies.  Perhaps we should take a few moments to muse over and ponder these notions.  The question has to be asked - is there a rainbow at the end of all this turmoil, this fretting and confusion?  Well - if you have an aviation bent and a spirit of adventure, then yes, the future is very exciting - exciting indeed.

This is the first time in nearly 30 years that there has been an actual pilot shortage in the United States.  Yes, 9-11 did have a major impact on the aviation industry.  And, yes, some major airlines are in financial trouble - but they were in trouble before 9-11.  Stress can be depended upon to "weed out" the weak first.  Not well publicized, but important none-the-less is the fact that the healthy air carriers have been adding routes and accelerating the delivery of new airplanes.  This is a good sign - it signals a healthy industry.  It also signals a need for many more well trained people; the emphasis must be placed on "well trained."  This truly is a time of opportunity.  FAA projections indicate that the "opportunity" window will likely remain open through the year 2012.  During times of need, experience thresholds tend to be adjusted downward, providing the opportunity for more people qualify.

A most important question has to be - does this practice compromise the integrity of commercial air transportation?  Fortunately, the historical record says no.  The industry has a sound base of rock solid and experienced professionals dedicated to their profession and they provide reliable leadership.  A major factor is that the fleet in the USA is excellent, and most commercial airplanes have been equipped with the latest systems representing incredible developments in technology.  These thoughts should be encouraging.  Since commercial aviation is so fundamental to a vital economy, aviation schools have every reason to expect a robust future. Unlike the days of yesteryear when the military trained the majority of the pilots and technicians, the general aviation sector continues to be an essential source of professionally trained pilots and technicians.  Trends indicate that in the future an even larger proportion of skilled people will be trained in civilian programs.

Program administrators must realize their graduates may well be joining the industry workforce with less total experience than has been historically true.  This fact places an additional burden on training programs; it is essential that graduates enter the aviation workforce with superior knowledge and technical skills.  Fundamentals are more important today than they have ever been.  Fuzzy math is not allowed.

Thinking About The Future

Aviation oriented programs must embrace a more comprehensive set of education standards.  Technical educators must be prepared to do more with less and that often means employing new technology and methodologies.  It also implies a need to form a more diverse array of partnerships.  As the industry matures it also becomes more complex and the increased complexity spawns new specialties.

Should a casual observer consider the aviation industry in Oregon, the actual magnitude of the industry is obscure.  Consider, for a moment, the vitality of an Oregon industry that generates more than $11 billion in gross revenues each year. Consider an Oregon industry that represents, in some manner, nearly 400,000 jobs.  A vital Oregon economy is enhanced by an excellent and reliable air transportation system.

Oregonians have a traditional bent for independence, but this is no longer the "good ole days" and we have a very real need to change a few of our ways.  Understanding this as fact, Lane Community College is aggressively reaching out - connecting in progressively large circles with other colleges, universities and business partners.

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It is imperative that there is a comprehensive and realistic plan to ensure the manpower and talent needs of the industry are being met.  Knowing the dynamics of the industry, and having an appreciation for the rapid integration of technology in the industry, it has been necessary to revise many courses so they are more comprehensive and more clearly reflect current needs.  The objective is clear - we must assure each student in aviation that programs are being prepared to meet the challenges of our collective aviation futures.

From a community college perspective, some interesting trends are emerging.  An increasing number of community college graduates plan to seek degrees from four-year institutions.  We have every reason to believe there will be a greater number of students concurrently enrolled in the LCC Flight aviation technologies programs and a four-year degree program in an Oregon university.  Another emerging trend is what we call "reverse flow."  Reverse flow occurs when students from a four-year school enroll in a program at a community college.  An example of the expanding network is Lane Community College's increased participation in the Air Force ROTC program at OSU.

Perhaps a single word could describe our objective - the word is "professionalism".  To ensure our future success, Lane Community College aviation technology programs are increasingly forged in a new dynamic relationship with industry and with higher education partners.  These partnerships are vital to all parties as we all bring essential elements to the total education experience.  This network is essential to ensure that program offerings and content is relevant and timely and high quality training can be cost effective.

Lane Community College will be offering a new transfer program beginning the fall of 2003: a new Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree with an aviation emphasis.  This is specifically a transfer program intended for people who are planning for a professional career in the air transportation industry.  The objective is to prepare candidates to transfer to four-year degree programs such as aviation management, airways sciences or air transportation security.  This program will also freely articulate with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.  We believe an aviation future should appeal to many young people and especially, to young women.

Beyond the First Two Years

On the drawing board are several new programs intended for those who have completed a two-year program and intend to fly as pilots for a regional carrier.  The regional airlines are now flying very sophisticated airplanes.  Rapid integration of advanced technology has driven the need for significant changes in procedures.  New pilots need to be prepared for the macro-jump from a college pilot training environment to the cockpit of a current generation regional jet.  To help our graduates prepare for this transition, new courses are being developed.  These courses are designed to prepare pilots for the "glass cockpit" environment and automated systems management.

We recognize that in the aviation industry training is a pervasive constant.  To meet the need for advanced trainers in our college program, candidates will have an option to complete advanced certificates in the aviation sciences, and advanced certificates as technical trainers.  We have every expectation that many of our graduates will eventually become highly valued trainers in the air transportation industry.  In fact, we are bold enough to expect to be one of the first colleges to specifically prepare candidates as aviation training professionals.

Harvey E. Birdseye, Ed.D

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