Aviation Management

If you are interested in an aviation-related career involving flight operational support, then the Aviation Management degree is for you. This could involve working in a corporate flight department, or managing a flight school, or working in flight support operations at an airline or in the aircraft maintenance or manufacturing industry. This degree does not require flight training and is focused on providing you with a fundamental knowledge of flight concepts and terminology pertaining to meteorology, aircraft systems, airline operations, and flight safety practices.

If you already have a degree in another field but want some background in aviation and flight operations, then you can do one or both of the certificate options. Option A covers management principles, aircraft systems and basic flight operations. Option B covers aviation operations management, flight safety principles, air transportation industry specifics, supply chain management and aircraft structures.

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Credentialing Options

Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology - Aviation Management Option, AAS - CIP Code: 49.0102

A 60 18 0 A1

Contact: (336) 334-4822, ext. 59011

The Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology curriculum prepares individuals for a variety of aviation and aviation-related careers with commercial airlines, general aviation operations, the aerospace industry, the military, and state and federal aviation organizations.

Course work includes fundamentals of flight, aerodynamics, aircraft performance, meteorology, navigation, federal regulations, aviation management, and instrument and commercial ground training. Optional course work includes flight and simulator training or business management training.

Graduates will hold a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating or specialize in aviation management. Graduates may find employment as commercial, corporate, and military pilots, fixed base operators and airport managers, flight instructors, and flight dispatchers.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Aviation Management Option, the graduate should be able to:

  • Orchestrate efficient flight and ground operations
  • Apply sales and marketing skills relating to the aviation customer
  • Communicate effectively
  • Employ electronic resources to research and analyze data
  • Operate within the ethical, legal, and regulatory standards of the aviation industry
  • Use critical thinking skills to solve aviation problems
  • Evaluate financial information to make business decisions
  • Demonstrate how to relate well with various aviation customers in the execution of business enterprise

Fall Semester I

Total Credits: 18

Spring Semester I

Total Credits: 17-18

Fall Semester II

Total Credits: 17

Spring Semester II

Total Credits: 19

Electives

Humanities/Fine Arts Elective

Take three (3) credits from the following list of courses:

Aviation Management Option Technical Electives

Take two (2) credits from the following list of courses:

Total credit hours required for degree: 71-72

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Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology - Career Pilot Option, AAS

A 60 18 0 A2

Contact: (336) 334-4822, ext. 59011

The Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology curriculum prepares individuals for a variety of aviation and aviation-related careers with commercial airlines, general aviation operations, the aerospace industry, the military, and state and federal aviation organizations.

Course work includes fundamentals of flight, aerodynamics, aircraft performance, meteorology, navigation, federal regulations, aviation management, and instrument and commercial ground training. Optional course work includes flight and simulator training or business management training.

Graduates will hold a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating or specialize in aviation management. Graduates may find employment as commercial, corporate, and military pilots, fixed base operators and airport managers, flight instructors, and flight dispatchers.

Attainment of the FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate is required for Career Pilot degree completion, which means that the student is responsible for obtaining all flight training at an offsite facility and will incur associated costs.

Upon successful completion of the Career Pilot Option, the graduate should be able to:

  • Pilot an aircraft (for some positions, certain specific certifications are required e.g., C.F.I, M.E.I, and C.F.I.I.);
  • Communicate effectively
  • Employ electronic resources to research and analyze data
  • Operate within the ethical, legal, and regulatory standards of the industry
  • Use critical thinking skills to solve aviation problems
  • Relate effectively to aviation customers
  • Employ scientific and aerodynamic principles to safely and efficiently operate an aircraft

Fall Semester I

Total Credits: 18

Spring Semester I

Total Credits: 19

Fall Semester II

Total Credits: 17

Spring Semester II

Total Credits: 17-18

Electives

Humanities/Fine Arts Elective

Take (3) credits from the following list of courses:

Career Pilot Option Technical Electives

Take 2 credits from the following list:

Total credit hours required for degree: 71-72

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Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology - Aviation Management Certificate Option A

C 60 18 0 C3

Contact: (336) 334-4822 ext. 59011

This curriculum gives the student basic information related to management principles, aircraft systems, and flight operations.  This certificate is designed for individuals who either already have a degree in another field or work experience in another area of aviation and who want to broaden their knowledge to increase their employment opportunities within the aviation industry. 

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Aviation Management Option A Certificate, the graduate should be able to:

  • Operate within the regulatory standards of the aviation industry.
  • Use critical thinking skills to solve aviation problems.
  • Relate well with various aviation customers in the execution of business enterprise.

Fall I

Total credits required for this certificate: 18

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Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology - Aviation Management Certificate Option B

C 60 18 0 C4

Contact: (336) 334-4822 ext. 59011

This curriculum educates the student in aviation operations management, flight safety principles, the air transportation industry as well as providing an introduction to supply chain management and aircraft structures.  This certificate is designed for individuals who either already have a degree in another field or work experience in another area of aviation and who want to broaden their knowledge to increase their employment opportunities within the aviation industry.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the certificate, the graduate should be able to:

  • Operate within the regulatory standards of the aviation industry.
  • Use critical thinking skills to solve aviation problems.
  • Relate well with various aviation customers in the execution of business enterprise.

Spring I

Total credits required for this certificate: 16

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Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology - Aviation Management Certificate

C 60 18 0 C2

This certificate is designed for those individuals interested in enrolling in the ground-school courses associated with the FAA Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial Pilot certificates. It is also geared for those students who already have a degree in another field and are interested in obtaining aviation knowledge for potential employment in the aviation industry.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Aviation Management Option, the graduate should be able to:

  • Operate within the regulatory standards of the aviation industry.
  • Use critical thinking skills to solve aviation problems
  • Relate well with various aviation customers in the execution of business enterprise

Fall Semester I

Total Credits: 6

Spring Semester I

Total Credits: 6

Fall Semester II

Total Credits: 3

Total credit hours required for certificate: 15

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Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology - Career Pilot Option Certificate

C 60 18 0 C1

This certificate is designed for those individuals interested in attaining an FAA Private Pilot certificate and completing the ground school courses for Instrument and Commercial Pilot certificates. Students enrolled in this certificate program are required to attain FAA Private Pilot certificate as a requirement of the Career Pilot certificate. Flight training is done offsite at a flight training facility. Students will be responsible for all flight training and costs.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Career Pilot Option certificate, the graduate should be able to:

  • Pilot an aircraft
  • Communicate effectively
  • Operate within the regulatory standards of the aviation industry
  • Use critical thinking skills to solve aviation problems
  • Relate effectively to aviation customers
  • Employ scientific and aerodynamic principles to safely and efficiently operate and aircraft

Fall Semester I

Total Credits: 7

Spring Semester I

Total Credits: 3

Fall Semester II

Total Credits: 6

Total credit hours required for certificate: 16

Close

Student Testimonials

Aviation Student Testimonials

Frequently Asked Questions

You will need to follow the general enrollment process for GTCC.  During the advising process you will have the opportunity to indicate your desire to study within this curriculum. Your advisor will help you sign up for the specific courses you need.

Audrey Floyd, Director, Aviation Management/Career Pilot Programs

Brian Johnson, Instructor, Aviation Management/Career Pilot Programs

Phillip Fittante, Instructor, Aviation Management/Career Pilot Programs

Yes, Financial aid is available if you qualify. Please visit the Financial Aid web page or contact the Financial Aid office at 336-334-4822 Option 3.

Financial Aid, including Pell Grants, student loans, and scholarships can be used to help offset the costs of flight training. 

 

If you are at least a high school graduate or are enrolled in the Career and College Promise program, you can qualify for the Aviation Management or Career Pilot programs. If you are a current high school student and would like to find out more about the Career and College Promise program, please contact Linda Whitlow at lswhitlow@gtcc.edu  You will need to satisfy placement requirements in reading and math in order to register for courses in the program.  You will need to test out of DRE 098 in reading and at least DMA 050 in math to start courses in the AER programs.  To meet math requirements for the Career Pilot and Aviation Management degrees, you will need to test out of DMA 080.  Prior flight training is not required to start the degree or certificate programs.

If you look at the catalog descriptions for the two programs, you will see that there are many classes that are common to both degrees.  If you want to fly and have the financing available to complete the flight training in 2-3 years, then the Career Pilot degree awards you the most credit for your flight training and would be the most efficient way to the associate degree. If you are unsure about getting the financing for flight training or how quickly you can progress toward your commercial license, then we recommend enrolling in the Aviation Management degree.  You can still do your flight training on the side, but it would allow you a way to attain a degree even if you don’t complete your commercial certificate in two years.

Flight training is required for the Career Pilot degree but not the Aviation Management degree.  In order to graduate with the Career Pilot degree, you must obtain your FAA Commercial Pilot certificate.  Depending on how and where you do your flight training, it requires 190-250 flight hours. Flight training is conducted with a third-party flight training provider.  This could be an independent flight instructor or a flight school.

This depends on where you choose to do your flight training and which type of aircraft you fly. Flight training is charged by the hour.  Most training aircraft costs are between $120-$170/hour.  On top of that cost, you may also be flying with a flight instructor, and flight instructors usually charge between $30-$50/hour. Flight training costs to obtain your commercial certificate will average about $40,000.  Flight training costs are in addition to tuition and fees charged by the college for the degree classes.  The cost for tuition and books for the associate’s degree at GTCC will total approximately $7,500 - $8,000.

GI Bill® benefits can be used for flight training but cannot be used toward a Private Pilot certificate.  These flight training benefits are paid directly to the flight school where you choose to do your training.  The flight school must be Part 141 certificated and must be approved by the VA in order to use your GI Bill® benefits there.  GI Bill® benefits can be used for classes in the Aviation Management program.

We have three: Redbird, FMX full-motion, and AATDs.  These can be scheduled with a GTCC flight instructor.  These are scheduled through continuing education and are available to curriculum students and individuals outside of GTCC who want to purchase simulator time to train for a new certificate, improve proficiency, or meet currency requirements.

GTCC does have a comprehensive articulation agreement with North Carolina public universities, but the aviation programs also have specific articulation agreements with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Greensboro Campus) and Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina.

The outlook is great.  The aviation industry is growing to satisfy demand generated by global economic expansion. 

Use Indeed.com or JSFirm to search local and regional jobs for “Aviation Management” in Greensboro in Winston-Salem, and for North Carolina overall.