Institute of Aviation

The Institute of Aviation is responsible for the promotion and correlation of education and research activities related to aviation at the University. Its director has the advice and assistance of an executive committee. The Institute holds Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airman Examining (Pilot) Agency Certificate Number 1, which permits it to issue pilot certificates and ratings to its graduates on behalf of the FAA.

Typically, new freshmen are accepted for admission during the fall semester, but a few students may be accepted for the spring semester.

Two curricula are offered: the Aviation Human Factors curriculum and the Professional Pilot curriculum. Students completing the Aviation Human Factors curriculum receive a B.S. degree in Aviation. This curriculum includes two core components; (1) the professional pilot instructional component leading to the FAA commercial pilot certificate with multi-engine, instrument, and flight instructor certificates and ratings, and (2) the human factors component including cockpit resource management, aviation psychology, and aviation accident investigation and analysis. Students must also complete thirty-four elective hours.

Students graduating from the Professional Pilot curriculum complete a two-year professional pilot instructional sequence similar to the component listed above, and may then transfer to any degree-granting division of the University to complete requirements for a baccalaureate degree in that division. This may require from four to six additional semesters following the four Professional Pilot semesters. A University student outside the Institute of Aviation may elect flight courses with the permission of his or her department and the permission of the Institute of Aviation, but space is typically limited. Qualified students are invited to apply for transfer into the Institute of Aviation.

Special fees ranging from $820 to $6,104 are charged for a course involving flight training in addition to the estimated costs listed in the Student Costs section. These fees are subject to change as operating costs change.

The institute's Aviation Research Laboratory and its Aviation Human Factors division conducts interdisciplinary research in many areas related to flight. The institute manages Willard Airport, located six miles southwest of the Urbana-Champaign campus. The airport also provides the University and community with excellent air transportation facilities.

Requirements

Admission

Applicants must meet general University requirements as well as those specified by the Institute of Aviation. Additional units in physics, mathematics, and the social sciences are recommended.