Aviation Pilot Training

Entry: Fall or Spring Term
Length: 7 terms (21 months)
Degree: Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

It's a great time to become a professional pilot!

The professional pilot is one of the most rewarding aviation careers, offering rapid advancement to a future lifetime of high earnings. The aviation industry has experienced rapid growth in the regional airline market and more pilots are needed to fly medium-size commercial planes. The major airlines have mandatory retirement for pilots at age 60 and the rate of retirement is currently high.

Corporations continue to buy and fly their own jet and turbo-prop aircraft to be competitive in the business world and this trend offers many new pilot crew positions. The flight training industry itself offer many positions as professional flight instructors and aviation educators with competitive pay and benefits.

If you want an exciting and rewarding career with advancement and high pay, plus a chance to see the world, a professional pilot career may be right for you.

IHCC's Aviation Program

This professional pilot program - FAA Approved Part 141 and VA Approved - is designed to train you for private pilot, commercial pilot, instrument rating, flight instructor, and flight instructor-instrument ratings.

Once you graduate from this program, you'll be qualified for entry-level jobs, such as flight instruction, sight-seeing flying, aerial photo piloting, or single-engine ferry piloting. Working as a certified flight instructor is the most common method of building time and experience. After gaining flight experience, you can advance to higher-paying jobs in the military, corporate flight departments, and in the airlines.

Due to the limitations in the number of aircraft and flight instructors, we are only able to accept a limited number of students in the Fall and Spring terms for our on-campus program. However, we now have an online program as well, allowing you to attend classes from anywhere and do your flight time closer to home. To be accepted into the on-campus program, you must have at least a 2.0 high school or college grade point average. If no grade point average is applicable, a minimum standardized score of 500 on the GED is required. Then, you will need to:

complete an application;
submit a copy of their first- or second-class medical certificate;
present a $100 deposit;
complete a personal interview with the Aviation Department Chair;
receive a letter of acceptance; and
provide proof of U.S. citizenship.

You should be prepared to fly five days per week in order to complete this program on schedule. Additional time or terms may be needed to complete the flight portion, due to factors such as adverse weather conditions, aircraft availability, and student aptitude.

This program also may serve as a transfer basis for further study toward a four-year bachelor's degree.

If you present documentation of a current private pilot certificate prior to enrollment you will receive credit for the following classes:

AP113V - Private Pilot Certification
AP123V - Private Basic Ground 1
AP124V - Private Flight 1
AP128V - Private Basic Ground 2
AP134V - Private Flight 2

For more information on this program, contact Darrell Downing at 641.683.5214 or 800.726.2585, ext. 5214.

Veterans Education Benefits

This program has been approved by the appropriate State Department of Veterans' Affairs to receive education benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) for advanced vocational flight training or degree-seeking flight training.

Online Advantage

Our online courses serve students in several ways. If your schedule or geographic location prevent you from attending regularly scheduled classes at our aviation campus near Ottumwa, you can still receive college credit through online coursework.

Secondly, you can reduce your costs and complete your program in less time. You can start the program wherever you live by beginning to earn your private pilot certificate at your local airport, while completing the required ground and technical courses online at the same time.

After completing your private pilot certificate, you can then come to IHCC's Aviation Campus, where you will then take the next steps toward your career by enrolling in the advanced instrument and commercial pilot ratings.

Course Schedule

(online courses)

Catalog Number	Course Name	Credits
Term I
AVI135	Private Basic Ground I	3
AVI175	Private Flight I	1
AVI190	VFR Communications	2
AVI220	Aviation Meteorology	3
	Arts and Sciences elective(s)	3
	Total	12
Term II
AVI110	History of Aviation	3
AVI136	Private Basic Ground II	3
AVI150	Aerodynamics	3
AVI176	Private Flight II	1
	Arts and Sciences elective(s)	3
	Total	13
Term III
AVI127	Engine Systems Theory	3
AVI187	Private Pilot Certification	1
AVI195	IFR Communications	2
AVI200	Instrument Pilot Ground I	3
AVI230	Instrument Flight Stage 1	1
	Arts and Sciences elective(s)	3
	Total	13
Term IV
AVI123	Maintenance Responsibilities	3
AVI129	Employment Prep for Aviation Careers	1
AVI201	Instrument Pilot Ground II	2
AVI231	Instrument Flight Stage 2	1
AVI232	Instrument Flight Stage 3	1
AVI262	Commercial Pilot Ground I	2
	Arts and Sciences elective(s)	3
	Total	13
Term V
AVI155	Airframe Systems Theory	3
AVI249	General Aviation Operations Management	3
AVI263	Commercial Pilot Ground II	2
AVI280	Commercial Night Flight Stage 4A	1
AVI281	Commercial X-C Stage 4B	2
	Arts and Sciences elective(s)	3
	Total	14
Term VI
AVI282	Commercial Flight Stage 5	2
AVI290	Fundamentals of Ground Instruction	3
AVI300	Flight Instructor Ground School	3
	Arts and Sciences elective(s)	3
	Total	11
Term VII
AVI283	Commercial Certification	2
	Arts and Sciences elective(s)	6
	Any combination of the following courses to equal 2 credits: Additional credits of Arts and Sciences electives or AVI351 - Flight Instructor Basic - 1 credit or AVI352 - Flight Instructor Instrument -1 credit	2
	Total	10

Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester credits of Arts and Sciences transferable electives and must have earned 1 credit in each of the areas of Math (MAT), Science (BIO, CHM, ENV, PHS, PHY, SCI), Social Science (ANT, ECN, GEO, HIS, POL, PSY, SOC), Humanities (CLS, FLF, FLS, HUM, LIT, PHI, REL, WST), Communication (COM, ENG, SPC), Information Technologies (CSC), and Fine Arts (ART, DRA, GRA, MUA, MUS) to earn the A.A.S. degree.