Since the announcement of UCA’s Aviation Academy, 1,300 potential students have expressed interest in joining the academy. 

Of the 1,300 interested, 350 submitted an official application to join the academy.

Many of the applicants wanted to begin the program in the fall, and 36 wanted to start in spring 2024; 20 have signed up to do so.

These students will begin classes March 4 and are expected to complete their first certification by July.

Private licensure through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the first of three licenses offered at the UCA Aviation Academy.

Commercial aviation and instrument rating certification will be obtained later in the year, also done through the FAA.

After the first group of students completes private license certification in July, a new group of students will likely be accepted into the program and will complete their private license by October.

The first-ever classes offered through this program will be held in classrooms in the College of Business.

These afternoon classes, known as ground school, will last three weeks.

For four days a week, students will study the basic information needed to safely and effectively pilot an aircraft.

Flight training begins after students complete ground school.

Students will begin flight school learning in Tecnam P-Mentor planes, which are specifically designed to train pilots. 

Brad Teague, UCA athletic director and interim director of the UCA Aviation Academy, said, “We anticipated some interest based on the great need for pilots. We did not have any idea we would attract the amount of attention we have received. We are excited about the future of the program and the aviation industry.” 

These certifications will allow students to immediately enter the workforce into high-paying jobs. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for airline and commercial pilots in 2022 was $148,900.

“UCA is proud to be able to meet the needs of the students of Arkansas. We are very happy to provide this most important workforce initiative for our state and region,” Teague said.