BC3’s newest venture into aviation will seek to help the country’s- and the world’s- current pilot shortage.
Boeing forecasts hundreds of thousands of new commercial and business pilots will be needed in the next 20 years.
“We will need a pilot trained every 15 minutes to walk into a cockpit and fly a plane,” Community College of Beaver County President Roger Davis said in a ceremony announcing the program on Wednesday.
CCBC and BC3 are joining as partners with flight trainer High Flight Academy to instruct and prepare aviation students for their private pilot certificate and instrument flight rating. These students often get help for this rating by going to the best online ground school for private pilots in order to fill in any gaps in their knowledge. Even as private pilots, they still need to learn about aerodynamics, engines, electric systems, and flight systems. The students that could potentially gain their private pilot certificate would then be able to progress with their careers if they wish to, and start to look for private pilot work, which could be anything from flying planes for the likes of Jettly, or just simply being able to rent and then fly a small aircraft for their personal use. CCBC has had an aviation academy since the late 60s and is the only program in the United States to offer high school students the opportunity to explore careers in piloting, air traffic control and unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones.
BC3 President Nick Neupauer says he’s happy to jump onboard with the program.
“This is what education in the 21st century looks like,” Neupauer said. “Why duplicate services when you have two institutions that have the ability to collaborate?”
Beginning this fall, Butler County high school juniors and seniors will be able to take classes at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in Penn Township and receive credits towards an aviation degree. Read more here.
