Aviation Helicopter AAS

Two-Year Associate of Applied Science Degree

AAS Aviation Helicopter program trains students to work as professional pilots in either the air transportation industry or commercial helicopter industry. Career paths with this degree include the following: commercial pilot, pilot for a private corporation, charter pilot, and flight instructor to new student pilots.

The AAS Aviation Helicopter degree program is designed to produce high-quality graduates who are prepared to enter the field as aviation pilots. This field offers high-wage careers that are global in scope. The degree provides students with the mandatory flight hours along with industry-specified instruction.

Instruction takes place in a one-to-one student-to-instructor learning environment to ensure that students acquire the academic knowledge necessary to be a safe pilot and to pass the FAA knowledge exams. Federal Aviation Regulations 14 CFR parts 61 and 141 set forth the qualifications, testing, and certification requirements for pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Perform calculations required for flight operations.
• Identify principles of flight pertaining to helicopters.
• Use communication skills effectively face-to-face and over the radio.
• Evaluate pilot fitness and proficiency, aircraft airworthiness and capabilities, and environmental conditions prior to each flight.
• Summarize the test standards and information in order to pass the FAA checkride and obtain: private pilot cert, instrument rating, commercial pilot cert, certified flight instructor cert, and certified flight instructor instrument rating.
• Explain aviation regulations and how they pertain to airport operating procedures, crew rest requirements, general operating flight rules, and flight operations.

Admission Requirements

Candidates considering the Aviation Helicopter AAS degree should contact the Aviation Program Lead at 541-880-2263. The program has special admission requirements, and the Aviation Program Lead will forward the application to interested candidates. The application has a number of requirements that must be satisfied before the candidate will be admitted into the program. If some of the requirements are not completed, a prospective aviation student may start introductory aviation classes, but a student must be accepted into the program before they can begin ground and flight courses. All applicants who are accepted into the program will receive an orientation.