Westminster's aviation school receives accreditation
February 29, 2012, 12:53 pm
The aviation program in the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, recently earned accreditation from the Aviation Accreditation Board International. By earning the accreditation, the aviation students will be at the forefront of an evolving industry, well-positioned for advanced careers in aviation.
In the process of earning the accreditation, Westminster's aviation program implemented changes to its curriculum in the fall of 2011, anticipating an overhaul of federal regulations as a result of a deadly crash in Buffalo. The National Transportation Safety Board ruled that inadequate training contributed to the crash of the Continental Connection Flight 3407 that killed 49 people. The pilots of the plane were discovered to not know how to handle a flight warning and could not recover the plane once it veered out of control.
Since the crash, the NTSB has recommended significant changes to Federal Aviation Administration regulations affecting pilot training, fatigue and professionalism on the job. Thus, aviation programs across the country have responded with upgraded coursework and exercises to produce well-prepared pilots for professional positions.
Westminster incorporated additional training in crisis decision-making and developed two new capstone courses to meet the changing federal requirements. Aviation students participating in the program simulate emergency scenarios and have to make critical decisions in real-time. The curriculum also uses commercial airspace to immerse students in a professional atmosphere.
As the aviation industry continues to evolve, many educational institutions are creating aviation programs for the growing population of interested students. Hollister High School in Arkansas recently partnered with nearby Branson Airport to provide curious students with a hands-on aviation experience, Ozarks First reported.
High school students participating in the program speak with aviation professionals at the airport, to learn about the behind the scenes details of airports and the industry. The program addresses the wide variety of careers in aviation available, emerging technology being used and how best to pursue these jobs in the future, the source reported. It will also discuss other aspects of aviation such as flight safety and pilot insurance.
In an interview with the source, Jeremy Beven, director of operations at Branson Airport, said the aviation industry is very steady, but ever-changing. The aviation sector of the economy is less affected by the ups and downs of the stock market, and thus will always have a high demand for new workers.
"What I hope every student takes away from this is the knowledge of the type of careers and the types of jobs that are available here in their own backyard," Sean Woods, assistant principal of Hollister High School, told the source.
Are you covered? Are you overpaying? Find out! Get a Quote Now!
| 
