Aviation Management & Flight Operations – Question & Answer

General Program Information

What degree is being offered?
Coe offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with an aviation management concentration, with the option of also completing flight operations courses that prepare students for various pilot certificates and ratings.

What is the flight operations program’s capacity in terms of students?
The program will accept as many as 24 students per cohort. We anticipate future cohorts could have a greater number of students.

Who is Coe partnering with for this program?
Coe has partnered with Revv Aviation for the flight operations of the program. In addition, a partnership with the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) allows Coe to have a dedicated aeronautical field station at the airport, including an exclusive hangar and office space.

How many planes does Revv have available?
When the program reaches a full cohort, there will be multiple available. Revv operates at other locations within a few hours of Cedar Rapids. Should one of the planes used in Coe's program need to be out for maintenance (for any length of time), Revv will have the capability to replace or even increase their fleet in Cedar Rapids.

Is the program accredited by the Higher Learning Commission?
Yes.

Aviation Terminology

What is the FAA?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the U.S. federal government agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation that manages the country's airspace, including regulating aviation safety, developing air traffic control systems and researching the National Airspace System. The FAA regulates and sets standards for pilot training.

What is Part 141?
Part 141 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) is a certification process for flight schools that train professional pilots. The process establishes standardized training methods and requirements, and ensures schools meet prescribed standards for equipment, facilities, personnel and curriculum. The FAA regularly reviews Part 141 schools to ensure they provide quality training, meeting FAA standards.

Part 141 students have more time with a flight instructor overall (than Part 61). Part 141 students usually are working on flight training full time compared to Part 61 students who often have other careers, jobs or obligations. With more training, the FAA requires fewer flight hours for certificates and ratings with Part 141. Therefore, it is less expensive.

Does Coe College currently have Part 141 certification?
At this time Coe is pursuing Part 141 certification and is in the application process. Our partner, Revv Aviation, is managing the flight school.

Admission & Program Requirements

Are there any GPA requirements to be admitted into the program or to graduate from the program?
All students must apply for admission and be enrolled at Coe College in order to take part in Coe’s aviation management concentration in the business administration major and Coe’s flight operations courses in the flight school. Admission to Coe College does not guarantee admission to the flight school. Please see the additional requirements and details below.

For any Coe classes, students must receive a passing grade to continue through the program. Similarly for the flight school courses, students must receive a satisfactory report in their lessons and stage checks. If the student does not pass the checkride, they will receive an “Incomplete” and have one term to re-test. If they do not pass the class, they will have to retake it before progressing in the program.

What are the requirements for acceptance into the flight program?
To be accepted to the flight program, students must:

Hold a current Federal Aviation Administration Medical Certificate prior to soloing in the aircraft.
Show proof of U.S. citizenship, typically a valid U.S. passport or an original U.S. birth certificate along with another TSA-approved proof-of-U.S.-citizenship document.
Be at least 16 years of age at the time of the first solo flight and at least 17 years old at the time of initial pilot certification.

Do students need a medical certificate prior to enrolling?
All students planning to begin flight training at Coe College are required to hold an FAA medical certificate. Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) are designated by the FAA to issue these certifications following completion of an application and a physical examination. Students are not required to have a medical certificate at the time of enrollment; however, they must present the certification to begin flight training. Due to the scheduling of courses and flight hours, we strongly suggest students begin the medical certificate process prior to enrolling. Use the following link to search for an AME in your area: www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator.

There are three classes of medical certificates: first, second and third class.
- First class certificates are required for pilots exercising the privileges of an airline transport pilot (ATP) rating.
- Second class medical certificates are required for pilots exercising the privileges of a commercial pilot certificate.
- Third class medical certificates are adequate for initial training purposes.
Note: While a third class medical certificate is a minimum requirement to start the program, we recommend that students who intend to become an airline transport pilot (ATP) obtain a first class medical certificate to ensure eligibility for the ATP certificate.

Students may be denied a medical certificate because of medical and/or legal issues in the past. Every student should determine their eligibility for medical certification before beginning their education for an aviation-related career. If medical or legal issues need to be addressed, expect delays in obtaining a medical certificate. Students are required to possess a medical certificate to begin flight training, so get a medical certificate early to avoid delays.

A common limitation is a color vision restriction that restricts pilots from flying at night or under a signal gun control. These problems need to be identified early to determine eligibility for flight training.

Can students balance this program while also being a student-athlete?
Yes, provided that students are organized and are able to manage busy schedules well. There occasionally may be times when sports competitions and scheduled classes conflict. Students would need to communicate with their coaches and their course instructors to determine what to do in these situations.

Are students responsible for finding their own transportation to the airport for flight school sessions?
Yes, students will need their own transportation to and from the hangar. Cedar Rapids public transportation does offer a bus route to the airport, and all Coe students are able to ride the bus for free with valid Coe identification.

Can students attend the flight school if they already have an undergraduate degree from another college or university?
Students can complete a second degree in a different field but cannot major again in the same field. Therefore, a student who already has a degree in business administration would need to pursue a second degree in a different field.

Academic Information

What would the first year at Coe look like in this program?
In year one, students take the introduction to aviation course, private pilot ground and flight lab courses, three first-level courses in the business administration major and general education courses.

What would a four-year plan at Coe look like in this program?
Visit the aviation management four-year plan webpage for full details.

What types of flight courses will students take?
Over four years, students will take courses to prepare for a private pilot certificate, an instrument rating, a multi-engine rating, a commercial pilot certificate and a flight instructor certificate. Students must pass the FAA exams at each level prior to continuing on to the next course. Students will be able to fly in the first term of the program and will have flight courses each semester.

Private Pilot: These courses teach students to fly. After completing the courses and passing the FAA’s written exam and checkride, students have a private pilot certificate (license). This certificate allows students to fly in good weather during daylight hours, avoiding clouds.
Instrument Rating: These courses teach students to fly by relying on the plane’s instruments, rather than only on sight. After earning this rating, students will be able to fly through clouds, in bad weather and at night.
Commercial: In these courses, students learn more about aircraft systems, aerodynamics, weather and navigation, as well as learning to finesse flying maneuvers. Earning a commercial certificate allows students to be paid to fly and opens the door to jobs such as agricultural pilot, banner towing, pipeline patrol, traffic reporting, corporate pilot and drone pilot.
Multi-engine Rating: In these courses, students learn to fly an aircraft that has two engines. Earning this rating allows students to fly multi-engine aircraft, making them more marketable. It is also a necessary step toward being qualified to fly for passenger airlines.
Certified Flight Instructor: These courses prepare students to be a certified flight instructor (CFI). This certificate allows one to teach other people to fly. Working as a CFI allows students to quickly gain additional flight hours that are needed to qualify for some corporate jobs and for an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. Coe students can earn their CFI and log flight hours while training other students, reducing the costs of accumulating additional flight hours. See below for more information.

In total, how long will it take for students to complete the program?
This is designed as a program to be completed in four years.

How do students get to 1,000 flight hours required for a restricted ATP? Will they reach 1,000 hours prior to graduating from Coe, or after?
Students will get to 1,000 hours after they graduate from Coe. When they finish their commercial pilot certificate, they will likely have a minimum of between 190 and 250 flight hours. At this point, they will need to create a plan to reach 1,000 hours. Most students become flight instructors so that someone else is paying for the plane while they log additional hours. Others not interested in teaching may fly for an aerial imaging company, pursue pipeline control or fly skydivers to build time to get to 1,000 hours.

What sorts of job opportunities are available after graduation?
Immediately following graduation, most students will work as flight instructors in order to accumulate enough flying hours to qualify for a restricted ATP certificate — without having to pay for all of the additional flying hours themselves. Others might work as pilots for aerial imaging, crop dusting, flying banners or skydivers, for example. The goal for most students is to get enough hours to receive their ATP certificate to go on to fly cargo or for passenger airlines.

How long will it take to complete the concentration?
This is designed as a program to be completed in four years. Students who wish to become pilots will take flight courses in addition to the bachelor of arts coursework. Students who wish to work within the aviation industry but not as pilots (for example in operations, marketing, sales or management) can forgo the flight school portion and complete the aviation management concentration to prepare for non-flying roles within the aviation industry.

Do students fly in the first term at Coe?
Yes. In their first term, students can register for a private pilot ground course and a private pilot flight lab course. Training in these courses will prepare students to begin flying during the first term.

Is it possible to double major or pursue a minor while at Coe?
For most students, completing general education requirements and the business administration major with the aviation management concentration and pilot courses will leave little room for pursuing a double major or a minor. Students interested in double majoring or completing a minor should talk with their academic advisor in their first term about the feasibility of doing this.

Cost and Financial

How much will an aviation student pay to attend Coe?
Tuition for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in business administration with a concentration in aviation management is the same as it is for all bachelor degrees at Coe. Students pursuing the flight school portion to become certified pilots will accrue additional costs. Below is an estimated breakdown of flight expenses for each of the student's four years. These expenses are based on the minimum required number of flight hours for each of the certificates and ratings. Additional hours recommended by flight instructors may be needed and would accrue additional expenses.

Year 1 - Private - $11,430
Year 2 - Instrument - $12,887
Year 3 - Commercial Pilot - $31,543
Year 4 (First Term) - Certified Flight Instructor - $11,639
Year 4 (Second Term) - Multi-Engine - $6,792

Can a 529 Plan cover flight school costs?
Some plans may have certain restrictions. Students should contact their plan provider to see if their 529 plan can help pay for expenses associated with flight training.

Can students keep their scholarships if they drop out of the flight school portion of the program?
Students can keep the Coe scholarships and grants awarded based on pursuit of an undergraduate degree at Coe. The financial aid offer letter will disclose the annual direct costs (tuition, housing and meal plan) of a student’s undergraduate degree and the associated Coe scholarships and grants. Furthermore, aviation management students will also receive an annual flight training cost addendum that clearly outlines the expenses for flight school.