Coe's aviation management & flight operations program timeline
Speaking literally and figuratively, getting an aviation program off the ground from scratch takes a long runway. The logistics don’t just fall into place. At a small liberal arts college like Coe, a program with so many technical requirements and mechanical needs is even more unique. It takes foresight and determination to get going, and hard work and perseverance to keep it going. But all that needs to start somewhere. In Coe’s case it was a napkin…
2023
On a fishing trip in Wisconsin, Eastern Iowa Airport Director Marty Lenss and Coe College President David Hayes ’93 pause telling fishing tales to begin ideation around an aviation program through a partnership.
Fall 2023
Officials at Coe College sign on to the idea and begin conversations about how to create a program unlike any other at Coe College. The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) pledges hangar space for what will become Coe’s Aeronautical Field Station at the airport.
2024
Lenss and Hayes share their ideas over dinner with aviation enthusiast Duane Smith, and together they sketch out a timeline and next steps plan on a napkin. Smith pledges his financial gift with support from The TrueNorth Legacy Foundation, providing the startup funds needed to move forward with planning. Coe begins the search for a flight school partner.
May 22, 2024
Coe publicly announces its flight school and aviation management program during an event at the Coe College aeronautical field station. Local officials, including Cedar Rapids mayor Tiffany O'Donnell, were in attendance and celebrated the launch.
June 2024
Coe College begins the rigorous process to earn Part 141 certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Part 141 allows students to complete flight training quicker due to the structured FAA-approved curriculum with stringent requirements.
The process started with developing detailed Training Course Outlines for each course to reach compliance with FAA regulations, designed to ensure high standards of safety and training quality. Coe College Provost Angela Ziskowski and Senior Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Institutional Effectiveness Julie Kleis Staker ’93 led this effort.
July 22-28, 2024
Representatives from Coe attend EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world's largest aviation gathering, held annually at the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. There, they spread the word about the aviation management & flight operations program and learn from experts in the field of aviation.
August 2024
Coe graduate and Associate Director of Admission & Aviation Programs Anna Dvorak ’22 is named the lead recruiter for the aviation program.
August 21, 2024
The first aviation student (from Colorado) commits to Coe.
October 30, 2024
Coe introduces a direct entry program for its aviation management & flight operations program, guaranteeing admission to those who meet specific criteria. Qualified students also receive an Early Aviators Award valued at $500 per year for four years.
November 9, 2024
Coe hosts its first aviation visit day, held at the aeronautical field station.
January 9, 2025
Lenss teaches the first Introduction to Aviation course at Coe, leading a full class in Stuart Hall.
March 4, 2025
Professor of Business Administration and Economics Pam Carstens, Staker and Ziskowski visit one of the nation's most established aviation programs, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, to meet with President P. Barry Butler and other members of the institution.
July 2025
As part of Coe's Part 141 certification process, Mike Massell from the FAA joins college partners on campus for an official visit.
July 8, 2025
Coe announces a partnership with ATD Flight Systems to deliver flight training for the flight operations portion of the program. Based out of Kansas City, ATD has a 20 year history of safely providing Part 141 flight training. With ATD, Kohawks can also expect shorter wait times for the practical exams and check rides as ATD holds examining authority from the FAA. Less than 60 flight providers in the United States hold both 141 approval and examining authority.
July 21, 2025
The Eastern Iowa Airport launches the Aviation Workforce Development Campus with Coe as a strategic educational partner. The logo was designed by the Coe marketing office in collaboration with teams at the Eastern Iowa Airport and Kirkwood Community College.
August 11, 2025
The FAA approves Coe’s application to operate the ground portion of its aviation manag
ement & flight operations program as a Part 141 approved school.
August 13, 2025
Tim Busch announced as assistant chief instructor. Busch has been a ground and flight instructor for nearly 30 years, first operating his own flight school and later successfully rebuilding and leading another college aviation program.
August 20, 2025
The inaugural members of Coe’s aviation management & flight operations program have their first day of classes.
September 8, 2025
The first Part 141 training flight in Kohawk history takes off at the Eastern Iowa Airport.
December 9, 2025
Three Kohawk aviators complete their first solo flights, marking the first solo flights in Coe’s aviation management & flight operations history.