On Line Advising: Answers to the 20 most asked questions asked in advising.

1. I want to be a Commercial Pilot. Which concentration should I choose? First, the term "commercial" implies that you will be using your pilot skills to earn money. You could be employed as an airline pilot, a corporate pilot, or an instructor pilot. You may also earn money as a pilot providing sightseeing in the Grand Canyon or photographic services for a realtor or you may tow an advertising banner or be crop duster or haul sky divers to altitude, and the list goes on.  Most aspiring pilots, when they ask this question, really are referring to a job as an airline pilot. We have tailored the Professional Flight Officer program (ATV-4) for the student desiring to build the strongest foundation as a future airline pilot. However, you can reach the goal of becoming an airline pilot by following any one of our other degree concentrations, including the management options. If you took a management option, you could still take the technology related courses as electives.

2. The Professional Flight Officer Concentration (ATV-4) requires many more flight ratings than the Corporate & General Aviation Concentration (ATV-5). Why shouldn't I concentrate on ATV-5 to make it easier to graduate?  The easier road is not necessarily the best strategy for success! Once you graduate, you will be competing with many other pilots for the same jobs. They will have varying levels of experience.  Beyond the 4 year bachelor degree, the more hours of experience, the more FAA licenses and ratings, the more complex aircraft time, the more multi-engine time, the more jet time, the more multi-engine jet time, the better you will be able to compete.

Earning a "Type Rating" in a complex airplane with numerous systems is also something you should seek to improve your marketability. MSCD offers you the opportunity to achieve a type rating in a Beech 1900 aircraft for a very reduced price through a local flight simulator facility. We also offer the two Flight Officer courses (AES4120 & AES 4130) that simulate initial training at a major airline. No matter what concentration you chose, you should strive to earn the Commercial Certificate along with the instrument rating before becoming a junior. Then, in your junior year, begin to work to become a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) as soon as possible so that you may seek an instructing job and start building hours of flight time without having to pay the hourly cost of that expensive airplane. Of course, adding an instrument and multi-engine rating to your CFI will give you even more opportunity to instruct and build hours and experience. Adding a Beech 1900 Type Rating to these certificates and ratings has helped a number of our graduates be successful in being placed as a First Officer (co-pilot) in a regional air carrier soon after graduation.

3. Why should I spend the extra $5000 to get a Type Rating  in the turboprop Beech 1900 when the company that hires me will pay for my training in at turbojet CRJ when I start to work for them? AES 4710 (Turboprop Flight Simulation) is a conduit for AVS students to acquire a Beech 1900D Type Rating.  The AVS Department course qualifies as an FAR Part 142 Ground School for the 1900D systems and you will have associated laboratory time to practice the flight profiles and flows you will need to know if you choose to finish the Type Rating.  The official simulator portion of the Type Rating training is handled by ATS, an independent company located just east of Centennial Airport.  The cost for the simulator training and check-ride is approximately $4950.00.  That is a reduced price because the ground school instruction is covered while getting 4 credits for AES 4710.  Approximately 30 students have elected to get the type rating after they have completed AES 4710.

Why invest in the Type Rating?  Do you want your paperwork to fly through Human Resources at the regional carrier you have applied to faster than your competition? By achieving a type rating you are investing in yourself and you will be kick-starting your airline career.  The job placement rate has been virtually 100% to date (February 2007).  One student finished the Type Rating on a Sunday and was in a training class for a regional carrier the next day!  The President of ATS has personal contacts with several carriers and puts all his effort into securing an interview for pilots that finish the rating.  These companies now have a known quantity on their property and view the Type Rating in two ways.  First, it shows your commitment to professional advancement.  Second, you have already proven that you can successfully complete the very demanding airline training regimen. The company therefore perceives that they will not waste money on a new hire that will "wash out" during training.  Here at MSCD the Type Rating can also be substituted in lieu of getting your CFI and CFI-I for those declared in the ATV 4 concentration for which you will spend just as much of your funds.

4. Why should I spend the extra $4500 to get a Dispatch Certificate through Jeppesen if I am an Aerospace Operations (ATV-3) major? Do I need to pay the college for the credit hours received? The Dispatch is the operational center of the airline. Becoming a certified dispatcher through a highly respected aviation company will increase your marketability when applying for employment in any department of an airline. The ATV-3 emphasis requires 32 elective hours. The student can receive up to 12 hours of MSCD credit while attending this program to maintain full time student status, 6 of which may be used toward elective credit. You will need to set up the credits through the Cooperative Education Office and then pay the regular per credit hour price to the college.

5. How should I schedule my flying with my course work? You should complete your flight certificates and ratings as soon as funding is available and your schedule permits. We highly recommend that you earn your Commercial Certificate with an Instrument Rating before becoming a Junior. Then, immediately work toward all three Flight Instructor Ratings and finally the Type Rating in your senior year. The knowledge that you gain in flight training will greatly help you in all the technology and many of the management related courses.

6. What kind of employment can I expect if I choose the Aerospace Operations Concentration (ATV-3)? Along with completing our concentration, we highly recommend that you earn an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate for a very reduced price through our partner Jeppesen-Boeing.  The dispatch center is the operational center of the airline.

7. What kind of jobs are available for pilots? Military pilot, commuter airline pilot, major airline pilot, sightseeing pilot in the Grand Canyon or in the Alaskan wilderness, aerial photography pilot, missionary support pilot, bush pilot taking hunters and fishermen to remote places, banner towing pilots, border patrol agents, crop dusters, forest fire bombers, instructor pilots, search and rescue pilot, sky diver pilot, medical evacuation pilot, FAA examiner, test pilot, etc.

8. What is the best order to complete flight certificates and ratings in minimum time and cost? Earn a
(1) Private Certificate, followed by an
(2) Instrument Rating. Then train for a
(3) Commercial Certificate while flying from the Right seat. This will help you become very familiar with things being viewed from the right seat in anticipation of the next rating, that of
(4) Certified Flight Instructor. Next, become a
(5) Certified Flight Instructor for instrument flight. Then, complete your
(6) Multi-engine Rating and
(7) Multi-engine Flight Instructor Rating back to back.
We recommend you fly at least twice a week, funds and schedule permitting, so there will be no gaps in training and your learning curve will continue upward.
(8) Beech 1900 Type Rating. We highly recommend that you take advantage of the special program offered through our department for a very reduced price through a local flight simulator facility when you take our AES 4710 course. This has proven to be the fastest route to the right seat of a commuter airline for all who have taken part in this program with students securing a flying job shortly after graduation.

9. What kind of jobs are available for Aviation Management Majors?  There are numerous opportunities available in aviation management. Generally, there are four areas in which aviation management graduates will work: 1. airport management, 2. airline management, 3. general aviation business management (corporate flight department or fixed-base operations at an airport) and 4. space systems management. Within each of these general headings are thousands of very important and exciting jobs.

Many airline managers get started as gate or ticket agents, then work their way into management positions. There are schedulers and flight dispatchers who figure out all the fuel and weights for the aircraft, there are revenue managers, there are security specialists, there are ramp managers and operations managers often called zone controllers who manage all those flights that hit the concourses about the same time – they make sure the flight crews are fresh, along with getting the catering, baggage, fuel, and everything else each flight needs to make a turnaround.

 If you’re familiar with the general aviation airports here in the Denver Area (Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, Centennial, and Front Range), at each airport there are dozens of aviation businesses. Some of those are called FBO’s or Fixed-Base Operators. FBO’s handle the corporate aircraft that come into and out of those airports providing fueling services, weather and business services and maintenance. Other business are flight schools, aviation maintenance shops, avionics repair shops, equipment sales companies and aircraft charter services. We have graduates working within the ranks at all these places. We also have many graduates working in the aviation consultant career field. And, we have graduates working in capacities within the airlines, airports and private businesses. Even some management graduates are employed at Adam Aircraft and ATG, where they are building the new Very Light Jets.

Go to http://www.aaae.org/members/100_About_AAAE/325_AAAE_Committees/150_Academic_Relations/ and click on Careers in Airport Management Video (13.5Mb).  The file may take a bit to download but it is an amazing 3-minute video that takes you deep inside the careers available in airport management.

10. Must I complete the courses in the various concentrations in the sequence given? Yes, the sequence given will assure that all prerequisites for each class are met and this will equip you with the background you will need for each course allowing you to perform at your best in each class.

11. I am not very good at math. Can I take a different or perhaps an easier science course that does not require so much math to fulfill my general studies science requirement instead of Physics 1250? One of the reasons you are in college is to become good at many things that you are currently not so good at - perhaps math and science. Another is to broaden your horizons and increase your possibilities. The physics course required has been especially fashioned for aerospace students through a collaboration between professors in both the physics and aerospace departments. It does not require calculus and includes all areas that will have later application in our courses in aircraft systems, aerodynamics, and performance especially. If you do not feel comfortable with your math abilities, the way to improve is to take additional math courses. Consult your advisor.

12. Where should I go to receive my flight training? There are many flight schools to choose from that are in the Denver area. The department does not recommend any specific school. It is your job to do the research and decide which is best for you, considering hourly cost, whether club dues are required or not, rental aircraft types, maintenance, equipment, instructors, etc.

We also believe it is important for you to learn to fly in different environments and with different instructors. Therefore, we believe that you should consider completing various phases of your flight training at more than one local airport. This will greatly enhance your airmanship and understanding of the industry.

13. What is the difference between Part 61 and Part 141 flight training?
Part 61 outlines certificate and rating requirements pertaining to pilot certification and enumerates the topic areas that must be covered during flight training as well as how much flight experience is required for each certificate and rating. Any flight school or private instructor can train based on these requirements under Part 61 without obtaining special FAA approval. Some students prefer less structured environments and under Part 61, instructors have more freedom in organizing lesson plans in order to adapt them to the individual needs of the student. Lack of organization could be a down side, so the student is advised to have the instructor work out and show him an individualized syllabus that meets Part 61 requirements.

Part 141 concerns flight schools that have obtained Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval. In order train pilots under Part 141 a school must attain approval from the FAA and adhere to a number of FAA requirements including: 1) minimum number of personnel , 2) utilization of a detailed course outline, 3) documenting each student's progress, 4) aircraft and facility standards, 4) maintaining a high student pass ratio. Presumably, the FAA oversight and following an approved syllabus leads to higher standards and therefore Part 141 schools are allowed to complete certificates and ratings in fewer hours. As examples, the commercial pilot certificate requires 190 hours of flight time under Part 141 while Part 61 requires 250 hours and the private pilot certificate requires 35 hours of flight time under Part 141 while Part 61 requires 40 hours. However, remember that a particular student might still require more flight experience under either part.

14. Can you recommend any flight instructors for me to receive instruction from? We have typically never flown with the instructors at the various flight training facilities in the Denver area. Some of the instructors have in the past have been our students, but once again, we have typically not flown with them. Therefore, by our policy, we do not recommend instructors. You may want to ask our students their opinion of the instructors they have had experience with. An instructor should be very knowledgeable and be able to perform all the required maneuvers with a high degree of accuracy.

15. Can I substitute a course for a required course in my concentration? In some unique cases this may be a possibility. First, confer with your faculty advisor as to whether your request is justified or not. If the advisor believes your request is justified, you are required to submit a written request to the Student Issues Committee. Include the required paperwork along with a detailed justification for the change to your curriculum. The committee will make its determination and make recommendation to the department chair for final approval. IF the modification is approved, you will be advised to fill out a CAPP adjustment form with your advisor for submission to the department chair.

 16. I couldn't get registered for a class because it was filled up. I need this class as a prerequisite for a class next semester to follow the course sequence. What should I do?             General Advice for those unable to sign up for a course.

A. Fulfill the prerequisites and attempt to sign up for the course. If the course is full, keep visiting the web site for registration as often students will change their schedule and leave openings in the class even after it has been initially filled.

B. If you do not fulfill the prerequisites, you may contact the instructor for that class directly (not office personnel) and let him know your particular situation. It is advisable that you bring your CAPP report or licenses/log book to prove your case. If he approves, he then may advise you to show up to the first class to see if there are any last minute openings in the class. Also, if you have the prerequisites, show up for the first class. But above all, sign up for another class that you also need so that you have a back-up plan.

C. Show up the first day as you would for all your classes, ON TIME! The instructor will typically deal with the makeup of the class as the first order of business as he calls attendance. Our Banner computer system on campus has had some kinks in it in the past and may allow, in some cases, students to register who do not meet the prerequisites. Based on the maximum class size and who is present, the instructor at his discretion, will then make decisions on who will be added or removed from the class. The idea is to help as many students as possible to solidify their schedule as soon as possible. If the class has been maximized and someone shows up late after the decisions have been made and happens to have more of the prerequisites completed than someone who has already been approved for addition to the class, he should not expect to take that person's place seeing as he was late and the professor has made a commitment to the one who was on time.

D. After the first class, if you did not become enrolled, continue to review the class list in the event the class size were to fall below the maximum. Some student, after being told the plan for the class including grading policy and schedule, may decide to switch to another class. He may have been using that class as his back-up plan. If you have the prerequisites, sign up and you are in. If you do not have the prerequisites, talk directly to the instructor again and perhaps you can be added immediately. If that is not possible, show up at the second class for possible induction.

E. If all this fails, go to your back-up plan. Obviously, you should be keeping up with both this class and your back-up during this first week. Try again next semester and make sure you register the first second that registration opens.

17. I am a transfer student from another college and have aviation courses that have been accepted but have not been placed in my major. What MSCD courses should I sign up for?
You should see an advisor as soon as possible for guidance. In general, you can compare the catalogue course descriptions of  the college you are transferring from with the MSCD catalogue descriptions and have a good idea of which MSCD aerospace courses cover the same material and figure that these will be the correct substitute.  It is also extremely important to compare the general studies requirements and determine what you need to yet fulfill. Since you already have several semester hours toward your ultimate degree, it is extremely important that you soon chose a minor and begin the initial courses as shown in our course sequence.

18. I am arriving at MSCD with my Commercial Certificate and an Instrument Rating. Do I have to take the Private Pilot ground school course (AES 1100 - 6sh) and the Commercial Instrument ground school course (AES 1800 - 6 sh) or can I "test out" of these courses? Must I also take the simulator courses that go along with these, namely AES 1710 (3 sh) and AES2710 (3 sh) or can I "test out" of these?
We have no provision to "test out" of these courses. You could certainly take these courses, but you would simply be taking a course covering material you have already proven proficient in. See your advisor and have him recommend 18 hours of aerospace elective courses you may take in place of these courses.

19. What is a COOP Course? Should I enroll in a COOP course as an elective? COOP stands for cooperative education. This is a course taken in cooperation between the school and a business. In essence, you fulfill designated learning objectives agreed to by your faculty advisor, your employer and you. You work in this aviation related business for a time and fulfill these objectives while receiving on the job training and making contacts in the industry while making a name for yourself as a dedicated, reliable employee, not to mention gaining work experience to include on your resume. We highly recommend that you seek out COOP opportunities as experience in the industry often opens the students understanding of career possibilities they had never realized before. Many of these opportunities have led to full time employment for our students. COOP opportunities are many and they are posted regularly on the bulletin board and announced in classes or you may visit the Office of Cooperative Education. The  MSCD Office of Cooperative Education is located at 1045 Ninth Street Park in the block of old houses south of the Mercantile. Their web site is  http://www.mscd.edu/~cooped/

In our department, you may use 6 hours of COOP credit towards electives in your major, but you can sign up for as many as 12 semester hours per semester to maintain full time status as a student especially when the work place is in a location other than Denver.. The COOP announcement will include requirements of the specific business offering the COOP.

20. To receive the 25 credits for the FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate that can be applied toward the AMG-7 Major or the APL Minor, do I need to pay the college at the semester hour rate for those credits? No, only the paperwork available on this web page should be completed and turned in to Mr. Christian in order to receive those credits.

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