Parkland College Aviation Program Reports Successes
Can doing well in a collegiate flight competition generate coverage on television? Yes! The story of how that happened is unusual, however.
Can doing well in a collegiate flight competition generate coverage on television? Yes! The story of how that happened is unusual, however.
Notably, the flight program at Parkland College is itself a story. Closed down by the very large University of Illinois, the program was subsequently picked up Parkland, which saw an opportunity to help prepare pilots for careers at airlines and elsewhere.
"It's unusual for a flight program to be scheduled for closure, then rescued," observed Sybil Phillips, Chief Pilot and Director of Aviation Instruction for Parkland College. "I'm so proud of our pilot students enrolled in the Institute of Aviation. They achieved a difficult goal in a very short time."
Interviewed by reporter, Anna Carrera, television coverage appeared on WCIA, the CBS affiliate in Champaign, Illinois, broadcasting as Channel 3. The TV story can be seen at: http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/pilots-have-their-eyes-on-the-sky.
"We took third place," said team member Fran Tao, one of four women on the team. "We are going to the nationals in Ohio next year! We are so happy that we qualified." SAFECON organizes the nationals, a long established collegiate aviation competition dating to 1949.
Parkland College's Institute of Aviation assembled a team that in only three weeks of preparation did well enough to qualify for the 2016 Nationals. Parkland's flight team competed at Lewis University during the SAFECON 2015 Region VIII competition in October. The regional event last month represents the first competition for the team from Parkland College Institute of Aviation and their finish in third place resulted in an invitation to the 2016 Nationals. Parkland competed against teams from Southern Illinois University, Lewis University, Purdue, Indiana State University, and Quincy University.
"We believe Parkland College Institute of Aviation can save students upwards of $50,000 in addition to saving them literally years of time to achieve their goals of flying as a vocation," said Phillips. "Parkland has much to offer prospective aviation students, while also immersing them in traditional higher education studies."
Parkland College Institute of Aviation enrollees can earn an Associate's Degree in Aviation, choosing a program leading to an Associate in Science (Aviation) with an option to transfer to a four-year school. Students can acquire a Private Pilot Certificate while completing Parkland AVI 101 and 120 courses. Students will earn the private pilot certification, an instrument rating, and the commercial pilot certificate in a sequential manner during Parkland's program.
Read more about Parkland's Flight Training program information.
Parkland College Institute of Aviation curriculum is designed to provide students with a pathway through a four-year institution and a bachelor's degree while earning the certifications necessary to enter the commercial aviation job market.
"The Institute of Aviation's high standards of academic achievement, airmanship, and character are valued and respected by employers worldwide," said Wendy Evans, recruiter for Parkland's Institute of Aviation. This reputation and the alumni network aid in securing quality employment as graduates build time toward higher pilot certificates as they pursue careers in aviation.
The Institute of Aviation's reputation of producing outstanding alumni dates back to its founding in 1946. Institute alumni fly for all major U.S. airlines and for military, corporate, cargo, and charter organizations worldwide. More than 3,000 Institute of Aviation graduates have gone on to train other pilots as instructors.
FACTS ABOUT PARKLAND COLLEGE INSTITUTE OF AVIATION Parkland College is a community college located in Champaign, Illinois. Through Parkland's program, students can earn a transferable Associate of Science in Aviation degree, FAA-approved private pilot certification, and commercial pilot ratings. Parkland is leasing the University of Illinois' fleet of airplanes, equipment, and ground school facilities under a three-year agreement. More information can be found at http://www.parkland.edu/aviation.
MORE ABOUT PARKLAND COLLEGE Parkland College is a fully accredited, public community college established to serve the needs of District 505, the third largest community college district in Illinois. The college is a center for educational opportunity and community enrichment in east central Illinois and has earned a national reputation for excellent academic standards, innovative programs, and quality instruction.
Built on 233 acres of landscaped grounds in Champaign, Illinois, the beautiful, quiet campus is situated near the intersection of Interstates 57, 72, and 74 and is just four miles west of the University of Illinois campus. Parkland is a reasonable drive from downtown Chicago, Indianapolis, or St. Louis.
Parkland College facilities include more than 150 classrooms and labs, an extensive library collection, an FM radio station, an educational TV station, an experimental agricultural land laboratory, an art gallery, championship Cobra athletics, and excellent physical education and recreation facilities, including a newly remodeled fitness center. Our cultural center contains a 320-seat performing arts theater and a 50-foot dome planetarium, the second largest in Illinois. Parkland also has a child development center to serve the needs of faculty, staff, students, and families in our community.
