NWC News Desk

Registration is open for NWC's new aeronautics program starting in August

Posted May 17, 2012
By NWC News Desk

POWELL, Wyo. - Northwest College is now taking applications for its newest degree program that trains individuals to become commercial pilots, charter pilots and flight instructors.

Provided in conjunction with Choice Aviation, NWC’s new aeronautics degree program combines flight training and academic coursework toward an associate of science degree and private and commercial pilot’s licenses.

The program gets underway in August. Flight and ground training components will be conducted at Choice Aviation in Cody. General education classes can be taken on campus in Powell, at the NWC Cody Center or online.

A sampling of classes required in the four-semester program include Private Pilot Ground, Private Pilot Flight, Instrument Pilot Ground, Instrument Pilot Flight, Commercial Pilot Ground Part 1 and 2, Commercial Pilot Flight Stage 1 and 2, Precalculus Trigonometry, Macroeconomics or Microeconomics, and Survey of Aeronautical Science, as well as a core of general education classes.

Students who successfully complete NWC’s aeronautics program can use it to transfer to a four-year college or as a terminal degree that qualifies them to work in the aviation industry (most commercial pilots are required to hold a bachelor’s degree as well as a commercial license).

Graduates can anticipate stepping into a healthy job market, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). An IATA estimate released in January 2011 said the industry may need 17,000 new pilots annually due to expected industry growth and retirements.

Because of the technical training involved, interested students should expect to pay considerably higher class fees than usual, in addition to the regular cost of tuition and books.

To learn more about Northwest College’s aeronautics degree, email or call Ronda Peer at 307-754-6123.