Ready for Take Off!

Now’s the time to let your dreams take flight.

North Idaho College was recently approved by the state to be the only higher education institute in Idaho to offer Aviation Flight Training.

North Idaho College is already known for its Aerospace Center of Excellence, which was founded in 2013 to offer the college’s first certificate options in aerospace manufacturing and maintenance. Now, NIC’s Aviation Flight Training program will have students literally taking to the skies by providing 220 to 240 hours of scheduled flight time for helicopters. This gives students the hours in the air and courses required to obtain a commercial helicopter pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration. A pilot’s license is what is required to fly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) commercially as well.

“We’re looking forward to expanding into flight operations,” said Pat O’Halloran, director of NIC Aerospace. “It’s exciting that NIC is now training students to make, fix, and, eventually, fly aircraft.”

NIC Dean of Aerospace Kassie Silvas said NIC’s Aerospace program taking this next step will provide opportunities that were not available to some students before.

“The overall cost to students is less at a community college. Plus, financial aid opportunities are also available,” Silvas said. “This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to break into the helicopter or drone industry.”

As part of the degree, classes will be offered such as Intro to Flight, Meteorology, Private Pilot Helicopter, Theory of Flight and Instrumental Ground School. The program will lead to either a two-year associate of applied science degree or an advanced technical certification. NIC is in the process of seeking accreditation approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which it would have in place before offering this program in January.

“There aren’t any ‘drone’ schools out there,” Silvas said. “The FAA has said that if you want to fly drones commercially, then you need to have a pilot’s license. Graduating from this program gives you that option.”

NIC is working closely with Empire Unmanned, a new division of Empire Aerospace, which has access to the first FAA approval for use of drones commercially for precision agriculture.

Agriculture is just one of the commercial uses that drones are increasingly being used for. Logging, firefighting, surveying, cartography and law enforcement are other commercial areas showing potential developing for the use of drones, which means an increased need for drone pilots.

“Most of the time community colleges respond to an existing workforce need with an industry partner,” Silvas said. “This is an example of an industry partner wanting to train a workforce around a future need – to fly commercial UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).”

For more information on NIC’s Aviation Flight Training program slated to open in January 2016, contact the NIC Aerospace Center of Excellence at 208.625.2344.

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