Employment opportunities of 100 per cent is one benefit of graduating from TCC flight school. According to Larry Gordon, flight instructor, “TCC students who have graduated with an Associate Degree in Aviation have all found employment.”
Upon completion of the program a person is awarded the Associate Degree in Aviation which enable him to graduate with a Commercial Pilot’s license. The Commercial Pilot’s license permits for enjoyment or as a form of employment.
One graduate who established flying as a career is Ray Hatfield who flies for Charles Pierce, movie director. Another, Riaz Hagpahjuh (Pakistan) flies for Joy Theatre Inc. Others are flying for various private companies and businesses while others are just flying for pleasure.
Before graduating with the degree, two years of ground school and actual flight training are required plus a lab fee of $4200. At the present, 95 students are involved in the program either during day school or night school. (The work for an Associate Degree in Aviation can now be completed in night school.) Six planes are used in the program. Four primary trainers which are two seaters are used for beginning pilots. One advanced instrument trainer is for more advanced students. The other plane which sells at retail for $125,000 is the Cessna 310.
TCC’s flight program has the largest enrollment this year than at any time in the past. Commenting on enrollment, Larry Gordon stated that anyone interested in the program should first go by and talk to one of the three full time flight instructors. The instructors can be contacted either at the college airport office or at the CEC building on campus.