About
Hesston College's School of Aviation has been training professional pilots since 1970, making it one of the most enduring collegiate flight training programs in the Great Plains. Located in Hesston, Kansas and using Newton City-County Airport (KEWK) — just 15 minutes from campus — as its training hub, Hesston Aviation operates under FAA Part 141 certification and is authorized for all phases of training from private pilot through commercial pilot certification. The program underwent a significant expansion in 2019 when the Higher Learning Commission approved a new Bachelor of Science in Aviation-Professional Pilot, adding to the existing two-year Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences degree. Both degree paths lead to R-ATP certification eligibility, with bachelor's graduates qualifying at 1,000 hours and associate graduates at 1,250 hours. The Newton airport's position as a reliever for Wichita's Eisenhower Airport exposes students to a diverse range of traffic and over 30 airports within 30 miles. Hesston College's Mennonite heritage brings a distinctive community culture to the program, emphasizing integrity, teamwork, and service alongside technical excellence.