Polk State College - Aerospace

Polk State College's Aerospace Department is an FAA Part 141 collegiate aviation program headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida, offering five distinct aviation pathways — including three associate degrees, a bachelor's degree in Commercial Aviation, and a certificate program — that integrate academic coursework with hands-on flight training at Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL). The program partners with a contracted flight training provider that delivers structured Part 141 curriculum using Cessna and Piper aircraft, allowing Polk State students to simultaneously earn FAA commercial pilot certificates and college degrees within a coordinated academic and training schedule. With a nationally competitive flight team, Polk State Aerospace has established itself as a premier community college aviation program in Central Florida, providing an affordable pathway to a professional aviation career that does not require relocating to a standalone flight academy.