WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY - CAMPUS OF APPLIED SCIEN

WSU Tech (Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology) launched the Wichita area's first collegiate pilot training program in August 2021, filling a notable gap in the Air Capital of the World's aviation education landscape. The two-year Associate of Applied Science in Professional Pilot program is FAA Part 141 certificated and conducted at WSU Tech's National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) at Colonel James Jabara Airport (KAAB) in northeast Wichita. Students complete a minimum of 235 flight hours in the program, earning five FAA certificates and ratings: Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, and Certified Flight Instructor. The school's fleet of Cessna 172 Skyhawks is leased from Textron Aviation as part of its Top Hawk program — a fitting arrangement given Wichita's identity as Cessna's manufacturing hometown. The program initially enrolls 15 students each fall, creating a closely-knit cohort environment with individualized attention from experienced instructors. WSU Tech's model of combining affordable community college tuition with rigorous professional pilot training addresses the growing pilot shortage while keeping certification costs within reach for Kansas students.