Horizons Online Edition

Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: News

Earlier this month, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Administration signed a contract with Universal Helicopters Inc. allowing students to use their financial aid for helicopter flight training, as a part of ongoing growth in the College of Aviation.

In a press release to ERAU's Prescott campus, Executive Vice President Dr. Frank Ayers announced the finalization of the contract with Universal. This agreement comes after more than 3 years of discussion regarding official helicopter specialization.

ERAU's Prescott campus currently offers a helicopter minor. Most of the academic instruction needed for private, commercial, and instrument certification is offered at the university. Prior to this agreement, however, students could not access their scholarships and grants for the flight training portion.

The agreement allows for the cost of flight training to be figured into the cost of attendance, with grants and scholarships being available for the first time. According to the dean of the College of Aviation, Dr. Cass Howell, veterans can also use their Veterans Affairs benefits for the flight training, including funds from the Yellow Ribbon GI Enhancement Program.

"We want Embry-Riddle to be the provider of choice for returning veterans who wish to pursue a career as a helicopter or fixed-wing pilot," Dr. Howell said.

Dr. Howell added that several of the faculty in the College of Aviation are veterans, which would help put veterans students on "the path to be successful."

The helicopter specialization is to be offered as an area of concentration in the aeronautical science degree, while before it was only offered as a minor. Currently, 35 students have declared the flight minor for helicopters, according to Professor Robert Fiegl, chair of helicopter flight.

Howell projects there will be about 30 students who will have declared helicopter flight as their area of concentration by fall of 2010.

Two professors will be dedicated to the helicopter specialization. Both of these positions are already in the College of Aviation, and no new faculty will be hired to accommodate this program. However, one of the professors will be leaving the university and replaced in the fall, according to Dr. Howell.

Dr. Ayers and Frances Mitchell, chief contracting officer for ERAU, started the finalization process nearly three and a half months ago by looking at available contractors.

"After taking into consideration several criteria including quality, locality and most importantly safety, the list was narrowed to two or three," Dr. Ayers said.

Continued...

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