Aviation/Flight Technology Program

About the Program

Wallace State can help you begin an exciting and rewarding career as a commercial airplane or helicopter pilot. The Aviation/Flight Technology program provides training for professional or recreational pilots. Additional certificates and add-on ratings may also be obtained through the program.

Pilots are highly trained professionals who either fly airplanes or helicopters to carry out a wide variety of tasks. Most are airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers who transport passengers and cargo, but one out of five pilots is a commercial pilot involved in tasks such as dusting crops, spreading seed for reforestation, testing aircraft, flying passengers and cargo to areas not served by regular airlines, directing firefighting efforts, tracking criminals, monitoring traffic, and rescuing and evacuating injured persons. Initial training for airline pilots includes ground school and simulator training, a certain number of flight hours and a FAA Aviation check-ride.

Once trained, pilots are required to attend recurrent training and simulator checks once or twice a year throughout their career. The Aviation Flight Technology program at Wallace State consists of flight and ground instruction, which will qualify students for various careers in the aviation industry. Students will have the opportunity to acquire FAA certification for the Private Pilot, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot certificates. All types of advanced certificates and ratings may also be acquired, even instructor training. We also have a transfer opportunity with Athens State for students to major in Management of Technology with a minor in Aviation Management. Wallace State is also a proud recipient of the Military Friendly® Schools Designation. Please ask about special funding and benefits for Veterans.

Because the number of college-educated applicants continues to increase, many employers are making a college degree an educational requirement.

Career Outlook

Overall, the employment of aircraft pilots is projected to increase through 2026 as demand for air travel grows along with the population and the economy and older pilots retire. In May 2017, median annual earnings of airline and commercial pilots was $111,930. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Wallace State Aviation Dept Featured in Rotorcraft Professional