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University of Central Missouri (UCM)
Haven For Aviation Education
By J. D. Lewis
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The Year was 1968, the United States was in Vietnam and Central Missouri State University (CMSU) had just purchased its first four airplanes for a mere $33,000... flight fees were set at $11 an hour, and there were 25 aviation students enrolled.... Thus were the humble beginnings of the aviation program at Central.
Back then, the university only offered a two-year associate in science degree for its aviation students. A bachelor's degree in aviation technology was offered in 1970, followed by a master's degree program in aviation safety in 1975- the first and only one of its kind in the United States.
Located some 50 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri, Central and its Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport is home to an average of nearly 650 aviation students a semester-500 of whom are enrolled in the FAR Part 141 flight program and fly out of the university-owned airport.
Central Missouri State University is a four-year university with about 11,500 enrolled students. Although the University has many degrees to choose from, ranging from associate's degree to master's degree programs, Central has been nationally recognized for superiority in three: aviation, graphic art, and criminal justice. As a state university, Central receives a variety of grants thereby offering its students many scholarships, student loans, and government financial assistance.
Within the College of Applied Sciences and Technology, the Aviation Technology Program is part of the Power and Transportation Department (PR&T) and offers its students many pathways to graduation: professional pilot, maintenance management, aviation management, avionics management, agricultural aviation, and systems design technology. In addition, Central's master's degree program in aviation safety is very popular with graduate students. "You get a really broad knowledge of aviation safety as well as the entire field of aviation." said Mattias Swedenklef, a Swedish student who is earning his master's degree in aviation safety.
Chair of the PR&T Department. Dr. Tim Brady, says that Central. in addition to its aviation curriculum. provides a well-rounded education because of the internships offered to its students. Currently, the University has internship programs with Trans World Airlines, Trans World Express, United Airlines, and the law office of Kent Jackson (aviation lawyer and author). Programs with United Parcel Service, Federal Express, and NorthWest Airlines are still in the works. According to Brady. Bobby Bonham. who interviews internship candidates for United. calls the program the million-dollar internship because it gets the prospective pilot in the workforce sooner, which equates to about $1 million more income over a career. Brady estimates a 60-percent chance of interns getting hired after completing the three-month program: whereas a pilot off the street. and possibly with more flight experience, has only about a 15-percent chance. "It's the best screening process for the company because it gives them a three-month, full-time look at the intern before a possible hire." Brady said.
Central graduate John Ball, who completed an internship under the Director of Safety and Engineering at TWA's headquarters in Mt. Kisco, NY said, "It's worth it because now I know what it takes to become an airline captain. I've got a valuable insight on what's going on in cockpits and the bigger world of airlines." Some of the projects that Ball worked on while there included aircraft crash investigation, puffing on check airmen seminars, designing a safety poster for terrain avoidance, and a project dealing with extended range operations (ETOPS). "We were trying to get it certified so that we could go 150 minutes across the ocean without fire suppression capabilities in the cargo hull. I compiled a list of what TWA was doing to meet FAA requirements and put it in a book for future certification," said Ball. "They also put me in aircraft jump seats to learn the different types of aircraft they had. I've been in everything from a DC9 to a 747."
The agricultural aviation option is one of the newest additions to the aviation degree program at Central. Brady says that CMSU's AG program is more than just how to dust crops. The program is designed to prepare the student for managerial positions within the industry as well as owning one's own crop dusting business. To keep an eye on industry trends, the University has John O'Connell, President of the National Agricultural Aviation Association, as its industry advisor. O'Connell also donated the spray equipment that will be used on the Central's Piper Super Cub. Brady, however, mentioned that he would be more than happy to talk with anyone interested in donating a purpose-built ag plane for the program. And because the ag program is so new, the University is still tailoring the program, which in addition to locating a purpose-built ag plane includes finding suitable fields to spray. "You can't just use any field," said Dave Card, Central's Airport Director and Chief Flight Instructor who also flew crop dusters earlier in his career. "The first field you take a student into must be flat with nothing on it. Next you'll start bringing them into fields with high lines on one end . . . then one with high lines on both ends... and then throw in a few trees here and there we want a variety of fields for our students," explained Card.
Another recent program addition at Central is the FAA-approved FAR Part 147 Maintenance Management option, which allows students to earn their airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificates. Students can also earn their A&P's through an apprenticeship at the airport's maintenance facility since the University performs all of its own aircraft maintenance with full-time A&P's. "I think the apprenticeship is much better than classroom education because you get hands-on experience, and you actually get to see the stuff you've worked on take flight. Because of that, there's much more responsibility demanded of us-no room for error," said Brett Friederich, a soon-to-be A&P and graduate of the Aviation Safety master's degree program. Friederich plans to use his education and experience to get a job as both a pilot and A&P with one of the many companies that demand both qualifications.
Besides the courses that are required in Central's Aviation Technology degree, which includes aerodynamics, college trig., aviation law, and technical report writing, there are many electives to choose from. For example, one of the more recent additions to the aviation elective potpourri is turboprop familiarization, due to the recent purchase of a Beechcraft King Air. "Once you complete the 'King Air course' you get to fly along on FAR Part 91 trips that the University does-and we get a fair amount of thousand the students are getting a good amount of flight time at no additional cost," said Card. In addition to high-altitude and second-in-command (SIC) endorsements, the student receives good hands-on training says Card. "We fly just like the airlines one leg the student acts as PIC and the other as SIC, checking after the captain. It really prepares them for that first job," Card explained.
Central's training fleet includes nearly 40 aircraft: Cessna 150's, 152's, 172's, and 172RG; Beechcraft Sierras and Duchesses; a Piper Super Cub; Porter-field; Schweizer gliders; and a Beech-craft King Air. Student flight fees range from $15 per hour (Schweizer glider) to $280 per hour (King Air). These are in addition to the $72 credit-hour fee (on-campus, in-state resident) required for classes. The training aircraft used for primary student instruction are mostly the Cessna 150's and 152's. Although some 152's are IFR equipped, most of the instrument training is done in the University's 172's. Central uses its Sierras and 172RG for high-performance/ complex training and its Duchesses for multi-engine training. The tailwheel aircraft are used for obtaining a tailwheel endorsement and for the crop dusting, program, while the gliders and hot air balloon are used mostly for fun.
On the Horizon
According to Card, there are many improvements underway- at Central's Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport. One such improvement is the reconstruction of the airport's Runway 13/31. "It's not going to be an overlay, they're going to tear out the old runway and put in a completely new, expanded and lighted runway," said Card. Currently, the primary runway is Runway 18/36, which is lighted and 4,206 feet long. "Having Runway 13/31 fully-operational will mean more flight training days for the student," said Card noting that some days strong crosswinds halt operations. With the $1,242,000 FAA grant already approved, the University expects the runway project to begin soon.
Another recent FAA grant of $291,000 was used to improve the avionics program by refurbishing a building at the airport to provide appropriate lab facilities. Currently, all avionics have to be sent away for repair. Another project in the works would allow for navigational aids on the field, so that the airport would be able to include precision approaches. Presently only non-precision approaches are now available at Skyhaven, including a temporary GPS approach that's under FAA review.
The most noteworthy item on the University's horizon, however, is the purchase of a new training fleet. The most recent addition to Central's fleet of training aircraft is the Diamond (formerly Dimona) DA 20 Katana. The all-composite Katana is a two-place VFR only aircraft (IFR-certification is pending) powered by an 80-hp, liquid-cooled, four-stroke Rotax 912 engine that burns approximately 3.2 gph and cruises at 1 28 knots. For a price of $98,800, Central's recently purchased Katana came with modern instruments and avionics such as King dual nav/coms, HSI, RMI, VOR/ILS, and an integrated Garmin GPS system.
"We wanted an airplane that reflected current technology," said Brady. Central's senior flight instructor, Bill Runyon, commented on the Katana, "I do like the composite construction. I'm also in favor of the liquid-cooled Rotax engine because it's a technology we should have had on airplane engines a long time ago."
Brady said the Katana will cost flight students $50 per hour to fly ($59 dual). "Traditionally, if you bought an airplane for $90,000, as a rule, you would rent it for $90 an hour But because this airplane is so fuel efficient, we are going to start it out at $50 an hour," said Brady. According to Brady, the Katana is the University's first step towards achieving a complete "training system," which will eventually include 19 new aircraft (not necessarily Katanas) and four instrument ground trainers identical to the new aircraft. Brady said the University plans to replace its current fleet of Cessna 150's/152's with new trainers over the next five years.
With the new addition of the Katana as well as the University's King Air, one has to wonder what's next for Central . .. a jet? "I wouldn't rule a jet out," said Brady. "A jet would be the normal evolution from our King Air to a jet," said Brady when asked to look a decade into the flight program's future.
Although Central has a lot on the horizon, Brady says that it's important that the University never loses sight of its aim: "Our goal is to turn out the best pilots, mechanics-all of our specialties-in the world. And at the best price to the student."
For additional information on degree programs, contact University of Central Missouri , Department of Power and Transportation, Warrensburg, MO 64093; telephone (816) 543-4975.
J. D. Lewis is a Caravan flight instructor at FlightSafety International. He has written aviation articles for FAA Aviation News, Flight Training magazine, KITPLANES, Midwest Aviation Journal, and Private Pilot Magazine. He lives in Wichita, Kansas. LeRoy Cook is a former flight instructor and a writer for Private Pilot Magazine, where he wrote a monthly column for 34 years. He is the author of 101 Things to do With Your Private License and the coauthor of American Aviation: An Illustrated History. He lives in Butler, Missouri. Check out J.D.'s latest book, Caravan: Cessna's Swiss Army Knife with Wings at Amazon.Com
