ASI
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Graduate:
Updated 24 September, 2008
Financial Questions
How much will it cost me to complete the Professional Pilot degree
program at SOSU?
For details go
to our costs web page: http://aviation.se.edu/costs/costs.html
How much will it cost me to complete the Aviation Management degree
program at SOSU?
For details go
to our costs web page: http://aviation.se.edu/costs/costs.html
How much will it cost to earn my FAA certificates and ratings at SOSU?
The following FAA Certificate and Ratings are required to complete
the Professional Pilot program:
Private Pilot Certificate ( $3,525.00 minimum)
Instrument Rating ( $3,633.00 minimum)
Commercial Pilot Certificate ($13,588.00 minimum)
Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI) ( $2,580.00 minimum)
Instrument Instructor Rating (CFII) ( $1,980.00 minimum)
Multi-Engine Rating (ME) ( $3,525.00 minimum)
Total $28,801.00
Is financial aid available for academic and flight expenses?
Yes.... Click here for the SOSU
Financial Aid Office
Are there any scholarships available?
Yes. There are campus-wide scholarships as well as Aviation Sciences
Institute-specific scholarships available. SOSU now has a single scholarship
application form which allows you to apply for many scholarships with
just one form.
Go to http://aviation.se.edu/scholarships/scholarship.html
for more scholarship information.
How will I pay for my flight expenses?
Flight expenses are debited from your Flight Account. Flight Accounts
are created by depositing at least $2,000.00 with the Bursar’s
office on campus. Every time you fly or purchase flight-related supplies
your account is debited. When your Flight Account balance goes below
$200.00 you must deposit more money or else you will be placed on the
“No-Fly” list. You will remain on the “No Fly” list
until your balance goes above $200.00.
Your Flight Account will be used to cover most of the costs associated
with flying classes. These expenses include aircraft rental, ground
and flight instruction, charts, plotters, headsets, aircraft manuals,
and lab fees.
Flight Questions
What FAA certificates and ratings will I have to acquire to graduate
from SOSU?
Private Pilot Certificate
Instrument Rating
Commercial Pilot Certificate
Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI)
Instrument Instructor Rating (CFII)
Multi-Engine Rating (ME)
What is the normal schedule I will follow for flying?
Our goal is for every student to fly at least three times a week.
Your schedule will be determined every semester based on your academic
schedule. Any time you are not in the classroom or working you should
be available to fly. Your instructor will actually schedule your flights.
It is up to you to review the schedule regularly and be on time and
prepared for each flight.
What if I already have a Private Pilot Certificate?
If you already have a Private Pilot certificate then you will begin
your flight training at SOSU in the spring semester. In the spring you
will enroll in AVIA 2083 Commercial Performance and AVIA 3164 Commercial
Flying. Then you will be synchronized with our flight classes.
What if I already have an Instrument Rating?
If you come to SOSU with a Private Pilot Certificate and an Instrument
Rating you will begin flying in the spring semester. At that time you
will enroll in AVIA 2083 Commercial Performance and AVIA 3164 Commercial
Flying. The following fall semester you will enroll in AVIA 3123 Commercial
Operations AND AVIA 3152 Fundamentals of Flight Instruction and AVIA
3202 Flight Instructor Ground School. The following Spring, when other
students will be enrolled in AVIA 3284 Instrument Ground and AVIA 3321
Instrument Flying, you will be enrolled in AVIA 3362 Flight Instructor
Ground and AVIA 3401 Flight Instructor Flying. The following fall semester
you will enroll in AVIA 4562 Multi-engine Ground and AVIA 4601 Multi-engine
Flying.
What if I already have a Commercial Certificate and Instrument Rating?
If you already have a Commercial Certificate with an Instrument Rating
then you will begin flight training at SOSU in the fall semester with
AVIA 3152 Fundamentals of Flight Instruction, AVIA 3202 Flight Instructor
Ground School, and AVIA 3241 Flight Instructor Flying. The following
Spring you will be enrolled in AVIA 3362 Flight Instructor Ground and
AVIA 3401 Flight Instructor Flying. The following fall semester you
will enroll in AVIA 4562 Multi-engine Ground and AVIA 4601 Multi-engine
Flying.
What if I already have all my certificates and ratings?
If you come to SOSU with all of the required Certificate and Ratings
you must still complete your last two ratings at SOSU. The “last
two ratings” must be two of the following ratings:
Instrument Instructor Rating (CFII)
Multi-Engine Rating (ME)
Multi-Engine Instructor Rating (MEI)
This may require you to repeat one or both ratings. While we try to
avoid this if at all possible, we must also protect our reputation and
the quality of our graduates. If you do not earn your last two ratings
from SOSU you CANNOT graduate with the Professional Pilot degree.
How often will I be able to fly?
Our goal is for each student to fly three times a week. This may not
always be possible due to weather or illness. However, the goal is three
or more times a week.
What do I need to begin flying?
In order to begin flying all flight students are required to complete
the following prior to being assigned to a flight instructor:
1. Enroll in the proper flight course.
2. Obtain an FAA First Class Medical Certificate.
3. Establish a "flight account" with a minimum balance of
$2,000.00.
4. After completing all of the above, students must submit the following
documentation to the Department Chair:
U.S. Citizens
In accordance with the Transportation Security Administration's 49 CFR
Part 1552, students must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or nationality.
To establish U.S. citizenship or nationality, students must present
one of the following:
1. A valid U.S. passport OR
2. An original raised seal U.S. birth certificate AND government
issued picture identifications.
Non-U.S. Citizens
Must make an appointment with the Department Chair to determine which
steps are needed in order to comply with 49 CFR Part 1552.
All Students Must:
-Complete two availability forms in their entirety. Students will find
availability
forms here.
-Completed the SOP quiz. Click here for a copy of the Standard
Operating Procedures (SOP). All students must take this exam once
a year.
-Provide a copy of all pilot certificates, medicals, and FAA knowledge
exam results that are not already on file within the Chief Flight Instructor's
office.
Where can I get an FAA First Class medical?
FAA Flight Physicals are administered by FAA designated Aviation Medical
Examiners (AME). A complete list of AME’s is available on the FAA’s
Civil Aero-Medical Institute (CAMI) web site:
AME's http://ame.cami.jccbi.gov/
Note: Not all AME’s are qualified to administer the FAA First
Class Medical examination. Download either of the following two lists
from the CAMI site and check column “O” “First Class
Examiner” to see if an AME in your area can administer the examination
for a First Class Medical certificate.
Excel
Spread Sheet: http://ame.cami.jccbi.gov/active_ame_directory.xls
Text List: http://ame.cami.jccbi.gov/amedirectory.lst
There are two AME’s in Durant who can administer the examination
for a First Class Medical certificate.
Why do I need an FAA First Class medical to fly at SOSU?
The FAA only requires that Student Pilots obtain a Third Class Medical
Certificate. SOSU requires an FAA First Class Medical for Professional
Pilot majors for the following reason. The goal of the Professional
Pilot degree program is to prepare students for employment in the commercial
airline industry. In order to fly as a pilot for a commercial airline
you will need an FAA First Class medical. We do not want a student to
complete most or all of their flight training only to discover later
that they cannot obtain an FAA First Class medical. It is much better
to discover a disqualifying medical condition before beginning flight
training rather than afterward.
If you have a condition that disqualifies you from obtaining an FAA
First Class medical but does not disqualify you from obtaining an FAA
Second or Third Class medical and you wish to complete the Professional
Pilot degree program you must first sign a waiver. The waiver, available
from Kyle Thomas, states that you recognize that without an FAA First
Class medical that you cannot obtain employment with a commercial air
carrier and that you nevertheless wish to continue with the Professional
Pilot program.
What if I cannot get an FAA First Class medical?
See the previous answer.
What if I already have an FAA medical but it isn’t a First Class
medical?
We still want you to obtain an FAA First Class medical in order to
eliminate the possibility of you completing the program only to discover
later that you have a medical condition that disqualifies you from obtaining
an FAA First Class medical.
Where are the flight classes taught?
All flying classes are taught at the airport. Eaker Field is located
about five miles south of the SOSU campus.
See the map
at: http://aviation.se.edu/maps/map_durant.html
Does the university provide transportation to the airport?
No
How do I get to the airport?
Transportation to and from the airport is NOT provided. It
is up to each student to make arrangements to travel to and from the
airport. The vast majority of students have their own vehicles but some
students have been known to bicycle to the airport and back to campus.
Does the university own their own aircraft?
SOSU owns all of the aircraft that we use for flight training.
See our aircraft at: http://aviation.se.edu/aircraft/aircraft.html
Who maintains your aircraft?
SOSU employs four full-time A&P mechanics to maintain our aircraft.
Can I rent a university aircraft for weekend trips or other personal
use?
No. SOSU aircraft are for the exclusive use of students enrolled in
flight training courses. Aircraft may not be used for personal trips
or for weekend rentals.
Can I fly for fun or to earn a rating at another facility while I
am a student at SOSU?
There is nothing to stop anyone from flying for recreation or receiving
instruction elsewhere while a student at SOSU. However, the hours accrued
and any Certificate or Ratings earned elsewhere while a flight student
at SOSU CANNOT be used to fullfil any of the requirements of
the Professional Pilot degree program.
There is only one exception to this rule. If, after you begin your
flight training at SOSU, you earn an FAA Certificate or Rating at an
accredited four-year college or university, you may transfer the college
credit to SOSU and use it toward your Professional Pilot degree requirements.
Note: You must still complete the last two flight Ratings at SOSU in
order to meet the requirements of the Professional Pilot degree program
Can I get some of my FAA certificates and ratings at an FBO or other
university?
You may come to SOSU with one or more ratings earned through an FBO
or a college or university program. However, once you become a flight
student at SOSU any Certificates or Ratings you earn at an FBO cannot
be used to fullfil any of the requirements of the Professional Pilot
degree program.
There is only one exception to this rule. If, after you begin your
flight training at SOSU, you earn an FAA Certificate or Rating at an
accredited four-year college or university, you may transfer the college
credit to SOSU and use it toward your Professional Pilot degree requirements.
Note: You must still complete the last two flight Ratings at SOSU in
order to meet the requirements of the Professional Pilot degree program
I own or have access to an aircraft - Can I use it for my flight instruction?
No. Our insurance policy requires that all flight instruction be provided
in SOSU aircraft by SOSU instructors. You are encouraged to fly outside
of class for recreation while a student at SOSU. However, the hours
accrued and any Certificates or Ratings earned elsewhere while a flight
student at SOSU cannot be used to fullfil any of the requirements of
the Professional Pilot degree program.
Do I have to be an SOSU student to fly or rent SOSU aircraft?
Yes. The only people who can use SOSU aircraft are SOSU students who
are enrolled in the appropriate SOSU ground and flight courses. Even
then, students cannot rent aircraft for any purpose other than fulfilling
the training requirements for the Certificate or Rating they are currently
working toward.
Can I just take flight instruction at SOSU without being a degree
seeking student?
Yes. You can enroll in the appropriate ground school and a flight
class and obtain flight instruction at SOSU. However, you must first
be admitted to the university, pay all appropriate tuition and fees
and fulfill all of the class requirements. While it is possible to obtain
your FAA Certificates and Ratings at SOSU without earning your degree
this would NOT be the most efficient method of earning your FAA Certificates
and Ratings.
Academic Questions
Where are your ground school and academic classes taught?
All non-flying classes (ground schools and academic courses) are taught
on the SOSU main campus. Currently, all aviation courses are taught
in the Russell Building on campus. There are some labs associated with
academic classes which do meet at the airport.
What if I come to SOSU with an Associates Degree?
If you earned an Associate of Arts Degree (AA) or an Associate of
Science Degree (AS) from an Oklahoma college your General Education
(GenEd) requirements are fulfilled. This means that you only need to
complete the requirements for your degree (major and minor or major/minor),
any specified GenEd classes and as many electives as are required to
complete 124 hours.
If you earned an Associate of Arts Degree (AA) or an Associate of
Science Degree (AS) from a college outside of Oklahoma your General
Education (GenEd) requirements may or may not be fulfilled. SOSU has
articulation agreements with several colleges in North Texas. If your
AA or AS degree is from one of these schools you have completed your
GenEd requirements. If not, the Registrar will have to complete a GenEd
Check in order to determine what General Education courses you still
need to complete, if any. You can contact the Registrar at campus extension
x2165.
Note: All aviation majors have “Specified General Education”
requirements. Even if you meet the generic General Education requirements
of the university you may still have to take additional classes in order
to fullfil the Specified General Education requirements of the major.
What is a “Specified GenEd” class?
Specified General Education classes are a subset of the General Education
classes required of all students. While several classes meet the university’s
generic General Education requirements the Aviation Sciences Institute
requires that specific classes in the General Education curriculum be
taken in order to earn an aviation degree.
The four Specified General Education classes required of all aviation
majors (Professional Pilot as well as Aviation Management) are:
COMM 2213 Business and professional Speaking
ECON 2113 Principles of Macroeconomics
PHYS 1114 General Physics I (with lab)
MATH 2143 Brief Calculus with Applications
If you take any other General Education classes in these areas you
will meet the general university requirements for General Education.
However, you will NOT meet the requirement of any of the aviation degree
programs until you complete all four of these Specified General Education
classes.
Do you offer A&P classes at SOSU?
Only two A&P classes are currently offered at SOSU as electives:
AP 3272 Physics of Reciprocating Engines
AP 3302 Physics of Gas Turbine Engines
SOSU does NOT offer a full curriculum designed to prepare students
for the FAA A&P written and practical examinations. A&P classes
are offered at a number of two year schools in Oklahoma, Texas and elsewhere.
Can I take classes at Tinker AFB?
You can only take classes at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City if you are
a member of the military or a DOD civillian or dependant and can gain
access to the base. Please note that classes on Tinker AFB are primarily
for active duty military members and DOD civillians. If a class is full,
priority will be given to active duty military members and DOD civillians.
Even if you have already enrolled in a class, if a higher priority student
tries to enroll lower priority students may be removed from the class
in order to make room.
Do you offer any of your classes over the internet?
No.
Is SOSU accredited?
Yes. SOSU is accredited by the The Higher Learning Commission, a commission
of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In November
of 2003 the Higher Learning Commission visited the SOSU campus to conduct
an accreditation inspection. We are pleased to note that SOSU's accreditation
was renewed for the next 10 years (2003-20013) with no discrepancies.
For more information on North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
see:
(See http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/
for more information)
Is the flight program certified by the FAA?
Yes. Our flight program is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration
under 14 CFR, Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
Will you release any academic information to my parents?
We can only release academic information to parents or guardians after
we have a signed copy of a “Release of Records” form on file
with the SOSU Registrar. The form can be obtained at:
Release
of Records Form: http://aviation.se.edu/policies/recordsrelease.pdf
Employment Questions
Do you employ student workers?
Yes. Contact George Jacox
for more information.
Can I become a flight instructor at SOSU?
Yes. Contact Kyle Thomas
for more information.
Do you have any internships available?
Yes. Contact Dr. Conway for
more information.
Visits
Can we drive or fly in to visit your campus?
Yes. See our map page for directions to the main SOSU campus and Eaker
Field.
SOSU-ASI Map Page
|
