PUC Restructures Aviation Program

Pacific Union College’s Aviation Program has a proud history. In the half-century since our airstrip was carved from the mountainside, generations of pilots have honed their flying skills here, mission planes have been launched to distant fields, and our graduates have departed to serve as aviation professionals throughout the United States and around the world.

Last school year, the aviation program embarked on an exciting new journey. Changes within the aviation industry meant it was time for a new direction. The program that had served so well in the past was due for a major overhaul. In consultation with the administration of Pacific Union College, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and industry experts, the aviation program embarked on an innovative three-phase plan to place PUC as an industry leader in aviation training.

“It is an exciting time to be involved with the PUC aviation program,” expressed Flight Center Director Nathan Tasker, who serves along with Chief Flight Instructor Merilyn Chaffee and flight instructors Luke Butler, Daniel Navarro, Gabriel Navarro, and Anthony Sharobeem. “We believe our innovation may very well revolutionize the aviation training industry. Look for full-motion simulators, gliders, and high-tech training innovation to come in 10 years as a standard across many mainstream flight schools.”

Phase one was completed in February. It involved restructuring the academic program to realign with industry standards. In the future, it will also mean that PUC takes advantage of recent legislation allowing graduates from accredited institutions to earn the Airline Transport Pilot certificate with 1,000 hours of flight time rather than the usual 1,500 hours. Ultimately, PUC’s aviation students can expect a more balanced program with significant cost savings.

Phase two, which is underway, will involve transitioning to gliders for primary flight training. Used by the military and mission aviation programs for decades, glider training enhances students’ stick and rudder skills and weather awareness by allowing them to focus solely on these elements in the beginning stages of their training. Compared to airplanes, they are inexpensive to operate, safer, and require fewer hours to master the basics. A bonus is that students can solo in gliders two years earlier than in an airplane. All these benefits mean our students will develop greater technical expertise in a shorter timeframe while saving significant money.

Phase three involves purchasing a full-motion Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD). Similar devices are used commonly in airline and military-style programs, and PUC plans to use them for training at all levels. Using simulation enhances training quality, reduces aircraft rental costs for students, and provides a platform for pilots to perfect basic and advanced maneuvers safely and efficiently. Ironically, simulation is more realistic than real life when rehearsing emergency and extreme maneuvers and procedures.

Once all three phases are in place, PUC’s next generation of pilots can expect a program that is more focused and robust at a fraction of traditional flight training costs. PUC also wins with reduced liability exposure, less dependency on the weather, and greater efficiency.

”Even more critical to the success of the aviation program than cost savings and technical excellence is its mission to prepare Christ-centered pilots for lives of service,” said Tasker. The current leaders of PUC’s aviation program take this mandate seriously.

“We want our graduates to leave PUC with excellent technical skills,” Tasker continued. “But also with a spiritual focus that will help to guide their lives in whatever direction God leads them.”

Plans are afoot to intentionally involve aviation students in service to God and the community. This past summer, a weekly vespers program was held at the Flight Center to connect the aviation students, community members, and instructors—and to ask for God’s wisdom and direction for the program.

PUC’s aviation program has a proud history—but with God as the focus, the future looks even brighter.