Verifies a higher level of instructional structure and academic rigor
RICHMOND, Ky. (June 13, 2013) – Eastern Kentucky University’s Aviation Program has received renewal of its Part 141 certificate from the Louisville Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office. To receive renewal, the EKU program had to achieve an 80 percent or higher first-attempt pass rate on FAA written exams and FAA practical exams (check rides) during the last two years.
This certification allows a graduate to complete certificates in fewer hours if he or she is able. It also verifies a higher level of instructional structure and academic rigor to potential employers. In EKU’s three written-exam categories, the first-attempt pass rate ranged from 89 to 100 percent. In the program’s four check-ride categories, the first-attempt pass rate ranged from 80 to 100 percent.
On Aug. 3, the FAA is changing the requirements to fly as a co-pilot for a regional or major commercial air carrier (Part 121). Beginning then, all co-pilots will be required to possess the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which requires a minimum of 1,500 total flight hours. However, graduates of aviation university programs with Part 141 certification, such as EKU Aviation, will only need 1,000 total flight hours to be eligible to take the ATP check ride, recognizing that the aviation university structure prepares a pilot to assume the requirements of an air carrier co-pilot in fewer hours than the traditional non-university flight schools with Part 61 certification.
The upcoming FAA change also increases the minimum number of multi-engine (MEL) flight hours to 50 for the ATP. While most flight schools in the country offer only 15 to 30 hours, EKU aviation began offering 100 hours MEL in August 2012 to meet this revised minimum and to make its graduates more easily insurable for a first MEL (Part 135/91) air charter job.
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