Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the questions we here the most from students and their families. If your question is not here please contact us.
If you will be a new freshman you must register for New Student Orientation before you can register for your first semester classes. Transfer students do not have to register for SOAR but are highly encouraged to do so. For more information please visit the New Student Orientation website at http://orientation.siuc.edu/
Yes, there is a $30 application fee charged to when applying to SIUC. Waivers are available on a need-based status. To apply for a waiver please download the application fee waiver form at http://admissions.siuc.edu/pdfs/waiverform.pdf.
You should plan to apply 8-12 months before you hope to start our flight program. If you want to begin in Fall 2011, for example, you should apply in Fall 2010 or early Spring 2011.
Getting into Aviation Flight is a two-step process. First you must apply to SIUC at www.siuc.edu.
On your SIUC application, indicate "Aviation Flight" as the major of your choice.
Once you get accepted into SIUC, you should soon receive an application (probably via email) for our aviation program.
Print the application, complete it, and mail, fax, or pdf it back to us.
You should hear from us shortly--we let all students know if they have been accepted or not.
Congrats on being accepted! Your next step from here depends on if you are a new college student, or a transfer student.
1. New Students: sign up for a SOAR date at http://soar.siuc.edu/ (Transfer students read steps 2, 5)
(New students must be signed up for SOAR before they can be advised and register for classes.)
2. New AND Transfer Students: set up a network ID at https://netid.siu.edu/
The network ID will allow students to log into Salukinet.siu.edu and register/drop classes, check out financial aid awards, see grades at the end of each term, and a lot more!
3. If you haven't been contacted by an academic advisor by 2 weeks before your SOAR appointment, contact one of us and ask us "I'm signed up for SOAR; what's up!?". David Jaynes can be reached at djaynes [at] aviation [dot] siu [dot] edu. Rachel Lee can be reached at rlee [at] aviation [dot] siu [dot] edu.
4. New Students: choose to get advised prior to your SOAR visit and you can register for classes early. Otherwise, make an appointment to see an advisor during your SOAR visit by calling (618) 453-9300 and letting the person that answers know you are attending SOAR and want to make an appointment for that date.
5. Advisement can take place in person, on the phone, or via email. Registration is done by the student using Salukinet..siu.edu.All students should be advised before classes begin. The later you wait to register, the fewer openings/choices for classes.
6. Once you're advised and registered, you aren't done yet! As a new student in our Flight Program, you will need to prepare a few things. Before getting here, you need:
-A 2nd class medical exam. Visit the FAA website for more information: http://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/
-Proof of citizenship (either valid US passport, or certified birth certificate and government issued ID)
-business casual clothing to wear for your flight training (khakis and polos work for most days, but on checkride days most students wear shirt and tie or suit)
7. Parking stickers are reserved for all Aviation Flight students--you don't need to participate in the lottery for a spot. Go to the parking division website for general information and to fill out the necessary application:http://www.dps.siu.edu/pk_welcome.htm
9. SIU Aviation Programs offer a Living Learning Community, currently located on the 16th and 17th floors of Mae Smith. Students in Aviation can live together at this location, or check out other housing options. Housing questions can be answered here: http://www.housing.siu.edu/
10. If you have other questions, David and Rachel are always here to help! Just email or call us and we'll help you on your way to an exciting experience at SIUC!
Aviation Flight (4)
Although there are many factors that affect this such as weather, student health, etc, most students can complete their flight training through CFI in 2-and-a-half to 3 years.
Aviation Flight students can start flying during their first semester at SIUC and many take their first flight lesson within the first few days of starting college. Exceptions to this do exist, but are often for medical or homeland security issues.
Yes. Upon beginning flight training all students will be required to purchase their own headset. For options visit your local airport or an online retailer such as Sporty's.
So you love aviation, but don't want to necessarily be a pilot or aircraft mechanic? Then Aviation Management is the degree for you! Did you know that out of the over 2 million aviation employees in the United States, only 200,000, or just 10%, are pilots. The other 90% includes everyone else working together to support the industry!
So for those of you in "the other 90%", what does our degree in Aviation Management prepare you for? Here are some examples of typical jobs our graduates hold:
-Airline Customer Service Manager
-Flight Training Coordinator
-Airport Planner
-Aircraft Leasing Specialist
-Senior Airline Staff Analyst
-Safety Inspector
-Airport Public Relations Specialist
-Aircraft Product Support Specialist
-Airport Manager
-Air Traffic Control Specialist
And typical places our graduates work:
-United Airlines
-American Airlines
-Boeing Corporation
-National Business Aviation Association
-O'Hare International Airport
-Landrum and Brown Airport Consultants
-Caterpillar Flight Department
-Illinois Department of Transportation Aviation Division
-the United States military, all branches
...and various other aviation consulting firms, airlines, corporate flight departments, airports, aircraft manufacturers, schools and governmental agencies.
The academic advisors in SIUC Aviation can help prepare you for these and many other exciting career paths! Contact us for more information by calling (618) 453-9300 or emailing Rachel Lee at rlee [at] aviation [dot] siu [dot] edu.
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management (AVM) can be completed through a few different routes. Regardless of which route a student chooses, he should be in close touch with his academic advisor throughout his time as a student, to ensure he is on track to meet his career goals as well as academic requirements to graduate. Academic requirements are discussed below.
1) First, 41 hours of University Core Curriculum, or UCC, must be completed by all students. If a student transfers in with an AA or AS degree from an Illinois Community College, he has completed the UCC requirements and can focus on major coursework.
2) There are 36 credit hours of coursework required for AVM, broken down into AVM core, specialization requirements, and electives.
3) There are 31 hours of electives in the "approved career electives" category. For students transferring in with previous aviation training or work experience, they can receive credit towards graduation in this category. This includes flight certificates, maintenance certificates, experience in Air Traffic Control, and numerous other aviation activities.
If those credits aren't completed through previous training, it can be completed through minor coursework and other advisor approved work. New and transfer students can also opt to complete Aviation Flight or Aviation Technologies training as "approved career electives", which would be a great benefit for certain career paths.
For students who do not choose to complete technical training, they should pick at least one minor to complement the AVM degree and their career objectives. SIU offers many minors, ranging from Airport Management and Planning, to Aircraft Product Support, to Business, to Economics, to Geography, and more, that students will be able to build upon in their first job in the industry. Most minors range from 15-18 credit hours.
4) Finally, there are 12 hours a student can complete through independent study, an aviation-related internship, or other approved work.
5) Altogether, a student must have at least 120 hours to graduate, meeting all UCC and major requirements with a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.0.
For a full list of required and available courses please visit the Aviation Management Graduation Requirements Page
The Capstone Option is for students who have earned or will soon earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree or equivalent Associate degree. Also students who have an FAA airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate, or authorization to test for the A&P certificate may qualify for Capstone. The Capstone Option makes it possible for students to earn a bachelor's degree in 60 additional hours and allows them to complete an abbreviated University Core Curriculum requirement (30 hours vs. 41 hours). For more information about the capstone option see your academic advisor.
The student handbook can be found here: Aviation Technologies Student Handbook
For a list of tools aviation technologies students are required to have please visit the following page: Tool List
Career Days (10)
The event will go on rain or shine. If rain is forecast for Southern Illinois, bring your raincoat!
Dress in "Business Casual" which means cotton pants and a collared shirt. Jeans are ok, but only if they are neat and not distressed. No open toe shoes or T shirts.
You don't need to bring anything with you. Traveling light will help speed things up in security. Whatever you bring, you will have to carry with you all day as nothing can be left on the aircraft during the day.
Sure can. Just fill out the registration form and let us know what school you are from.
Parents can be listed on the standby list and will be able to come on the flight if there are cancellations.
You will get a confirmation email from SIU if you are selected for the flight that will contain all of the details on how to check in at O'Hare.
You must be at least 14 years old and a HS freshman.
The day begins and ends at Chicago O'Hare. You need to get to Chicago to get on the flight or drive to Carbondale to join the activities.
It is free
Good question!
For information and steps to fund flight training please visit our financial aid page.
DRIVE:
We encourage our students to bring a car starting their freshman year. It's the most convenient way to reach the airport, and if you're an Aviation Flight or Aviation Technologies student, you are reserved a campus parking sticker (no "freshman lottery" for you!).
SALUKI EXPRESS:
If you do not bring a car, you can choose to take the Saluki Express Airport Bus. The bus runs Monday - Friday starting at 7:36 AM at the student center, arriving at the airport at 56 minutes past the hour every hour with the last bus leaving the airport at 6:00 PM. The bus routes can be found here: http://www.siucstudentcenter.org/routes
The airport is 5.3 miles northwest of campus, and with that in mind, your academic advisor will help you plan your schedules so that you have plenty of time to get from one campus to the other. We generally like to tell students to allot 30 minutes minimum if they're driving, and an hour between classes for those taking the bus.
665 N Airport Road
