MetroSpective
Mile High Club
Metro's aviation department reaches new heights in the field of aerospace
By Michael Godfrey
mgodfre3@mscd.edu
Many students at Metro have no idea that the school offers an aviation degree, or that we have one of the best aviation programs in the nation. Many don't even know we have one of the largest simulator labs in the country. Still, the best-kept secret about Metro's aviation department may be that it is home to some of the most involved students on campus.
Photos by Christopher Wheeler/special to The Metropolitan
Panoramic view from the back of a Cessna single-prop plane as it departs from Cleveland. The flight was part of Metro's aviation fraternity's summer excursion.
The Seventh Street building, located on the west side of campus, is hard to miss. It is the only building on campus topped with antennas, weather satellites and a windsock. The interior provides further clues as to how these students live. Inside you'll find aviation posters and flight magazines. The Seventh Street classroom is the center for all aviation students on campus to gather and compare flight stories, prepare for classes and get advice from their professors.
What sets this department apart from any other is the passion the students share for what they are doing. In addition to their classes, aviation students must obtain their pilot's license from different airports located in the area, making it easy for students to run into each other while on the flight line. They share the expenses of a flight with each other, swap stories of past flight experiences or even trade tips on how to get their next license, creating a social network within the department.
In addition to its friendly students, Metro's aviation program has some of the most active student organizations on campus. From the school's highly competitive flight team to one of the school's oldest active fraternities, the department is busy.
Photos by Christopher Wheeler/special to The Metropolitan
Jeff Sinclair directs simulated flights on Metro's air traffic control software in the World Indoor Airport at the Seventh Street classroom. Metro's aviation students have access to cutting-edge technology.
Alpha Eta Rho, a professional aviation fraternity, is constantly involved with the school and community. They give their time to such events as the Hurricane Katrina fund-raiser being held later this month. They also donate food and fly it throughout the state in an effort to feed the hungry. Not only do the members of this fraternity volunteer their time to the community, but they also provide a social outlet to their members, gathering together for a fly-in to a local airport, or even having a party to celebrate the completion of finals.
The American Association of Airport Executives provides the same community and social services as Alpha Eta Rho, but with an emphasis on those who prefer not to fly. This organization is reserved for those Aviation majors who participate in the other fields of aerospace. Airport managers, engineers and even air traffic controllers count themselves as members. AAAE is a popular and professional organization dedicated to assisting airports and their executives in fulfilling their responsibilities to the communities they serve.
Metro also has a top-notch flight team, who are members of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. The group competes with other colleges in different areas of flight. Adding a competitive nature to the program, the team challenges other students from around the country to find the "top pilot," while earning attention from the different airlines for jobs later in life. The program also offers scholarships, which can help offset the huge expense incurred from their progressive flight training.
Photos by Christopher Wheeler/special to The Metropolitan
In addition to its outstanding student body, Metro's aviation department boasts a faculty to match. Instructors include some of the most experienced faculty in the country, from fighter pilots to airport managers. The faculty in the Seventh Street classroom has plenty of real-world experience, which makes their advice practical as well as enlightening. The curriculum in the aviation department is comprehensive, with subjects that range from the impact of weather on aviation to specialized instruction in the simulators for airline crew management. Essentially, the faculty offers several classes to help the students with what they really need to know to succeed in the field.
The aviation department at Metro is a large part of the campus, providing aerospace instruction to over 500 students. Colorado is one of the nation's leaders in aerospace, and because of the dedication of both the faculty and students in Metro's aviation department you can count on Colorado remaining a top leader in the future of aviation.