Commercial Aviation (AVIT)
View Commercial Aviation in the College Catalog [PDF]
Career Opportunities
There is a global pilot shortage – every country needs pilots. Emerging nations with are increasing the demand for qualified commercial pilots. Approximately 12,000 pilots will be eligible for retirement each year for the foreseeable future. In the United States an estimated 15,000 commercial pilots will be hired to for domestic and worldwide needs.
Program Vision and Pledge
The new AVIT program is a commitment to our students. That commitment is to safely offer the most innovative collegiate airline oriented training with the newest technology aircraft and simulators available within a professional training environment for the best value. Quality shall be our trademark; safety is our standard. Our pledge is integrity throughout our program and to our students for our students are our strength.
Program Mission
The Commercial Aviation Program’s mission is to serve Hawaii, the nation and the Pacific Region as the primary technical training center in aviation by offering a rigorous pilot flight training curriculum, meeting basic Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements to train and earn FAA certifications leading to careers as professional commercial pilots within the aviation industry.
Program Description
The Commercial Aviation program is a four-semester program of study that prepares students for careers as a professional pilot, including charter and tour services, cargo and transport services, and flight instruction. This FAA approved flight training program enables students to earn private, commercial, instrument, multi-engine, flight instructor, and instrument flight instructor ratings. Students may log up to 250 hours of flight time. The Associate in Science degree credits from Commercial Aviation are transferable to 4-year colleges offering aviation degrees or toward a University of Hawai’i degree in other disciplines.
Additional Program Information
The Honolulu Community College (HCC) Commercial Aviation (AVIT) program is made available through a partnership with Galvin Flight Services Hawaii LLC. Galvin Flight Services Hawaii LLC holds an FAA Part 141 Pilot School Certificate, which provides FAA Approved training for the Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Multiengine Certificates and Ratings. The HCC/Galvin partnership commenced with the Fall 2007 academic year. AVIT provides students with the initial training opportunity to earn FAA certifications and ratings leading to a career as professional pilots within commercial air carriers, general aviation and military services. AVIT graduates are encouraged to obtain a flight instructor certificate, which may be obtained through HCC under Part 61, and seek employment as a flight instructor or entry level pilot and obtain a baccalaureate degree.
HCC students are trained with today’s most innovative and advanced equipment. HCC/Galvin fleet offers the most modern state of the art training fleet and simulators. The HCC/Galvin program offers an innovative airline oriented approach to collegiate flight training.
The AVIT program offers a highly structured professional academic environment, and a cost effective career investment training available within the state, the nation and the Pacific areas. AVIT conducts academic and flight operations at Kalaeloa Airport (formerly Barbers Point Naval Air Station) located near Kapolei, on the island of Oahu.
A pilot training program is one of the most costly in any college due to required FAA flight hour minimums. Weighing the training cost versus the potential career income becomes a small fractional expense. Projected cost for each of the flight programs can be found in the synopsis of each course. Costs will vary with each students flight hours based on individual flight skills, motivation, and frequency of training flights. Students are expected to fly between 3-4 hours per week during the semester. If a student is not financially able to sustain the flight requirements, you are encouraged to seek financial aid or should reconsider enrolling in the program until financing is available. The HCC financial office is available to assist any student in these financial matters. Additional funding sources are provided at the Financial Aid web site.
Information updated: November 12, 2008