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Southwest launches first 2-year aviation program in TN

By Diana Fedinec and Daphne Thomas 

Aviation

Aspiring aviation professionals now have the opportunity to earn the credential needed for a career in aviation in two years, rather than four, thanks to Southwest’s newest academic offering. The Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Operations Technology program takes off March 7 as the first of its kind in the state of Tennessee.

Students can prepare to serve in ground operations or fly the friendly skies. They can choose from the administration professional, flight dispatcher or professional pilot concentration within the 60-credit hour program.  

Students who earn the A.A.S. in Aviation Operations Technology will be prepared to compete for entry-level aviation jobs ranging from crew scheduling to commercial pilots. “Graduates could enter the workforce immediately as flight dispatchers and safety coordinators earning $40,000 a year and higher,” Southwest Business and Technologies Dean Robin Cole said. “Those who complete the requisite flight training can work as commercial pilots and earn nearly $60,000 a year starting out.” 

“Aviation is a critical industry to the Mid-South economy and this program is another shining example of why community colleges exist,” Dr. Tracy D. Hall, President of Southwest Tennessee Community College said.  “This new program will help address the critical shortage of commercial pilots and fuel the pipeline to jobs with FedEx and other major airlines in Memphis and beyond.”

The program intends also to help close the gap for people of color and low-income aviation professionals in the industry.  Southwest is partnering with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) and the Luke Weathers Flight Academy to make the training accessible and affordable to students from all walks of life. For students who already have a passion for the friendly skies and are taking aviation courses in high school, the program is partnering with Shelby County Schools to create a dual enrollment pathway that will lead to a college credential upon their graduation. 

For more information about the aviation program, contact Technologies Department Chair, Dr. Aaron Jagers, at ajagers@southwest.tn.edu or 901-333-4159.