Monday, August 12, 2013

Kishwaukee to begin offering beginning aviation classes in Lake in the Hills

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Aviation classes for college credit are set to be offered beginning this fall at the Lake in the Hills Airport.

The Kishwaukee College Aviation Flight Program is partnering with Blue Skies Flying Services Inc., which is based at the airport, to offer a beginning aviation class.

The AVF 101 Primary Flight Theory class will be taught at Blue Skies from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays from Sept. 4 through Dec. 16.

The class is a four-credit-hour course that addresses the requirements for the Federal Aviation Administration Private Pilot Knowledge Test, as well as the basics for a career in aviation. Credits earned in the course can be applied toward degrees and certificates and can be transferred to several four-year aviation programs, such as the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Lewis University and Southern Illinois University.

The course also can be transferred as an elective class, said Matt Feuerborn, associate dean of Career Technologies at Kishwaukee.

Because McHenry County College does not offer an aviation program, a cooperative agreement is available to ensure students receive in-district tuition rates from Kishwaukee.

Kishwaukee has had its aviation flight program since 2005, Feuerborn said.

Gino DeVivo, the Lake in the Hills economic development coordinator, said the village worked with the two entities to bring about the partnership.

"The village operates the airport," DeVivo said. "We work closely with service providers and businesses at the airport. We feel this is a good economic development vehicle to promote the area and the airport itself."

DeVivo added there is a hope to expand Kishwaukee's course offerings at the airport.

Feuerborn said Kishwaukee has been working to set up a course with Blue Skies for about a year.

Kishwaukee expects to draw students from the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

"We have a significant number of students who drive a great distance to Kishwaukee to take classes," Feuerborn said.

Kishwaukee is the only college in the area that has an aviation program that focuses on flight and pilot training.

"We've been trying to regionalize the program for a long time," Feuerborn said.

The class will cost $558 per student and is expected to have up to 15 available spots, Feuerborn said.

 "If we need to serve more students, we'll open more classes," he said.

The course also will be open to interested high school students, Feuerborn said.

Learn more

To help promote the new partnership, there will be an information session where attendees can learn more about the AVF 101 course and steps required to enroll. The session is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Blue Skies Flying Services Inc. at 8411 Pyott Road.


Source:   http://www.nwherald.com