Frequently Asked Questions

• BGSU Aviation is one of only a few universities in the nation that has an airport located on-campus.
• Students start flight training their first year, with the majority of student flying their first semester.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted authorization for graduates of the aviation program at BGSU to obtain a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) Certificate provided their academic record meets the criteria set forth by the FAA. The R-ATP Certificate provides graduates an opportunity to enter the airline industry with as few as 1,000 hours versus the 1,500 flight hours typically required.
• The BGSU Aviation program continues to have one of the newest and most technologically advanced aircraft fleets in the region.
• The Bowling Green Flight Center is a 28,000 square foot facility that includes a training center, in-house aircraft maintenance center, and aircraft storage facilitiy. Opening in the Spring 2022, approximately 10,000 additional square feet of space for our flight operations will open.
• The program is fully accredited by both the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) and The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE).
• An onsite PSI testing center allows students to take their FAA written exams on campus.
• McDonald residence hall has space dedicated to aviation students.
• The program is approved under the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 141 requirements.

Students are required to earn the follow ratings or certificates prior to graduation:

• Private Pilot Certificate
• Instrument Rating
• Commercial Pilot Certificate
• Multi-Engine Rating

The majority of our students also choose to become flight instructors (elective). Flight instructors build important flight hours and get paid for it.

While it is not a program requirement to stay in the local area and complete flight training during the summers, it is highly recommended. Many students are able to accelerate their training completion timeline by utilizing Summer semesters.

In January 2014, BGSU formed a strategic partnership with Bowling Green Flight Center (BGFC), a private company, to provide the flight training for BGSU Aviation students. Since partnering in 2014, over 28,000 square feet of facilities have been constructed, the aircraft fleet has been modernized, and a significant investment in flight instructors and support staff have been made and continue to made.

Flight Lab Courses always utilize a waiting list for enrollment purposes. This does not mean that the class is full. It is an intentional process that the flight center utilizes so that we can review each student’s individual progress in their flight training to ensure that they are ready to move to the next course. This is important because training progress is unique for all students.

If you added yourself to a waitlist, but it was determined that you do not have enough progress in your current flight lab course to enroll into the next course in the series, you will still be able to continue flight training. Your current course will continue as an In Progress course and you will be assigned a flight training slot to complete that course throughout the next semester. If you do complete the current flight lab course in the first half of the next semester, you will have the opportunity to Late Add your next flight lab course into the semester’s enrollment so that you can continue your progress. The credit hours and fee for that course would be added once the Late Add is processed. If you complete a flight lab course towards the end of a semester, you may consider a Continuation of Training request. This would allow you to enroll into your next flight lab course for the following semester but begin training in that course about a month early. For example, if you are eligible to begin a new flight lab course as a Spring semester enrollment but you would like to remain in the local area and continue training over Winter Break, you may want to consider a Continuation of Training.

Students who are completing flight training will be assigned a flight training slot each semester. Flight training slots are assigned based on student availability, resource availability, CFI schedule as well as the specific requirements of each course. For example, a Private Pilot student may have a two day a week flight training slot while an Instrument student may have a 3 day a week training slot because the hours required to complete each course varies. Instruments students may also have a late evening slot time assignment.

 Students complete a flight survey in which they submit their class schedule and other relevant information so that flight training slots can be assigned. Please note that BGFC operates 7 days a week and it is expected that students will complete training over weekends.

A flight training slot is comprised of three components, flight training, ground lesson training, and simulator training. You should expect to complete one of these during your slot time but do note that you will not fly during each of your slots.

There is an additional charge of approximately $65,000 to $80,000 for the required flight courses at BGSU. This amount is comparable with most other university aviation programs or pilot training schools. Even though this seems like a great deal of money, the long term financial rewards as an airline pilot are substantial. Financial aid is available.

GI Bill© and VA Education Benefits
The Aviation Flight Technology program and courses do not qualify for GI Bill© or VA education benefits. However, many students are eligible for other military education benefits; please contact Nontraditional and Military Student Services at 419 372-8136 or ntmss@bgsu.edu for further information.

Yes. Students who wish to bring in Private Pilot training from outside of BGSU must have earned their Private Pilot Certificate by two weeks prior to the start of the semester to be eligible to maintain enrollment in Instrument level courses (AERT 2800 – Instrument Ground School, AERT 2810 – Basic Instrument Flight Instruction). Please review the process below for starting the BGSU aviation program with your private pilot certificate below:

1. When submiting your application to BGSU, you will asked if you are either bringing in a Private Pilot Certificate or intend to earn one prior to starting at BGSU. You will not see this question if you applied to BGSU using the Common App. If you did not see this question on your application to BGSU or applied through the Common App, please send an email to aviation@bgsu.edu to notify us of your intent to bring in a Private Pilot Certificate.
2. Our Academic Advisors will enroll students who are bringing in a Private Pilot Certificate into Instrument Flight Labs. Please double check your class schedule during University Orientation to ensure you are in the correct flight lab.
3. Bowling Green Flight Center will reach out closer to the start of the semester to verify that a student has earned their Private Pilot Certificate.
   
4. Within the first few weeks of your first semester, you will meet with a member of our Aviation Faculty to complete the Credit by Validation process. There is no cost to complete this process. Once this process is complete you will receive credit for the following courses:
   1. AERT 2200 Private Pilot Ground (4 Credit Hours)
          
   2. AERT 2220 Private Pilot Flight Instruction I (2 Credit Hours)
   3. AERT 2230 Private Pilot Flight Instruction II (2 Credit Hours)
5. BGSU does not require students who bring in a Private Pilot Certificate to take a transition course.

No. If you are accepted into BGSU, you are accepted in the aviation program.

The aviation program does not have any special computer requirements. We recommend prospective students reference the general BGSU recommended computer specs, located here.

Yes, through Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) and The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE). The FAA certifies the program for pilot training.