Our Associate Degree Programs Take You Further - Faster
FAA-Certified Part 61 and Part 141 Flight School and Fully Accredited College of Aeronautics on One Campus Enroll TodayGet InformationWhy Get an Associate Degree in Aviation at American Winds?
Did you know you no longer need a bachelor’s degree to get hired as a pilot by major commercial commuter and regional airlines? What you really need is the ATP certificate – and an associate’s degree in aviation from the American Winds College of Aeronautics can save you time and money as you work toward it!
Our Associate’s Degree in Aviation Programs consist of three elements:
- FAA pilot certificates and ratings
- 6 aviation academic courses
- 6 general education courses
Here are 10 ways American Winds gets your career off the ground faster:
- Choose from several associate’s degrees for pilots to add lift to a variety of career goals.
- Fast-track any of our associate degree programs for completion in just ONE YEAR.
- Easily transfer general education credits from other certified educational institutions to American Winds for a head start!
- Use an array of financial aid options for academics or VA benefits for flight school training.
- Gain easy access to flight training, full-time flight instructors, and online scheduling, as we are only closed 11 days of the year.
- Find a wide range of training opportunities in our onsite fleet of single- and multi-engine aircraft, plus an FAA-certified flight simulator.
- Get personalized, one-on-one instruction from knowledgeable, experienced instructors in an aviation-focused environment.
- Progress at a pace that is comfortable for you, with a focus on safety and comprehensive instruction.
- Finish by receiving both an Associate Degree in Applied Science, Aviation AND an FAA-endorsed Restricted ATP (R-ATP) certificate – which allows airlines to hire you with reduced flight time.
- Get paid to rack up flight time after you complete the Certified Flight Instructor elective and we hire you to teach others!
What is the Restricted ATP (R-ATP)?
It's the certificate required by the FAA to fly as a captain for the commercial airlines (regional / majors).
The traditional ATP certificate (commercial pilot license) requires a total of 1,500 hours of flight time. The FAA ATP Pilot Certificate should not be confused with the Restricted ATP certificate. The Restricted ATP is a designation that the FAA will grant the authority to colleges and universities with approved aviation degree programs to issue a certificate called the Restricted ATP. This commercial pilot certificate will allow college or university graduates to be hired with less flight time.
Restricted ATP (R-ATP) + Bachelor's Degree = 1,000 flight hours needed to be hired by the airlines.
Restricted ATP (R-ATP) + Associate's Degree = 1,250 flight hours needed to be hired by the airlines.
No Approved Aviation Degree = 1,500 hours needed to be hired by the airlines.
Your Pilot Career Takes Off Here
Ready to turn your passion for aviation into a career? Get the personalized training and support you need to earn your wings and start building your future as a professional pilot.
