YOU BRING THE FOCUS. WE’LL GET YOU OFF THE GROUND.
At Parkland College’s Part 141 and Restricted ATP-approved school, you'll become a better planner, a logical decision-maker, and excellent resource manager—all with safety as your number-one priority.
ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE
With an associate’s degree, you’ll earn the certifications you need to enter the commercial aviation job market, including private pilot certification, private pilot with instrument rating, and the commercial pilot certification. Plan to finish a bachelor’s degree in aviation or another field? This degree is also designed for you—once you earn the associate's degree, you can transfer to a four-year school.
Did you graduate from an Illinois high school or earn your GED in Illinois? You can participate in the Parkland Pathway to Illinois program. Students completing the program earn guaranteed admission to select programs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Resources: Parkland Admissions | University of Illinois Admissions
FLIGHT TRAINING
- Private Pilot
Private pilot certification and private pilot with instrument rating
- Commercial Pilot
Commercial pilot certification and multiengine rating
- Certified Flight Instructor
Certifies you in flight instruction once you earn private and commercial pilot certifications and ratings
Learning on the ground
- You’ll meet for about 2 hours a week in a classroom
- You’ll master aircraft systems, rules and regulations, and aviation fundamentals
- You’ll utilize flight simulators that replicate internal and external conditions you’ll experience in the air, including normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures
Learning in the air
- You’ll meet at Champaign’s Willard Airport for three 2-hour flight periods a week
- You’ll gain hands-on experience to learn flight maneuvers, takeoffs and landings, and cross-country flights
DEGREE & CERTIFICATIONS
Here’s a general overview of the courses you’ll need to take to obtain your degree and/or certifications. For a more detailed explanation, see the Aviation Program of Study (starts on page 217).
Associate’s Degree in Aviation
The associate’s degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution, with the opportunity to earn certifications necessary to enter the commercial aviation job market. 38 hours of required general education core courses, plus :
- ESC 101 Introduction to Weather
- AVI 101: Private Pilot I
- AVI 120: Private Pilot II
- AVI 129: Commercial—Instrument I
- AVI 140: Commercial II—Instrument II
- AVI 184: Aircraft Systems for Pilots
- AVI 200: Commercial Pilot I
- AVI 209: Commercial Pilot II
- AVI 280: Multiengine Land
Private pilot training
Private pilot consists of two classes taken over the course of two semesters:
- AVI 101: Private Pilot I
- AVI 120: Private Pilot II
Commercial pilot training
Along with private pilot courses, there are six additional courses including instrument rating and commercial pilot classes taken sequentially over two years:
- AVI 129: Commercial—Instrument I
- AVI 140: Commercial II—Instrument II
- AVI 184: Aircraft Systems for Pilots
- AVI 200: Commercial Pilot I
- AVI 209: Commercial Pilot II
- AVI 280: Multiengine Land
Advanced courses
- AVI 220: Flight Instructor Certification
- AVI 222: Instrument Flight Instructor
- AVI 281: Cockpit Resource Management
Unmanned Aircraft Systems training
UAS Basic certificate consists of two courses:
- AVI 111: Commercial Drone Ground School
- AVI 112: Introduction to Drone Flight
Unmanned Aircraft Systems training
UAS Advanced certificate consists of three courses:
- AVI 111: Commercial Drone Ground School
- AVI 112: Introduction to Drone Flight
- AVI 113: Drone Data Collection and Application