WMU closes flight School!!!

[lionflyer]

I just saw on the news the other day that Western Michigan University is shutting down their flight program due to low enrollments. This is a big shock to me as a Bronco Alumni because they just spent a gazillion dollars building a new facility in BTL only about 6 years ago. Can anyone confirm this with more details.

 

[Dep676]

I saw that on the news also. They kind of made it sound like it was just the program they had set up for the foreign students. Anyone else know the details?

Just found this on WMU's website it was dated yesterday.

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2003/0303/0203-ma38.html

 

[BoDEAN]

I am also a WMU Almuni (2002 grad) and from what I've heard and seen, it is just the international training (the brit's and saudi's)

 

[pilotyip]

Only the Int'l Program

WMU is still big time in the pilot training business, but the program for the airline, foreign and US minority is being shut down due to low enrollment.

 

[Groucho]

WMU

Good to see other Broncos on the board. I graduated way....... bback in 1978. Back when all the flying was done in the "zoo."

I think this has to do with market conditions and some of the new regulations. With flight training for foreigners now requiring some kind of sponsorship, advanced training, is and hiriing off with BA and the other Arab countries "ab inito" programs, it sounds like this is just a administrative change.

Sounds like they will keep the foreign program alive in name until there is demand for it.

Groucho
WMU Aviation 78

 

[wmudriver]

The Kalamazoo Gazette is rehashing old news. They put a swerve on the story making it sound like the whole program is going down the drain, which it isn't. WMU cut some of the international instructor positions as the JAA classes got smaller and that happened back in 09/2002. It has been known for a while that the IPTC (International Pilot Training Centre) is slowing down. The downturn in pilot hiring finally hit Europe and thats why BA, Emrites, Aer Lingus and EPST have stopped sending classes. The FAA collegiate program is still thriving with over 1000 undergrads (300+ which are flying currently). Enrollment of the undergrad classes (Freshman, Sophomore) is up by nearly 100 students compared to Fall 2002. So things at WMU are still fine. We are still sending people to ACA and ASA. Drop me a line if anyone has questions. Sad how the media misunderstands our industry and twisted this into something so out of proportion.

 

[blade230]

EMIRATES is actively recruiting both expats and cadets. They chose a differnet flight school to train their cadets in Australia where Cathay and South African train their cadets. (BAE)

BA expects to hire a limited number of pilots soon. They have contracts with many flight schools, not just one. The primary having always been Oxford Aviation in the UK.

Cheers,

 

[wmudriver]

I overheard a contributing factor to the Emrites leaving WMU was that the FBI interviewed the cadets after 9/11/01 and the international school became a media target after 9/11. That was too bad because the cadets were all cool guys. I heard from a former BA cadet that attended WMU that they waited a year before getting placed into the right seat of a 737. Oh well, we'll be seeing classes again in the fall.

Adios

 

[wmudriver]

WMU alumni

I heard that Tom Deckard invented the stall warning horn when he worked at NASA. Any WMU Alumni heard that?

 

[lionflyer]

Has Mr. Aardema's "experimental" gotten off the ground yet? It sat in the hangar from 92-97

 

[BoDEAN]

Dekard is gone as far as I know, retired.
Yes, his plane is off the ground.

They are taking the international training program, and calling it an "accelerated training program"

As for the US training students, the school is still in full force.

Hope this helps

 

[pilotshan]

Imagine my surprise to see the headlines on the front page of the local Sunday paper telling me that the same place I was just instructing at a few days earlier was shutting down. Upon further investigation, they just restructured and renamed the program. Funny how things get twisted.

Deckard has returned after being retired for about 3 years in the capacity of Director of Aviation Education. We're all much better off for it. I think the stall horn thing may just be a rumor, but we all know an aviation god when we see one, and he wrote the book.

Shan
WMU Class of 2000

 

[wmudriver]

rocket bob's plane

Last time i heard, Aardema's plane did get off the ground.

Update for any alumni that flew out of AZO, the building is now occupied by the Aeronautical Engineering dept. Its also home to a contracted (by AZO) weather observer that lives in the building 24 hours a day...pretty wierd.

Dave
Class of 2002

 

[TDTURBO]

Re: WMU alumni

I heard that Tom Deckard invented the stall warning horn when he worked at NASA. Any WMU Alumni heard that?

I graduated from Western in '84, I was the one that said Dekkard invented the stall horn which he did. I am glad to see the program is still viable. I can't imagine the program ever going down the tubes, but you never know.

 

[CXAV8]

WMU

Mr.A-
The self proclaimed big fish in the small pond. His A/C was there during my 4 yrs.-no flights. Tom D. is one of the finest individuals I've met in my 15+yrs. in aviation. With classes at BTL how does that affect Waldo's.
GO Sky Donkeys

 

[pilotshan]

Re: WMU

With classes at BTL how does that affect Waldo's.

It adds about 25 minutes to the drive time, therefore subtracting 25 minutes from the drinking time.

 

[TDTURBO]

Too bad you guys are probably to young to remember Coral Gables, The Other Side and Wayside East, those were the days!