There are many great programs that Iowa Lakes offers at this college. There are great programs like Criminal Justice, Environmental Studies, Graphic Design, just to name a few. One program to say that has shown it’s rise of popularity over the years is Aviation. The question is however, what makes Aviation one of the most popular programs here at Iowa Lakes? Tim Busch, who is the main Aviation/Airport Management Program Coordinator/Chief Flight Assistant Professor for Iowa Lakes would talk about what makes Aviation so interesting?
“It’s one of those things that I’ve heard a thousand times from every person that flies that say they always wish they could do it,” said Busch. There’s just something magical about Aviation. It’s a different a different perspective, literally, because you’re looking the world from a different view. Everybody just loves that. Another reason would be the job market is wide open. I think the last prediction I saw was seven hundred and ninety thousand new airline pilots through 2037, and that doesn’t include cooperate, charter, agriculture, flight instruction, so their is a huge market right now for Aviation.”
Austin Franck, who is a current freshmen for the Aviation program and the new president of the Aviation Club would talk about his experience with Aviation and how it has helped throughout the entire program for Iowa Lakes.
“My training was done at DuPage Airport, which is a tower airport and it’s right under a class bravo airspace, which is O’Hare, so it’s very busy,” said Franck. “There is a lot of communication that has to be done when you’re flying in and out of DuPage. With Dupage, not necessarily with Chicago, but you have to be mindful. You can’t just takeoff and climb up to five-thousand feet. You’ll just bust the Bravo, and then you will be in trouble so to speak, so you have to talk to DuPage all the time, and that radio contact going back and fourth is really good for me, because radios are challenging for pilots. It’s kind of like learning a new language; it’s really intimidating at first, but the more you do it, the better you will get at it. The downside of Iowa Lakes is that their is no tower controller out here, so a lot of students are a little weary about that. I’m here to help people out with that, because I’ll be flying with people and I’ll be like, ‘I’ll do the radio, it’s not that difficult to do,’ I just want to be kind of a helping hand when it comes helping other students in the Aviation Program.”
Busch would then talk about why he believes that Aviation is one of most popular programs to learn at Iowa Lakes. “It’s exciting, fun, challenging, and its different than everything else,” said Busch. “I think most of the students get that it’s different and challenging. I think it’s a eye opening for few to say that, ‘Oh, this a lot more than I expected’, but at the same time everybody is on board in helping. It’s an interesting community of people, because we are out here together all the time; it doesn’t matter if you’re a private pilot student or a commercial pilot or a flight instructor. Everybody’s working with each other to help each other get better. It’s difficult to fit into the academic model of the ABCDF grades when in Aviation everything is everything. You have to really have a good background, and it’s a pretty high level. There is not really a acceptable level of C. Everybody has got to be on, so we help each other get their. I guess you can say it’s a little different.”
As you can see there are a lot of good reasons why you should consider Aviation as a good program to choose for at Iowa Lakes. There are many reasons like bringing people closer together in the program, it gives you a different perspective of flying, or even it just feels like being in a community like Busch said. The main goal for this program is to help students either seek employment upon graduation or transfer to a four-year college. There is a significant need for new pilots to enter the workforce each year and Iowa Lakes is just the beginning for anyone that wants to enter the workforce. So what you waiting for? Adventure awaits.
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