Department of Aviation - Flight Major FAQ
Flight Major
FAQ’s
Are the Flight costs included in the price of tuition?
No. In addition to tuition, you will incur additional costs of aircraft
rental and flight/ground instruction. We try to tell students to budget
for $4,500 - $5,500 of additional flight training costs per semester.
Can I receive financial aid for my flight training costs?
Many of our students are able to secure student loans to cover their
flight costs. Currently, National Education has a new loan program
exclusively for Lewis University Flight majors. To find out more
information about it, contact our Financial Aid department at (815)
836-5263. Be
sure to let them know you are a Flight Management Major.
Am I required to put a deposit down to cover my flight training costs?
No. Although many of our students will for convenience, you are able
to pay for your training “as you go”. In addition to
your regular Student Account (“S” Account), all flight
majors will have an Aviation Account (“A” Account). Anytime
you incur a flight training cost (ground/flight instruction and/or
aircraft rental) or make a payment, an invoice will be generated
on your “A” account
that you receive explaining in detail the cost/payment as well as
your account balance. You are not required to have any minimum amount
of
credit balance on your account; however, we do ask that your account
balance be at $0 after each lesson.
Can I transfer money between my “A” account and “S” account?
Yes. If you go to the Business Office, they will be able assist you
to make transfers between your two accounts.
Where do I go on my first day of flight lab?
Simply come to the Harold E. White Aviation Center dispatch desk
(end of hallway when you enter the Harold White Building) and you
will be
introduced to your flight instructor.
Are there any supplies I need to buy for my flight training?
Yes. You will need to purchase a headset, a Pilot’s Operating
Handbook specific to the aircraft you will be flying, and a logbook.
NorthStar Flight Shop is located at the Lewis University Airport
and will have supplies available to purchase in the Harold White
Aviation
Center during the first few days of school. Headsets vary in price
between $110 & over $500. In my opinion there is no need to
purchase a “high end” headset at this point in your
training. The NorthStar staff can help select a cost effective
headset that
fits
your needs.
Can I pay for my supplies with my “A” account?
Unfortunately no. NorthStar Pilot Shop is not affiliated with Lewis
University. They do accept cash, checks, and major credit cards.
If you have specific pilot supply questions, you can contact NorthStar
directly at (815) 838-9497 x121 or visit them on the web at www.northstarflightshop.com.
What do I do if the weather does not permit me to fly?
Depending on where you are in your training, there may be some
ground training that you and your instructor need to accomplish.
If there
isn’t a need for ground training, you & your instructor
will complete that lesson at your next scheduled block time.
Why does my Flight Lab show “0” credit hours on
my schedule?
The credit hours you earn by completing a flight lab (i.e. Private
Pilot Lab 47-132) will post directly to your transcript upon successful
completion of the FAA Pilot Certificate or Rating. By processing
the flight lab in this matter, your scheduled lab (47-100) does
not “count” against
the 18 credit hours you may take under our Block Tuition.
Can I fly during the summer?
Absolutely. The summer is the best time to fly for a number of
reasons. First, you are not limited to three days a week of scheduling.
If
you would like to fly everyday (which many students do), you can
accomplish
in a few weeks what may normally take an entire semester. Additionally,
during the summer most students don’t have a full load (15-18
credit hours) of classes, which allows them to focus 100% of their
time (excluding work) on their flight training. If you are interested
in getting a head start this summer, please give me a call at (815)
836-5053.
What if I have my Private Pilot Certificate completed before start
at Lewis?
If you do finish your Private Pilot training before your first
day at Lewis, you are eligible to “by-pass” Private
Pilot Ground Schools I & II by passing our private pilot stage
3 oral exam. Once you successfully pass this by-pass test, eight
academic credit
hours will post to your transcript (6 for the ground schools and
2 for the flight lab). You must pass this exam before you begin
your
instrument training. Your flight instructor will help you prepare
for the exam.
Can I fly outside of Lewis?
As a student pilot (working toward Private Pilot Certificate),
you are not allowed to fly outside of Lewis. Once you receive your
Private
Pilot Certificate, you are welcome to fly outside of Lewis. However,
none of flight time you accumulate outside of Lewis can count toward
a license or rating that you are required to have for graduation.
For example, you want to bring a friend up flying at your home
airport. That flight time can go into your personal logbook, but
will not
be counted toward meeting any FAA requirement for your Instrument
Rating,
Commercial Pilot Certificate, or Multi-Engine rating at Lewis.
If you still have questions regarding what you can and can not
do outside
of Lewis, please feel free to call me.
What do I need to bring with me on the first day?
The Department of Homeland Security requires every US Citizen to
present their original or government issued Birth Certificate and
a photo ID
(driver’s license or state ID) before that are allowed to
begin flight training. We will make a photo copy of these documents
the first
day and return them to you immediately. We can NOT provide any
training without these documents.
What if I am not a US Citizen?
The Department of Homeland Security has very specific requirements
for alien flight students. Please contact me directly to find out
more information. It may take up to 3 weeks to get your approval,
so to
avoid any training delays please do not wait to call me. My office
number is (815) 836-5053.
Keith P. McGill
Chief of Pilot Training
(815) 836-5053
mcgillke@lewisu.edu
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