Additional Requirements
In addition to all academic requirements, this concentration requires students to obtain pilot certificates through flight training conducted at the MTSU Flight School. All required flight training must be conducted in a flight lab, in University-owned and maintained aircraft, and by flight instructors screened and trained for their positions by MTSU. Admission to the University does not guarantee enrollment in a flight lab. To enroll in a flight lab, students must submit a Flight Lab Request Form for each and every semester they wish to fly. The deadlines to submit Flight Lab Request Forms are posted on the MTSU Aerospace webpage www.mtsu.edu/aerospace.
Flight Lab Request Forms submitted after the deadline may not be considered. Enrollment in flight labs is limited and selection is made from eligible candidates who are best qualified based on cumulative GPA. Students must have completed 12 hours of college credit post high school graduation to be eligible for a flight lab. To become eligible for a flight lab, candidates must meet the following minimum standards:
- have a current Second Class FAA medical certificate with at least third class privileges;
- must be in good standing within the department and University (if a transfer student, candidate cannot be on probation in any form);
- have no physical limitation that would prohibit completion of the course requirements, including meeting weight and size limitations of training aircraft;
- have the full required amount of flight lab funds deposited in their flight accounts by the funding deadline listed in the lab award email (typically by 4:30 p.m. the Friday before classes start);
- have completed all required prerequisite classes for the desired lab;
- for US citizens or permanent green card holders, present a valid current passport OR an original state-issued birth certificate AND a valid government-issued picture ID on the first day of class; for international students, receive approval from the Transportation Security Administration and the Flight Training Security Program (FTSP) prior to the first day of class.
Completion of the Professional Pilot concentration is contingent upon completing all required flight labs. Students not meeting the above criteria may need to consider selecting another concentration.
Failure to maintain adequate progress as defined in the MTSU Flight Operations Manual, including but not limited to excessive flight time, multiple stage check failures, and multiple checkride failures, may result in referral to the Flight Review Board for determination of student continuation in flight training.
Students are expected to act professionally and hold themselves to a code of conduct. Failure to meet this requirement is determined by the Flight School management and may result in referral to the Flight Review Board for determination of student continuation in flight training.
Intentional violation of any MTSU safety practice or procedure or any FAA regulations will result in an immediate flight hold pending investigation and may result in termination from flight training.
Lab students are required to complete required-attendance events per seven-day week and will be held to an attendance policy. Details can be found in the Operations Manual. Failure to meet the attendance policy may result in removal from flight training.
There are substantial lab fees for each flight lab. Flight fees will be paid directly to MTSU, and students must maintain a positive balance in their training accounts at all times. Lab fee information and a complete explanation of all requirements for flight labs can be found in the Flight Lab Guide obtained through the MTSU Aerospace website, at the MTSU Flight School, or Aerospace Department main office.
Students admitted to the Professional Pilot program must receive all required flight training beyond the Private Pilot Certificate at the MTSU Flight School. Credit for flight time, including cross-country flight time obtained by the student after becoming a Private Pilot, is very limited and is determined by FAA and MTSU regulations. Students entering MTSU who already hold an FAA Instrument-Airplane Rating and/or an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate are not eligible for the Professional Pilot Certification.
NOTE: Students interested in military flying careers should contact their local Armed Forces recruiting officer or MTSU’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program representatives. Air Force ROTC program information can be obtained by calling (615) 963-5931. For information regarding the Army ROTC program, call (615) 898-2470. Please see Army ROTC for additional information.
