Community College of Baltimore County Aviation Program awarded the coveted Federal Aviation Administration Part 141 Certification, the industry standard for safe, quality flight-training programs. Pictured from left to right are: Doug Kendzierski, chairman, Applied Technology, Doug Williams, director, Aviation Program, Greg Travis, Frontline Manager for the FAA Baltimore Flight Standards District Office, and Chris Komsa, assistant director, Aviation Program, receiving the coveted FAA Part 141 certificate.

On Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded the Community College of Baltimore County Aviation Program "Part 141" approval for its Private, Instrument, and Commercial ground schools. A "ground school" refers to the academic portion of earning each license and is completed in conjunction with "hands on" flight training courses.

This coveted “FAA Part 141 certification” is the industry standard for safe, quality flight training programs and the FAA only grants this certification after a rigorous evaluation of a program's curriculum, facilities, and faculty qualifications. Although most four-year collegiate aviation programs have this designation, CCBC now becomes one of the very few two-year programs to earn it.

This certification will allow students to complete their flight training in fewer hours, saving time and costs. FAA Part 141 approval is the first step in the process in attaining a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot training program which CCBC is now working towards and expects to have by the fall 2017 semester. A Restricted Airline Transport Pilot program will give our graduates credentials that are extremely attractive to airline employers.

This FAA Part 141 approval will also pave the way for admitting international students on F-1 Visa status, for which we already have a long list of international students who wish to study aviation at CCBC.

For additional information about the Community College of Baltimore County’s Aviation Technology degree programs, visit www.ccbcmd.edu/aviation or contact the Aviation department by email at aviation@ccbcmd.edu or by phone at 443-840-4157.

About the Community College of Baltimore County

CCBC offers hundreds of programs and thousands of courses helping people of all ages, backgrounds and interests earn degrees, transfer, launch or advance careers, and prepare for in-demand jobs.

Providing accessible, affordable and high-quality education since 1957, CCBC educates more than 70,000 students each year, including half of all Baltimore County residents attending college in Maryland as undergraduates. Committed to student success and the development of lifelong learners who strengthen our regional workforce and enrich our community, CCBC has also been selected to participate in Achieving the Dream, a national student success initiative. In 2011, the Chronicle of Education honored CCBC as one of only 26 community colleges across the nation named “Great Colleges to Work For.”