Program Proposal

for the

Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science

(BSAS)

University of Hawai'i at Hilo

March 17, 2015

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Table of Contents

I. What Are the Objectives of the Program? ................................................................... 2

II. Are the Program Objectives Appropriate to the Functions of the College and University? ................................................................................................................... 6

A. Relationship to University, Campus, and College Mission and Development Plans ...................................................................................................................... 6

B. Evidence of Continuing Need of the Program ....................................................... 7

C. Projections of Career Opportunities for Graduates ............................................... 9

III. How Is the Program Organized to Meet Its Objectives? ........................................... 10

A. Curriculum Organization and Requirements ....................................................... 10

1. Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science (BSAS) ........................ 10

2. University General Education Requirements .................................................. 10

3. Aviation Program Requirements ...................................................................... 11

B. Admission Policies Specific for the Proposed UH Hilo BSAS Degree ................ 14

C. Advising and Counseling ..................................................................................... 15

IV. Who Will Enroll in the Program? ............................................................................... 16

V. Estimated Resources Required for Program Implementation and First Cycle Operation ................................................................................................................... 19

A. Existing Physical Resources of CAFNRM and Partnership with Other Departments ......................................................................................................... 19

B. Facility Requirements for Proposed New Courses .............................................. 19

C. Faculty .................................................................................................................. 19

D. Equipment and Supplies ...................................................................................... 20

E. Library Support ..................................................................................................... 20

F. Lab Support Staff and Administrative Staff .......................................................... 20

VI. How Efficient Will the Program Be? .......................................................................... 20

A. Projected Costs for Equipment and Supplies ...................................................... 23

VII. How Will the Effectiveness of the Program Be Demonstrated? ................................ 24

VIII. Appendices .......................................................................................................... 26

A. Appendix A: Table of Projected Salaries ............................................................. 26

B. Appendix B: Four Year Option ............................................................................ 27

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I. What Are the Objectives of the Program?

Overview Aeronatical science is an essential discipline and profession. Pilots combine knowledge, critical decision-making skills, and kinesthetic abilities to support everyday societal needs for travel, defense and research. Pilots play a vital role in the economy of nations on a daily basis. They contribute significantly to the quality of life for the residents of Hawai'i by flying people and goods to and from the State. Imagine a day in Hawai'i without pilots! A Bachelor of Science degree program in Aeronautical Science (BSAS) at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo (UH Hilo) will significantly contribute to the following areas.

Addressing a Statewide Concern The proposed BSAS degree program at UH Hilo addresses the 2012 Hawai'i Senate Resolution (S.R. No. 156, S.D.) where the legislature “urged the creation of an exploratory committee to consider the feasibility of, and necessary resources for, establishing an international aviation training center at the Hilo international airport and an advanced aviation degree training program at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.” There are 200 Hawaiian students (based upon phone calls to registrars of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and University of North Dakota) currently studying flight operations on the mainland, since the required level of academic and practical flight training in the aeronautical field is not available in Hawai'i. The proposed BSAS program will provide Hawaiian students an alternative that’s closer to home. The local tourism industry generates tremendous income from flight activities and relies heavily on pilots that have received their training and education on the mainland. This program will provide Hawai'i with qualified aircrew for direct employment with tour operators, the airlines, and other aviation-related fields. For example, the local flight tourism industry is experiencing significant growth. In 2013, Mokulele Airlines purchased 5 new Cessna Caravan aircraft for inter-island passenger flights. The General Manager and Director of Operations for the company created a Second-in-Command training program in order to attract pilots and train them to satisfy the rapid growth of Mokulele Airlines.

Addressing Hawai'i’s Science and Technology Goals This program provides basic and applied STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) hands-on experiences essential for our graduates to be competitive in the global discovery and innovation enterprises. This aligns with UH System’s efforts to meet science and technology goals. The BSAS program will support research in agriculture, biology, geography,

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geology, and marine science. It will serve as a compliment to existing STEM-related research programs on campus and offer solid faculty-guided research experiences that can benefit student groups and the community. Finally, the state of Hawai'i was awarded an FAA unmanned aircraft system test site designation and, as such, has the opportunity to be at the forefront of research and development in the field of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (also known as drones) (University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014). This program will provide graduates with the background and capability to support this new technology.

Enhancing the State’s Economy and Community The aviation industry will face a global pilot shortage in the near future. A 2013 report from Boeing predicts the need for nearly 500,000 airline pilots by 2032. It has been estimated that over the next 20 years, passenger travel demand will grow annually at 5.0% and cargo demand will grow at 5.8% with emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific leading the way. In order to meet the demands, 19,000 pilots need to be trained annually. Currently, there are only 12,000 pilots being trained at all US flight schools and in aviation university programs, revealing a deficiency that the proposed BSAS program can ease (Bellitto, 2013). The FAA has increased the flying-hour requirements and the level of training for pilots flying with all major US airlines (FAA, 2013). These increased standards will no doubt increase the safety of US passenger operations but will make it more difficult for pilots to attain their Airline Transport Certificate (ATP), requiring more flight hours and advanced training. This further exacerbates the projected pilot shortage. In Hawai'i the legacy carrier Hawaiian Airlines has yet to feel the strain of the shortage. “go!,” a Mesa subsidiary and Hawaiian’s biggest competitor, has pulled out of Hawai'i due to an inability to put pilots in aircraft. This is good news for Hawaiian who will now enjoy an monopoly on flights from Honolulu to the Big Island and a larger market share on inter-island flights (Levine-Weinberg, 2014). Smaller island-hopper carriers who now have to meet the same requirements as the legacy carriers are struggling to fill pilot slots. The entry of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), also called Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), into the civilian aviation flight structure in 2015 will add to the increased demand for pilots. At this time FAA rules state that a public RPAS operator must pass the same ground school as a private pilot and maintain pilot medical certification. To obtain an airline pilot position (see Appendix A), the baseline standard at major airlines, including Hawaiian Airlines, is for applicants who have:

o A baccalaureate (4-year) degree o An airline transport certificate (ATP) o A form of primary training either from an accredited institution or the

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military (a declining source) o A significant number of flight hours (usually 1500)

Currently there is no program in the State of Hawai'i that can prepare a student for this high level of qualification. The BSAS program will help to address that need. Of all the states in the nation, Hawai'i is closest to Asia and is best poised to benefit from the Asia-Pacific market with a world class aviation program. The island of Hawai'i, in particular the Hilo airport, provides the perfect environment for a world-class international aviation training center for these reasons:

o Unique meteorological conditions o Underutilized land at Hilo International Airport o Low air traffic activity o Excellent air traffic control and radar facilities o Advanced Instrument landing system o Proximity of the campus to the airport o Available facilities on airport property o Proximity to Asia

Hilo offers a local culture that is compatible with many Asia-Pacific international students who will be attracted to the program. The faculty at the UH Hilo campus have tremendous expertise in geography and remote sensing that will be greatly enhanced by the addition of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). The new BSAS program will provide multiple opportunities for research in precision agriculture, forest management, invasive species, and volcanology.

Realizing the UH Hilo Strategic Plan The BSAS program addresses all six goals highlighted in the UH Hilo Strategic Plan with the most significant impact on the following.

Goal 1: Provide learning experiences and support to prepare student scholars to thrive, compete, innovate and lead in their professional and personal lives.

o This program will utilize advanced training techniques, maximize the use of flight simulation and technically advanced aircraft to best prepare the students for immediate employment in their chosen field.

Goal 4: Cultivate, sustain and reflect a diverse, multicultural university that is rooted in the indigenous history of Hawai'i.

o Because of its already established relationship with Asian countries, an aviation program at UH Hilo is also expected to attract numerous students from Asia.

o This program will attract numerous veterans who have

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educational benefits and want to learn to fly airplanes and helicopters.

Goal 5: Strengthen UH Hilo’s impact on the community, island and state of Hawai'i through responsive higher education, community partnerships and knowledge, and technology transfer.

o This program will attract approximately 110 students to Hilo once at full strength by August 2017, contributing $2.5 million in direct revenues to the community.

Areas of BSAS Degree Concentration Within the proposed BSAS degree program, four areas of concentration are particularly relevant to Hawai'i Island and neighbor islands.

1. Fixed Wing Professional Pilot 2. Fixed Wing Flight Education Pilot 3. Helicopter Flight Operations 4. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems

Accreditation Accreditation ensures that programs achieve and maintain a professional level of performance, integrity, and quality. The UH Hilo BSAS program will seek accreditation from the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI), which is a specialized accrediting organization comprised of representatives from all segments of the aviation field.

Desired Graduate Attributes and Student Learning Objectives Through their studies, the BSAS students will acquire strong:

o Analytical thinking skills: Students learn how to gather information, identify issues, and organize findings to develop solutions

o Technical knowledge: Students focus on specific technical details with regard to the chosen education track

o Flying skills in one of the following areas: Fixed wing flight systems: Students learn about aerodynamics

specific to fixed wing aircraft, flight characteristics, and applications in both the Professional and Education tracks

Helicopter flight systems: Students learn about aerodynamics specific to helicopters, flight characteristics, and applications

Remotely piloted aircraft systems: Students learn about aerodynamics specific to unmanned aircraft, flight characteristics, and applications

Upon successful completion of the UH Hilo BSAS degree program, students will demonstrate the ability to:

o Take appropriate actions based on the knowledge gained o Correctly use their skills and techniques in technologically advanced

systems

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o Function and contribute in a team environment o Correctly apply their preparation in decision-making and judgment

skills o Continue ground and flight training experiences o Communicate in both technical writing and verbal skills o Understand professional and ethical responsibilities o Analyze and interpret data o Understand the environment and maintain situational awareness o Satisfy the FAA requirements for practical knowledge and flight

performance

II. Are the Program Objectives Appropriate to the Functions of

the College and University?

A. Relationship to University, Campus, and College Mission and Development Plans

Supports the State of Hawai'i, UH, and the UH Hilo Mission The proposed Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science (BSAS) degree program will be the first on Hawai'i Island and will complement existing degrees offered at UH Hilo. Local students with an interest in aviation can remain on Hawai'i Island, which for many may be their only affordable option. Currently, many students who might otherwise pursue a degree in aviation must opt for a different major because they cannot afford to move off-island. This proposed program supports the State Legislature’s intent, including the University of Hawai'i System’s values of access, affordability, and excellence. The Hilo campus’ mission of improving the quality of life of the people of Hawai'i, the Pacific region and the world will also be addressed.

Supports the UH Hilo Vision Pilots must be societally aware, professional in their work and decision-making, and technically competent. The BSAS degree program strengthens UH Hilo’s impact on the community, the Island, and state of Hawai'i through responsive higher education, community partnerships, knowledge, and technology transfer, as it works across and within disciplines and diverse perspectives to prepare students to succeed. UH Hilo aviation students will be engaged in applied learning that links theory with practice, connects with the distinctive natural and cultural environments of Hawai'i, and promotes skilled participation in a global society.

Enhances Higher STEM Education The program will assist the community by attracting students to higher education opportunities which complement the robust local K-12 and community college STEM initiatives, especially on Hawai'i Island. The BSAS degree program provides continuing education by bridging the gap and allowing a more seamless and

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integrated STEM educational experiences for all students from preschool through collegiate education.

Provides Other Program Benefits Research enhances learning and innovation. The proposed aviation program will create research and educational opportunities beyond current capabilities. World-class faculty, through externally funded research, will also bring additional prestige and revenue to the UH System. By leveraging the resources of UH Hilo and its partners in Hawai'i and elsewhere, faculty members and participating students will contribute to the growth of the technological workforce and technology-based industry on Hawai'i Island through student graduation and technology transfer. This program will enhance the growth of the overall campus capacity and its impact on the community.

B. Evidence of Continuing Need of the Program

Pilot Shortage The aviation industry is at the incipient stage of a crisis caused by a shortage of qualified pilots (Lowy, 2012). According to a report published by Boeing, airlines will take delivery of tens of thousands of new commercial jetliners over the next 20 years and the demand for personnel to fly those airplanes will be unprecedented (Boeing, 2014). The supply of pilots is dwindling for the following reasons:

o Air travel is growing rapidly o Airlines are ordering new aircraft o Fewer military pilots are moving into commercial aviation (Svan,

2011) o More pilots are retiring o Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is introducing new rules

(Technology, 2015) o Pilot training globally has not significantly improved over the past 60

years o High training costs

Meeting this mounting demand will require innovative solutions focused on new digital technology to match the learning requirements of a new generation. The growing diversity of aviation personnel will require instructors to have cross-cultural and cross-generational skills. Training providers will focus more strongly on enabling airplane operators to gain optimum advantage from the advanced features of the latest generation of airplanes, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350. The proposed UH Hilo BSAS degree program will contribute qualified graduates to partially satisfy the aviation industry’s growing needs.

Flying Opportunities in Hawai'i There are numerous flying opportunities for pilots in Hawai'i. Local airlines, cargo

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operators, and the legacy carrier, Hawaiian Airlines, are expanding rapidly. Helicopter tour operators are also employing numerous pilots and are expected to require more pilots as tourism, especially from China, expands.

Student Workforce Eligibility BSAS program graduates will be eligible for jobs in the aviation industry. Students who choose the Fixed Wing Flight Education Track will be eligible for flight instructor jobs at graduation. Flight instructor positions open often as existing instructors gain experience and move on to other employment (Blair & Freye, 2012). The FAA requires a minimum of 1500 hours flight experience for employment as an airline pilot. Flight instructors typically work for 1 to 2 years before they have built enough experience to be eligible for employment at an airline. It’s common for new pilots to work at a small commuter or regional airline to build experience before applying to a major airline. The Helicopter Flight Operations Track is similar. Students will finish the program, gain employment as a flight instructor to build experience, and finally move on to employment in the helicopter industry. The Fixed Wing Professional Pilot Track is designed for international students who will return to their home countries. Many Pacific region aviation professions do not possess the same high-experience requirements as the US. Therefore their new pilots are employable right out of flight school (Stock, Putnam, & Escamilla, 2013). Students who have completed the RPAS Track will have access to a plethora of STEM-oriented jobs. Online media giants Amazon, Facebook, and Google have all invested into RPAS technology and are offering high-paying employment for those with the right skills (Rooney, 2014). Opportunities in-state will include agriculture, archeology, disaster management, journalism, real estate, research, and tourism. As this field grows and develops, dreamers will think of new ways to use this technology that we haven’t yet considered. A forecast by the Teal Group places worldwide UAS spending at $89.5 billion from 2014 to 2023 (FAA, 2014).

Hawaiian Airlines The State of Hawai'i’s largest airline, Hawaiian Airlines, has experienced growth over the last three years as the economy recovers and tourism demand increases. (Chiem, 2012) Since November 2010, when Hawaiian began flying to Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, it has added nine additional international routes with service to Auckland, New Zealand; Sendai, Japan; New York City, and most recently Taipei, Taiwan in 2013. Hawaiian introduced a new service to Beijing, China starting in April 2014. With this increase in equipment and new route structures, Hawaiian has doubled its pilot group from 350 pilots in 2008 to 625 pilots in 2014.

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With Hawaiian scheduled to take delivery of an additional 11 Airbus A330-200 in the next two years, as well as the addition of 12 next-generation Airbus A350 XWB-800 and the state-of-the-art Airbus A320 NEO in 2017, Hawaiian is expected to increase its number of pilots to 1,000 pilots by 2020 (Pilot, 2013).

Table 1. Aircraft

Aircraft Currently 2017

Airbus A330 16 27

Airbus A350 12 12

Airbus A320 0 16

Boeing B767 15 15

Boeing B717 18 18

Total 61 88

Retirements will also play a key factor in new hiring at Hawaiian Airlines (FAA, 2013). The pilot group will see 105 retirements between 2014 and 2020 and 186 retirements between 2020 and 2030, losing a total of 291 or almost 50% of its current pilot force. With projected retirements, new aircraft, and new future routes into Asia, Europe, and beyond, Hawaiian will need to hire 700 new pilots in the next 16 years.

Creating Local Educational STEM Pathways UH Hilo’s proposed BSAS degree offers graduating K-12 students a needed educational pathway to receive application-oriented STEM education within a focused educational and experiential program. UH Hilo’s proposed BSAS degree program bridges a current resource gap that will soon enable young local students, after graduating from high school, to continue their education and obtain a relevant, application-oriented BSAS degree to successfully support future aviation needs.

Community and Industry Support The proposed program has wide and far-reaching community and industry support as exemplified by the letters contained in Appendix D.

C. Projections of Career Opportunities for Graduates

Future Jobs Projected Airlines across the globe are expanding their fleets and flight schedules to meet surging aviation demand in emerging markets. The industry continues to consider how to address challenges and fill the future pilot pipeline. Roughly 90,000 commercial pilots work for U.S. carriers. An estimated 8,000 pilots per year will need to be hired to address retirements, industry growth, and new rules related to rest (Jones, 2013). Finding qualified pilots is a global challenge. A 2012 report from Boeing estimated a need for 460,000 new commercial pilots over the next two decades. The report

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found "a pilot shortage has already arisen in many regions of the world," particularly in Asia, where the gap was causing delays and other flight interruptions. The largest projected growth in pilot demand is in the Asia Pacific region, with a requirement for 192,300 new pilots over the next 20 years (Bellitto, 2013). China will generate the largest share of the region's demand, with a need for 77,400 pilots. Europe will require 99,700 pilots, North America 85,700, Latin America 48,600, the Middle East 40,000, Africa 16,500, and the Commonwealth of Independent States 15,200.

III. How Is the Program Organized to Meet Its Objectives? The proposed BSAS degree will be offered within the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM).

A. Curriculum Organization and Requirements

1. Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science (BSAS) The Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science (BSAS) requires:

o A combination of college-level mathematics and basic sciences appropriate to the discipline

o Aeronautical Science topics appropriate to the students field of study o A general education component to complement the technical content

of the curriculum that is consistent with the program and institution objectives

The entire program will be 123 credit hours, except for the Fixed Wing Flight Education Pilot Track, which will be 126 credit hours.

2. University General Education Requirements To receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science students must adhere to the following:

o Complete the course work for one of the aviation tracks, which also satisfies all UH Hilo requirements;

o Complete a minimum of 123 credit hours; o Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all registered credit hours; and o Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all upper division courses

(numbered 300-499) in aviation. The General Education (GE) requirements at UH Hilo for a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science (BSAS) are shown in Table 3 below.

Table 2. General Education (GE) Requirements at UH Hilo

GF English Composition ENG 100 Expository Writing 3

GL Language Arts Elective 3

GQ Quantitative Reasoning

MATH MATH

104F 104G

Functions Trig & Geometry

3 3

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Table 2. General Education (GE) Requirements at UH Hilo

GW World Cultures GEOG 102 World Regional Geography

Elective 3 3

GH Humanities Elective 6

GS Social Sciences GEOG ECON

102 130/1

World Regional Geography Intro to Economics

3 3

GN Natural Sciences1 CHEM CHEM

CS

114 114L 150

Intro Chemistry Intro Chemistry Lab Intro to Computer Science I

3 1 3

WI Writing Intensive

AG AVIT AS

200 305 387

Agro-Environmental Science Com Professional Aviation (proposed) Crew Resource Management

3 3 3

HPP Hawai'i Pan Pacific Elective 3

GCC Global Community Citizenship Elective 3

3. Aviation Program Requirements The scope and sequence of the BSAS curriculum is displayed in the table below.

Table 3. Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science

Degree Program Scope and Sequence

TRACK F

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Win

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Pro

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First semester FWPP FWEP RPAS HFO

GQ MATH 104F Functions 3 3 3 3

AVIT 201 Meteorology 3 3 3 3

AVIT 102 Private Pilot Operations I 3 3 3

AVIT 102L Private Pilot Simulation 1 1 1

AVIT 102F Private Pilot Flight I 4 4 4

AVIT 140 Tropical Survival Skills (Lab) 1 1 1 1

AVIT 131 Private Pilot Helicopter Ground I 3

AVIT 131L Private Pilot Helicopter Simulation 1

AVIT 131F Private Pilot Helicopter Flight I 4

TOTAL 15 15 15 15

Second Semester FWPP FWEP RPAS HFO

GQ MATH 104G Trig & Geometry 3 3 3 3

GF ENG 100 Expository Writing 3 3 3 3

1 The UH Hilo general education requirements include two courses in the Natural Sciences with different prefixes only.

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Table 3. Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science Degree Program Scope and Sequence

TRACK

Fix

ed

Win

g

Pro

fessio

nal P

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t

Fix

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Win

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lig

ht

Ed

ucati

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Pilo

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Rem

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cra

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Helico

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F

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GN CS 150 Intro To Computer Science I 3 3 3 3

AVIT 103 Private Pilot Operations II 3 3 3

AVIT 103F Private Pilot Flight II 4 4 4

AVIT 132 Private Pilot Helicopter Ground II 3

AVIT 132F Private Pilot Helicopter Flight II 3

TOTAL 16 16 16 15

Third Semester FWPP FWEP RPAS HFO

PHYS 106 College Physics I 3 3 3 3

PHYS 170L General Physics I Lab 1 1 1 1

GW Any approved World Cultures class 3 3

GS Any approved Social Sciences class 3 3

AVIT 222 Instrument Pilot Operations 4 4 4

AVIT 222L Instrument Pilot Simulation 1 1 1

AVIT 222F Instrument Pilot Flight 4 4 4

AVIT 231 Instrument Pilot Helicopter Ground 4

AVIT 231L Instrument Pilot Helicopter Simulation 1

AVIT 231F Instrument Pilot Helicopter Flight 4

TOTAL 16 16 16 16

Fourth Semester FWPP FWEP RPAS HFO

GN CHEM 114 Intro Chemistry 3 3 3 3

GN CHEM 114L Intro Chemistry Lab 1 1 1 1

AVIT 152 Intro to RPAS 3

AVIT 303 Aviation Weather 3 3 3 3

AVIT 323 Commercial Pilot Operations I 2 2

AVIT 323F Commercial Pilot Flight I 4 4

GL Language Arts (Any) 3 3 3 3

AVIT 331 Commercial Pilot Helicopter Ground I 2

AVIT 331F Commercial Pilot Helicopter Flight I 3

TOTAL 16 16 13 15

Fifth Semester FWPP FWEP RPAS HFO

GH Any approved Humanities class 3 3 3 3

GS Any approved Social Science class 3 3

WI AG 200 Agro-Environmental Science Com (or approved WI class )

3 3 3 3

Elective 200-300 Level 3 1

CS 151

Intro to Computer Science II (or Elective 200 – 300 level)

3

AVIT 326 Commercial Pilot Operations II 2 2

AVIT 326F Commercial Pilot Flight II 4 4

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Table 3. Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science Degree Program Scope and Sequence

TRACK

Fix

ed

Win

g

Pro

fessio

nal P

ilo

t

Fix

ed

Win

g F

lig

ht

Ed

ucati

on

Pilo

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Rem

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Air

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Helico

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GW GEOG 102 World Regional Geography 3

GEOG 201 Interpretation of Geographic Data 3

AVIT 332 Commercial Pilot Helicopter Ground II 2

AVIT 332F Commercial Pilot Helicopter Flight II 3

TOTAL 15 15 15 15

Sixth Semester FWPP FWEP RPAS HFO

GH Any approved Humanities class 3 3 3

GS ECON 130 131

Intro to Microeconomics or Macroeconomics2 3 3 3 3

GW GEOG 102 World Regional Geography 3 3 3

WI AVIT 305 Professional Aviation 3 3 3 3

AVIT 309 Aerodynamics and Performance 3 3 3 3

AVIT 327F Commercial Multi Add-on 2 2

AVIT 252 RPAS Robotics 3

AVIT 301 Helicopter Operations 3

AVIT 302 Helicopter Preventive Maintenance 1

TOTAL 17 17 15 16

Seventh Semester FWPP FWEP RPAS HFO

GW Any approved World Cultures class 3 3

GCC Global and Community Citizenship (Any) 3 3 3 3

AVIT 324 Aircraft Systems and Components 3 3 3 3

AVIT 311 Aircraft Engines 2 2 2 2

AVIT 350 Domestic and International Navigation 3 3

AVIT 422 Flight Instructor 3

AVIT 422F Flight Instructor Rating 2

AVIT 352 RPAS Mission Planning and Simulation 3

GEOG 470 Remote Sensing/ Air Photo 3

AVIT 431 Helicopter Flight Instructor Ground 3

AVIT 431F Helicopter Flight Instructor Flight 3

TOTAL 14 16 17 14

Eight Semester FWPP FWEP RPAS HFO

HPP Any approved HPP class 3 3 3 3

WI Any approved lower division WI class (GE HUM for Track 4)

3 3

AVIT 357 Flight Physiology 2 2 2

WI AVIT 387 Crew Resource Management 3 3

AVIT 408 Flight Safety 3 3 3 3

2 Macroeconomics may be taken instead of Microeconomics if the prerequisite is met.

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Table 3. Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science Degree Program Scope and Sequence

TRACK

Fix

ed

Win

g

Pro

fessio

nal P

ilo

t

Fix

ed

Win

g F

lig

ht

Ed

ucati

on

Pilo

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Rem

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ilo

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Air

cra

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Helico

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F

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AVIT 420

Airline Operations and Flight Crew Techniques

3

AVIT 424 Flight Instructor- Instruments 2

AVIT 424F Flight Instructor- Instruments Rating 2

GEOG 480 Geog Info Sys & Visualization 3

AVIT 452 RPAS Flight 4

AVIT 432 Helicopter Flight Instructor Ground – Instruments

3

AVIT 432F Helicopter Flight Instructor Flight – Instruments

3

TOTAL 14 15 16 17

TOTAL 123 126 123 123

Care was taken to make this program as close to the 120 credit goal as possible with consideration for the UH Hilo General Education and US FAA requirements.

Special Note: A key to the general education and integrative requirements is shown in Table 5 below.

Table 4. Key to General Education & Integrative Requirements

Code Requirement Credits

GF English Composition 3

GL Language Arts 3

GQ Quantitative Reasoning 6

GW World Cultures 6

GH Humanities Electives 6

GS Social Sciences Electives 6

GN Natural Sciences Electives 7

WI Writing Intensive Requirement 33

HPP Hawai'i Pan Pacific Requirement 3

B. Admission Policies Specific for the Proposed UH Hilo BSAS Degree BSAS students will meet all general requirements for admission to UH Hilo, as described in the UH Hilo University Catalog.

3 This value represents three courses, rather than three credits. Courses may have variable credits.

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Further, all pilots must maintain an FAA specified level of medical readiness to exercise privileges granted by a pilot certificate. Prior to enrolling in the UHH Aeronautical Science Baccalaureate program, students must meet eligibility requirements. Students will visit an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) licensed to perform a Medical Certification Exam. This exam ensures that a student possesses the medical capability to exercise the privileges granted by a pilot certificate.

Students must have:

Current First-Class medical certificate, (or)

Current Second-Class medical certificate

At the time of examination by the AME students will request a Student Pilot Certificate. This document is shown on the reverse-side of the medical certificate. In accordance with the Aviation and Transportation Security ACT (ATSA) students must show proof of U.S. citizenship. The ATSA will provide clearance for international and permanent resident students. In addition to a government-issued photo identification card, students must have one of the below:

An original U.S. naturalization certificate with raised seal, Form N-550 or

Form N-570

An original certification of birth abroad, Form FS-545, or Form DS-1350

An original certificate of U.S. citizenship, Form N-560, or Form N-561

An original birth certificate with raised seal documenting birth in the United

States or one of its territories

A current U.S. passport (unexpired)

Special Note Concerning RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) Track: At this time, enrolling in the RPAS track is limited to U.S. citizens only. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) enacted by the United States State Department prohibits participation in the RPAS track for non-U.S. citizens4. Until ITAR is amended, students must be U.S citizens to enroll in RPAS-specific courses.

C. Advising and Counseling Advising and counseling will take place within the College of Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM) University of Hawai'i at Hilo 200 W. Kawili Street

4 More information about this enrollment limitation may be found at the following URL: https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/regulations_laws/itar.html.

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Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 All students in the BSAS degree program must receive approval of courses from their CAFNRM advisor prior to registration each semester. Updated curriculum check sheets summarizing all of the requirements for the BSAS program curriculum will be available on CAFNRM’s website. An orientation session for new students will be held by CAFNRM each semester before classes begin. Incoming students will receive approval of their program courses at that time. In addition, incoming students with waived course work (e.g., advanced placement examination) must still fulfill credit-hour requirements and should contact CAFNRM advisors for more information.

IV. Who Will Enroll in the Program? A number of current UH Hilo students and local high school students have heard of and expressed interest in the plan to offer a BSAS program at UH Hilo. News of this degree has been circulating since initial program planning approval and funding, generating excitement and multiple inquiries to UH Hilo. The majority of students applying for this BSAS degree are expected to come from high schools throughout Hawai'i. Hawai'i’s location in the Pacific Rim makes it an ideal venue for International students to learn to fly. There are very few countries with general aviation in Asia and even fewer with the infrastructure to train pilots in large numbers. With Hawaiian Airlines flying to Japan and opening routes to China, the Hilo airport is even more attractive to international students. The BSAS program targets an enormous Asian flight student market. International students pay out-of-state tuition and add their diversity to an already culturally diverse UH. As the Iraq war was winding down and thousands of soldiers were coming home, numerous universities saw an influx of veterans who chose to take advantage of their VA benefits. With the war in Afghanistan now winding down, more veterans will take advantage of their benefits (VA, 2015). There are currently 156 veterans enrolled at UH Hilo. Veterans are attracted to aviation, particularly flight training. Throughout their careers most military personnel often come into contact with aviation. Aside from a rare few, enlisted personnel do not get pilot slots. Instead they perform the duties of maintainers, loadmasters, schedulers, aerial gunners, and so on. After experiencing such a close relationship with aviation many veterans end their service with the desire to fly. In addition to this connection, military-trained individuals are an excellent match to aviation fields. Discipline, structure, attention to detail, and a focus on safety are

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heavily emphasized topics in the military. At Guidance Aviation in Arizona more than half of their 120 helicopter students are veterans (Clifford, 2013). Advertising the new BSAS program hasn’t been formally initiated at this time. Upon receiving a Provisional designation the BSAS administration will begin reaching out. Communications will begin with high school counselors to provide them program information and a point-of-contact for inquiries. A social media campaign will begin at the same time in order to generate interest and to provide outreach to out-of-state and interantional students.

Table 5. Estimated Student Costs (2.5 Years)

Fixed Wing

FY15/16 FY16/17 FY17/18 Tuition Flight Total Resident $10,872 $11,988 $8,880 $31,740 $153,152 $184,892

Non-Resident $29,340 $31,032 $22,032 $82,404 $153,152 $235,556

Rotary Wing Resident $10,872 $11,988 $8,880 $31,740 $153,279 $185,019

Non-Resident $29,340 $31,032 $33,048 $93,420 $153,279 $246,699

RPAS Resident $10,872 $11,988 $8,880 $31,740 $55,996 $87,736

Non-Resident $29,340 $31,032 $33,048 $93,420 $55,996 $149,416

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Table 6. Enrollment and Attrition (2.5 Years)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

FA 15

SP 16

SU 16

FA 16

SP 17

SU 17

FA 17

SP 18

SU 18

FA 18

SP 19

SU 19

FA 19

SP 20

SU 20

FA 20

SP 21

SU 21

45 43 41 39 37 35 33 31

45 43 41 39 37 35 33 31

45 43 41 39 37 35 33 31

45 43 41 39 37 35 33 31

45 43 41 39 37 35

45 43 41

45 43 41 84 79 75 117 111 75 117 111 75 117 111 75 117 111 75

AY14/15 AY15/16 AY16/17 AY17/18 AY18/19 AY19/20

43 79 111 111 111 111

Assumptions

1. On average 5% drop out every semester

2. 75% will take the Flight Education Track

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V. Estimated Resources Required for Program Implementation

and First Cycle Operation Based on previous legislative and University support, the BSAS degree program at UH Hilo continues to build on earlier investments to make this degree a reality. The first member of the teaching staff to be hired will be an Instructor. S/he will likely join UHH in August 2015. More instructors will be hired while the BSAS program is provisional. Tenure track faculty hires will increase thereafter to meet the curriculum planning and program demands once the program has become established.

A. Existing Physical Resources of CAFNRM and Partnership with Other Departments

All the general education and BSAS program courses can be accomodated within existing classrooms.

B. Facility Requirements for Proposed New Courses Facility requirements include classrooms, laboratories, community engineering worksites, and offices.

Classroom space will be provided for up to 120 students once the program has reached steady-state in FY17/18. Existing classroom space is available on the UH Hilo campus and is sufficient to house the first 45 student cohort.

A flight simulation lab will be required on campus with 25 computer stations at an approximate cost of $50,000 for FY2015/16. The Computer Science department has existing computer labs which may be retrofitted to accommodate the simulations equipment. Lab equipment may be maintained by computer science personnel, but simulations courses will require guidance by an Aeronautical Science Instructor.

Aircraft and hangar space at the flight line will be provided in consultation with the flight provider. UH Hilo will provide the airport space and facilities for flight instruction to take place. Leased property will be used in the provisional stage.

Depending on initial program enrollment, office space for two to three new faculty members and one administrative assistant will be provided on campus. Existing office space is available on the UH Hilo campus and is sufficient to house the first faculty and staff additions.

C. Faculty It is estimated that at full implementation, the program will require eight new faculty members hired according the table displayed below.

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Table 7. Faculty Hires

2015

Spring 1. Ground Schools and Advising (FW)

Summer 2. Meteorology 3. Ground Schools and Advising (RW)

Fall

2016

Spring 4. Ground Schools (FW)

Summer 5. Ground Schools (RW)

Fall 6. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems

2017 Spring 7. Systems (FW)

Summer 8. Airline Operations (FW)

D. Equipment and Supplies The costs are estimated at $50,000 yearly for equipment.

E. Library Support The program partly draws on existing courses, but new books, archived databases and case files will need to be purchased by the library. Additional support for expanding collections at the library would require approximately $10,000 per year. This number could increase to $15,000 per year when the program is fully implemented.

F. Lab Support Staff and Administrative Staff Starting in January 2015, the BSAS program will require a full-time administrative staff member responsible for:

o performing liaison duties with the FAA o consulting with airport environment managers o supporting public relations o supporting students

VI. How Efficient Will the Program Be? The Academic Cost and Revenue Template for the BSAS program is displayed on the following page. An explanation of calculations for the template is provided immediately after. As can be seen in the Academic Cost and Revenue Template the BSAS program will be running efficiently from the start. Revenue is projected to be $264,589 during the first academic year and $296,151 during the 4th.

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A. Projected Costs for Equipment and Supplies

1) Faculty:

It is estimated that at full implementation the program will require eight new faculty members.The contracted flight provider will provide the flight instructors required for flight instruction.

Aeronautical Science faculty is budgeted at $75,000 on average per year per person plus fringe benefits of 45%. Pay increases are planned to be 4% per year.

Additional support of lecturers for prerequisite and GE classes is required. Lecturers are budgeted at $5,000 per course.

New tuition income from flight program students will go into the general fund allowing new flight program faculty to be p aid from that fund.

2) Library Resources:

The program draws in partly on existing courses, but new books, databases and case files will need to be purchased by the library. Additional support on expanding collections at the library would require approximately $10,000/year and this number will increase to $15,000/year when the program is in full implementation.

3) Physical Resources:

Equipment and Supplies: The costs are a function of the chosen flight services provider and are estimated at $50,000.

o $50K was the number provided in consultation with a simulations company for development of appropriate flight simulation equipment. For example: computers with the power necessary to run flight simulations can cost around $2000 each.

A flight simulation lab will be required on campus with 25 computer stations at an approximate cost of $50,000 for FY2015/16.

4) Other Resources Required:

Starting in August 2015 the BSAS program will require a full time administrative staff responsible for:

o liaison with the FAA, o consultation with airport environment managers, o supporting public relations, and student support.

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VII. How Will the Effectiveness of the Program Be Demonstrated?

The BSAS degree program will be evaluated using the assessments created by the CAFNRM, with appropriate modifications. The CAFNRM program currently has the following assessments:

Course Assessments Every semester, the CAFNRM administers a student survey of all courses to determine the effectiveness of each course and its instructor. CAFNRM also administers a student survey to determine the effectiveness of the course in achieving educational program outcomes and collects samples of student work.

Program Assessment Several performance indicators will provide a measure of Program effectiveness. Elements which comprise the assessment include: 1) Certification rate. Are students in the program acquiring their FAA-granted certificates within an acceptable amount of time? 2) Program completion rate. What percentage of students who enrolled completed the program? 3) Hiring rate. How many students who completed the program achieved related employment post-graduation? The BSAS program will also seek external program assessment through accreditation. See below.

Student Advisory Board The CAFNRM has a Student Advisory Board made up of undergraduate volunteer representatives. Every year they compose a student survey that is administered to all students in the College. They provide a written report of the results of the survey.

Community Advisory Board The College will set up a Community Aviation Advisory Board made up of representatives from local businesses and organizations. The Board will meet once per year unless additional meetings are necessary.

Alumni Surveys The College will administer an alumni survey to assess if BSAS degree graduates have achieved their educational objectives. In addition, the survey will determine if students embody the desired graduate attributes (societal awareness, professional skills, engineering competence) and are working in a STEM-related field. The survey will be conducted every two to

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five years.

Accreditation UH Hilo’s new Department of Aeronautical Science will apply for accreditation of the Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science degree program through AABI, the national accreditation organization for aviation programs, after the first cohort of students graduate.

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VIII. Appendices

A. Appendix A: Table of Projected Salaries For pilots to qualify for airline transport positions they must obtain an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. This requires 1500 accrued hours of flight time and passing a written exam. Students who complete the UH Hilo program will have accrued about 300 hours. New pilots are eligible for commercial pilot jobs, but they must work and build their experience to become eligible to fly for an airline. Working as a flight instructor is typically the fastest way to build experience, but there are plenty of low-hour options for new pilots. Some options include: banner-towing, glider-towing, flying skydivers, flying aerial photographers, aircraft ferry, cargo, and charter service. Here is a sample of starting salaries for graduates based on the 2013 Pilot Compensation Salary Study 2013 (Professional Pilot, 2013).

Table 8. Projected Starting Pilot Salaries for BSAS Graduates

Category Type Job Aircraft Average

Corporate

Jet First Officer Citation X $77,000

Turboprop Captain King Air 200 $68,000

Helicopter Captain Bell 212 $75,000

Charter

Jet First Officer Challenger 600 $71,000

Turboprop First Officer King Air 200 $39,000

Helicopter First Officer Eurocopter AS365 $55,000

Regional Jet First Officer CRJ 200 $41,000

Turboprop First Officer Beech 1900 $31,000

Once they get more experience, our graduates will eventually be hired by the major US airlines:

Table 9. Major US Airline Pilot Salaries

Airline Year 1 Year 5 Year 10 Maximum

Alaska $45,847 $100,345 $167,052 $173,173

American $33,600 $95,040 $170,880 $204,480

FedEx $58,725 $123,041 $198,224 $242,893

United $58,483 $130,641 $171,360 $225,389

USAirways $39,571 $83,136 $90,950 $153,178

Average $46,963 $108,169 $166,784 $198,625

Internationally, pilots earn these average salaries:

Table 10. International Pilot Salaries

Category Type Position Salary

Corporate Heavy Jet Captain $127,000

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Table 10. International Pilot Salaries

Category Type Position Salary

Entry Level Jet Captain $82,000

Turboprop Captain $73,000

Helicopter Captain $78,000

Charter

Heavy Jet Captain $120,000

Entry Level Jet Captain $78,000

Turboprop Captain $68,000

Helicopter Captain $70,000

Regional

Jet Captain $75,000

First Officer $47,000

Turboprop Captain $66,000

First Officer $45,000

Helicopter pilots with more experience can expect salaries from this table:

Table 11. Helicopter Pilot Salaries

Employment Type Average

Police Bell 212 $84,000

Emergency Medical Services Bell 429 $76,000

Offshore Bell 212 $84,000

Logging Bell 212 $73,000

News Bell 206 $67,000

B. Appendix B: Four Year Option

Table 12. Estimated Student Costs (4 Years)

Fixed Wing

FY15/16 FY16/17 FY17/18 FY18/19 Tuition Flight Total Resident $7,722 $8,294 $8,294 $8,294 $24,310 $153,152 $177,462

Non-Resident $23,403 $24,360 $24,360 $24,360 $72,123 $153,152 $225,275

Rotary Wing Resident $7,722 $8,294 $8,294 $8,294 $24,310 $153,279 $177,589

Non-Resident $23,403 $24,360 $24,360 $24,360 $72,123 $153,279 $225,402 RPAS

Resident $7,722 $8,294 $8,294 $8,294 $24,310 $55,996 $80,306 Non-Resident $23,403 $24,360 $24,360 $24,360 $72,123 $55,996 $128,119

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Table 13. Enrollment and Attrition (4 Years)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

FA 15

SP 16

SU 16

FA 16

SP 17

SU 17

FA 17

SP 18

SU 18

FA 18

SP 19

SU 19

FA 19

SP 20

SU 20

FA 20

SP 21

SU 21

45 43 41 39 37 35 33 31

45 43 41 39 37 35 33 31

45 43 41 39 37 35 33 31

45 43 41 39 37 35

45 43 41 39

45 43

45 43 86 84 123 117 156 148 156 148 156 148

AY15/16 AY16/17 AY17/18 AY18/19 AY19/20 AY20/21

44 85 120 152 152 152

Assumptions

1. On average 5% drop out every semester

2. 75% will take the Flight Education Track

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