Avionics News October 2013 - 83

University of North Dakota
Effective immediately, graduates from the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences (UND Aerospace) will be able
to be hired by the nation’s airlines with less flight time than required by a new
Federal Aviation Administration rule. The school is the first in the nation to receive
this special authorization as part of a process outlined in a new FAA rule.
“The approval by the FAA for our graduates to be eligible for an ATP at 1,000
hours, instead of 1,500, is a clear statement about the quality of our commercial
aviation program,” said BRUCE SMITH, dean of the John D. Odegard School of
Aerospace Sciences. “To be the first designated is a reflection on the long-term
reputation of our graduates in the airline industry.”
There have been several recent changes to the laws regulating the amount of
experience and level of certification required of the nation’s airline pilots.
In response to the Colgan Airlines accident in 2009, Congress passed a law,
which stipulated that all airline pilots must have an advanced pilot license known
as an Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Since that time, the FAA has been busy
adopting new rules and regulations describing exactly how this certificate can be
obtained.
In July, the FAA adopted a final rule that allows universities to apply for a
flight time reduction for graduates of their programs, as long as those graduates
completed rigorous academic training. This training must be approved on a caseby-case basis, and only graduates who have completed specified courses are
eligible to be hired with reduced flight time.
“In determining the final rule, the FAA utilized numerous research studies as
well as public comments to establish a process in which to authorize academic
coursework,” said BETH BJERKE, associate chair of aviation at UND Aerospace
and a researcher whose published work was used by the FAA in arriving at its
final rule.
Bjerke, who with several colleagues in aviation education analyzed pilot
background and training records at more than one dozen regional airlines, found
that four-year accredited academic aviation programs, such as UND’s, produced
pilots that have demonstrated superior performance long term. This research
helped establish the quality-over-quantity argument in the debate over required
flight hours.
“Congress intended the law, and the FAA sees this new rule, as an important
way to increase safety, while also recognizing the value of a four-year aviation
degree,” Bjerke said. “We are delighted the FAA has recognized our program as
providing a level of training that meets the highest standards.”
For more information, contact the University of North Dakota at 701-777-7843
or visit www.aero.und.edu. q

Vector Aerospace
VECTOR AEROSPACE SERVICES
INC., a global independent provider
of aviation maintenance, repair
and overhaul, has recently been
recertified as a Sikorsky authorized
S-76 and S-61 overhaul and repair
center, and as a Sikorsky authorized
customer support center for the
Sikorsky S-76 helicopter.
According to the company, with
the recertification, Vector Aerospace
will continue to provide operators of
Sikorsky helicopters with scheduled
maintenance for the S-76 aircraft
and repair, major overhaul and
testing of certain components of the
S-76 and S-61 aircraft. Recognized
as a leading provider of aviation
MRO services, Vector and its
predecessors
have
extensive
experience with Sikorsky Aircraft
and its products spanning more
than 50 years.
“HSNA has made significant
investments over the years to our
test facilities, inventory, tooling and
training to provide superior levels
of service for Sikorsky aircraft,”
said PAUL COCKELL, president of
Helicopter Services North America.
“It is a pleasure to continue this wellestablished working relationship
with Sikorsky. We look forward
to many more years overhauling,
maintaining and repairing S-76 and
S-61 aircraft.”
For more information, contact
Vector Aerospace at 604-514-7359
or visit www.vectoraerospace.com. q

avionics news

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october

2013

http://www.vectoraerospace.com http://www.aero.und.edu

Avionics News October 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News October 2013