Funding -- Not Lack Of Interest -- Is The Problem

As if learning how to fly, manage airlines and even run airports wasn't enough, students in Georgia State University's aviation program have another daunting task on their syllabi: keeping the 30-year-old program alive.

The program, which has about 180 students enrolled in it this year, teaches students a variety of aviation-related subjects -- including safety management, airline marketing and aviation law.

Students in the program also receive credit if they take flying lessons from independent instructors, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"When I took it over eight years ago, it was down to five students," said former program director, Rick Charles, who left last year to head up Utah State's av school.  "There's a very strong market in the state of Georgia for that type of program, [and] there are a lot of high school graduates who want to study aviation."

While the program appears popular, Georgia State officials say that isn't enough to keep it going. They announced the aviation school would be phased out at the end of 2006.

The program -- which was started in 1976 at the request of then-Delta CEO Leo Mullin, and mixes academic and vocational classes -- no longer fits the university's mission, said Greg Streib, chairman of the department of public administration and urban studies, which oversees the aviation school.

Others say the real issue is one of finances. To that end, students have sought support from several Atlanta aviation bigwigs, including Warren Jones, aviation development director for Hartsfield-Jackson International airport.

Jones, who also teaches part-time in the program, said the proposal students will present to Georgia State University officials in the coming weeks -- which would drop the professional pilot training program from the aviation school -- will include a letter of support from ATL General Manager Ben DeCosta and others.

That's all well and good, said Streib -- but a better solution would be for the airport, or one of its airlines, to put upwards of $1 million towards an endowment chair.

Trouble is, the airport is not allowed to do that per FAA regs -- and Atlanta's hub airline, Delta, is in no position to spend the money while it fights its way out of Chapter 11.

Jones said he is looking for other businesses that might provide funds. Also, Streib suggests instead of donating money, that the airport could instead bulk up its internship programs.

"If they want to train future leaders in airport management, they can offer good-quality internships" for two years with a good salary, he said.

Winter interns under the urban policies study program currently work as volunteers about eight hours a week. Jones said he will propose the airport hire paid interns.

Regardless of the final solution, it looks like Georgia State's av-school will be forever changed after this year.

"We're so sad about it because the aviation program is fantastic," said Lara Scatamacchia, a fourth-year student and marketing and business development intern at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport -- and who is also an IFR-rated pilot.

FMI: www2.gsu.edu/~wwwavi/