Middle Tennessee State University offers one of the largest aviation schools in the country, and the program continues to grow. 

“We have a handful of programs that draw students from around the country and really around the world, and aerospace is one of those,” MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes said. 

MTSU has over 20,000 students enrolled across its various academic programs, and Byrnes estimates that about 1,200 – or more than 5% – of those students are part of the university’s aerospace program. 

In fact, the aerospace program has outgrown its space at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (KMBT) – both in the air and on the ground. In order to create more space for students to clock their flight hours, the university is creating a space for itself in neighboring Shelbyville, Tennessee at Shelbyville Municipal Airport (KSYI). The move was made possible by a $65 million allocation from the state. 

“[Shelbyville Municipal Airport] is going to be getting some amazing state of the art renovations and advancements,” Byrnes said. 

The Shelbyville location will be the new full-time training ground for the approximately 900 students participating in the aerospace program’s professional pilot track. Aerospace students with other concentrations – like air traffic control – will continue to utilize their current set-up in Murfreesboro for the time being.

In addition to creating a holistic program for future aviation professionals themselves, MTSU partners with organizations across the industry to provide even more opportunities for students to advance in the field. 

MTSU participates in training and recruitment programs with major airlines, including the Delta Propel and Southwest Destination 225° initiatives. When students are selected to participate in these programs, the airlines come alongside the university and help cater their training. After graduation, selected students are able to accelerate their careers with the airlines. 

Another distinct advantage of pursuing flight training at a university like MTSU is the ability to earn a four-year college degree at the same time. 

“Our pilots graduate with a true university degree. It prepares them both to fly the aircraft and pursue careers that could go beyond their time in the aircraft,” MTSU Vice President of Marketing Andrew Oppmann said. 

As interest in aviation grows among high school students, MTSU continues to spotlight its aerospace program during recruitment events like the school’s annual True Blue Tour. The bus tour travels to four states and 14 cities in order to engage with potential students.  According to Oppmann, potential aerospace students are often among the crowd.

Click here to learn more about MTSU’s aerospace program.

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Redbird director of STEM education Greg Roark wants to get students thinking about what they want to do after high school—the earlier, the better. For kids interested in aviation, the future career options are vast, including everything from aircraft maintenance and air traffic control to flying 

When school districts partner with Redbird, its students have the opportunity to explore  these options and more. The company offers simulation options ranging from desktop products to FAA-approved flight training devices (FTDs), colloquially known as simulators. 

“[Schools] can do everything from experiential types of things through aviation with our simulators all the way up to producing pilots with various levels of certification,” Roark said.

With the help of Redbird, high school students can gain relevant, real-world experience and have the opportunity to achieve industry certifications from the FAA before graduation. This provides them with a wealth of knowledge when they finally take to the skies.

“When they get on the flight deck, they’ve already been there,” Roark said.

Roark, a former classroom teacher, is still motivated by helping kids learn and watching them develop a growing passion for aviation. Now he impacts classrooms across the entire country. 

“I was a classroom teacher for a long time before I came to Redbird,” Roark said. “Many times, we sort of forget how kids learn. When you create opportunities for them and let them show you what is possible, it’s humbling.”

Roark has experienced that humbling sensation with multiple kids, including past students who have gone on to pursue full-time careers in aviation. 

“You have these people that come into your classroom and you know instantly that there is something special,” Roark said.

As Roark works to make simulation-fueled education accessible to more kids in more places, he urges educators and other school leaders to consider how they can best serve the students in their schools—whether that means bringing aviation education to elementary students or building full scale high school programs. 

“It is all about what is right for your school, your stakeholders and your communities,” Roark said. “What does success look like for you, for your students?”

Once a school district decides to integrate simulation into their aeronautics programs, it often becomes a question of how. Funds are not always readily available, but Roark encourages school leaders to explore potential grants. He also urges school districts to consider local fundraising as a viable option.

Ultimately, he is dedicated to helping schools and parents find ways to engage children in the future of aviation.

“We will find a pathway,” Roark said.

School districts and parents interested in learning more about aviation education options can contact Roark at groark@redbirdflight.com.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Redbird Flight Simulations

Click here to learn more about Redbird Flight Simulations.

The post Simulators Encourage Students to Pursue Careers in Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Flight training standout Redbird Flight Simulations announced its newest training offering—a mixed reality simulator—at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. The product utilizes innovative technology to create a truly modern training option in a format that is already somewhat familiar to people with virtual reality experience. 

The new training device will make it possible for current and future pilots to experience a livestream version of what is happening outside the cockpit of an aircraft, while still being able to see their own hands manipulating the training device when looking down. 

During AirVenture Redbird Flight Simulations CEO Todd Willinger and vice president of marketing Josh Harnagel talked about the new product, which is slated to be commercially available by the end of the year.

“It is like virtual reality and augmented reality had a baby, and now it’s mixed reality,” Willinger said.

Schools across the nation are taking an increased interest in preparing students for futures in flying, and Redbird has a growing presence in the K-12 school environment, including career technical education.

“High schools are starting to invest in flight simulation to build the pilot pipeline,” Willinger said.

Many children have experience with virtual technology through video games, making the new mixed reality simulator a natural and attractive training tool for learning. 

“Kids are using these devices at home, so it becomes a natural expansion into the training environment,” Willinger said. 

Redbird hosted a Sim Lab for middle and high school students attending AirVenture. The company offered daily classes covering a wide range of aviation topics—from aerodynamics to weather. The demand for this type of offering further illustrates the next generation’s growing interest in flying. 

“Education is really important and we want to get people interested in aviation as early as possible,” Willinger said. 

Beyond educating tomorrow’s pilots, Redbird’s new mixed reality device offers a wealth of benefits for those already in the field. For many adults, however, the technology behind this new way of learning is more foreign. 

“It will be interesting to see what sort of adoption occurs in the traditional flight training environment,” Willinger said. 

Many organizations—including the U.S. military and commercial airlines—have already started to incorporate mixed reality into the training protocols. This early adoption points to a continuously growing demand for mixed reality flight training options across all different pilot demographics.

Redbird has been on the cutting edge of simulation technology since its inception in 2006. This is largely because the company was created by flying enthusiasts with a passion for making aviation more accessible via modern technology.

“Those of us that started the company didn’t have a background in aviation business, and I think that helped us,” Willinger said. “We looked at things differently than a traditional aviation would have.

Redbird leadership’s nontraditional viewpoints have helped the company stay dedicated to their mission and continue innovating for almost 20 years. 

Click here to learn more about how Redbird is working to make flying more accessible.

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