A student learns aviation in a flight simulator.
Flight instruction typically involves single prop planes.
How the Aviation Sciences Program at a quaint Eastern Shore university prepares the next generation of world-wide aeronautics professionals
Maryland has a little-known treasure on the Eastern Shore. It’s not a buried pirate’s chest along the coast. Nor is it an unannounced buffet special at a local seafood restaurant. Rather, it is the Aviation Sciences Program at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (UMES), located in Princess Anne. It is the only program of its kind in the state and a global leader in aeronautics.
Just as all the children of Garrison Keillor’s mythical Lake Wobegon are above average, all students and academic programs at UMES are special to its president, Dr. Heidi Anderson. But the students in the Aviation Sciences Program set themselves apart from the others at UMES, as she has observed. “The students in Aviation Sciences, especially those in the professional pilot track are not typical undergraduate students,” Dr. Anderson says. “These students value service to others early in their education. They know they have to be more serious learners because they realize that flying means that they will have people’s lives in their hands.”
UMES’ Aviation Sciences Program was founded in 1989 as part of the Airway Science initiative of the Federal Aviation Administration. There are now four concentrations leading to a Bachelor of Science degree: Aviation Management, Maintenance Management, Professional Pilot, and Software Engineer. Presently, the Professional Pilot concentration is the most popular. But the times are changing. Dr. Chris Hartman, head of the Aviation Sciences Program, points out that, “The Professional Pilot program remains the most in-demand historically, with over 80 percent of incoming students pursuing this program. In the last few years, however, we have seen more interest in the Aviation Management concentration from both transfers and first-time students.”
Of those whose dreams come true through the Aviation Sciences Program, Hartman notes that, “Students who are successful in the program are serious academically and have a passion for aviation.”
Iziaha Brown certainly represents these qualities as an undergraduate in the program. From Curley High School in Baltimore, he just finished his freshman year at UMES; and is already a licensed pilot. This is hardly a surprise to Matt Hahn, director of Next One Up, a nonprofit with the mission of “transforming the lives of young men in Baltimore City by supporting and advancing their academic, athletic, and social development.” Hahn has known Brown since junior high and describes him as, “A scrappy kid from East Baltimore who applied to Next One Up in 7th grade. He never stopped showing up. A kid that had never been to the airport told us he wanted to be a pilot...never complained, never missed a day, and does what he says he will do.”
While that hardly sounds like the popularized characterization of a typical Gen-Zer, it does describe what it takes to be a successful pilot coming out of a demanding program like that at UMES. Pilots are basically engineers. You can see that in many of the courses they must complete that, seemingly, have nothing to do with flying a plane. As a result, the course requirements are not for those looking to party throughout college. There are heavy math requirements, depending on the concentration. Anything having to do with actual flight requires physics and engineering courses. The core requirements for all students are 34 credits in aviation-related courses such as Aviation Law, Meteorology, and Environmental Issues. While demanding, there are meaningful career advantages for the UMES graduates who are pilots.
Hartman reports that, “Graduates of the Professional Pilot program have the ability to work as a flight instructor or commercial pilot, to build time to become an Airline or Corporate Pilot. Our graduates have the advantage of being able to join an airline with only 1,000 hours of total flight time, in comparison to the required 1,500 hours for someone without the degree.”
For program graduates, opportunities and economic trends are bullish as commercial flight careers now go the moon and beyond, literally. Two decades before the program was first created, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. Armstrong took “One giant leap for mankind” in 1969. Now, one generation later, it is just another career option for a teenager. As with so many other sectors of the economy, Amazon and Tesla have revolutionized the aviation industry in countless ways that are undoubtedly just beginning to take off. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, and Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, are two of the richest and smartest businessmen in history. It is little wonder they employ great emphasis upon air travel and space commercialization. Opportunities in this sector are likely to increase in the future as air taxis and driverless craft of all types are mainstreamed, along with developments that—although currently are far from commercially viable—are destined to become profitable with further innovation.
Drone aviation is a new branch of instruction gaining popularity.
It is of little surprise that there is “Lots of excitement over space in the program now,” Dr. Hartman says. What was once remarkable is now just another hot major for aviation students.
To stay ahead so its graduates remain in demand, UMES is also moving forward to meet the rising need for drone professionals. Last fall, a certification program was offered for the first time. “The impact is still small but most of the potential is still on the horizon,” Dr. Hartman advises. “For the foreseeable future, pilots are necessary for both manned and unmanned aviation. Over the next 10 to 15 years, the real impact will be felt [when it comes to drones].”
To legally operate a drone, “A Part 107 certification is all that is necessary and that does not require a degree or pilot certifications,” Dr. Hartman explains. “However, most drone pilot jobs require other pilot certifications and the pilots in our program have served in those roles.” Will a drone major become part of the curriculum at UMES? Hartman predicts “It will likely remain an elective for the foreseeable future. Drone courses,” he further notes, “are strongly recommended for Aviation Management students and those in other degree programs across UMES.” As the needs increase for drone courses, Hartman expects to expand offerings.”
Although there is nothing in the genesis of UMES to indicate it would become an aviation leader, in many ways it was inevitable that it would be the center for aviation sciences programs in Maryland.
Opening in 1886 to educate clergy, UMES evolved to become a R2-rated (meaning “high research activity) doctorate-granting institution as the times changed and societal situations warranted—both in Maryland and the United States. Where the campus is situated is also ideal. Hardly impartial as the head of the program and the proud holder of two degrees from UMES, Dr. Hartman points out, “We have a great location for flight training with uncongested airspace and flat terrain. The weather can be an issue in flight training, but overall, this is a great location.”
Dr. Mike Heil, a retired Air Force Colonel who graduated from the Air Force Academy after growing up in Crofton and served as a commander of vital military facilities, heartily concurs with what UMES has to offer in educating future leaders in aviation. As only a 30-year career Air Force officer can detail, Col. Heil says, “UMES has much going for itself as Maryland’s only aviation program. It is an excellent school with an ideal location. The area around it is flat, away from urban sprawl yet close to major military sites such as Joint Base Andrews and the United States Naval Academy.”
There is also a proud heritage of African American achievement in aviation in Maryland. According to Delegate Darryl Barnes, Chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, the first African-American owned airfield and first African-American Civil Air Patrol were both located in Maryland. This success serves as a legacy for graduates of the Aviation Sciences Program. For now, the bulk of UMES graduates head into the private sector. Only about five percent go into the military. As a result, there’s an increased demand for UMES graduates among employers because the program’s culture leans toward the private sector.
Students discuss the flight program with a UMES instructor.
Brown understands why there is a demand for program graduates. “The Aviation Program motivates and pushes all aviation students physically and mentally because we all have the drive in us,” he says. “UMES does a great job bringing out everyone’s drive.”
For Dr. Anderson and Dr. Hartman, and all of UMES for that matter, there is no higher praise than that of a student. But for those who contend that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Dr. Anderson knows she has a winner in the Aviation Sciences Program when she meets with her education peers.
Dr. Anderson shares how she has spoken to other presidents about the program and, “In fact, one of our sister-institutions in Delaware has a similar program and we have spoken about how to work together for the benefit of both programs and all of our students.” It is understandable that other university leaders want to follow the footsteps of the successful UMES Aviation Sciences Program. “Soon we will be at the point where we need more planes and more flight instructors because of the number of students, but this is a good thing!” Dr. Anderson remarks. And Brown reports that many in the Next One Up Program are interested in pursuing his chosen educational and career path at UMES.
With more and more visible success, the Aviation Sciences Program at UMES will no longer be an unknown gem on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but, rather, a crown jewel for the aeronautics industry around the world; and above.
