{"id":91579,"date":"2022-09-29T15:10:13","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T20:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/?p=91579"},"modified":"2022-09-29T15:21:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T20:21:05","slug":"delta-states-department-of-commercial-aviation-awarded-2-million-agricultural-aircraft-operations-career-pathway-grant-to-train-ag-pilots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/2022\/09\/delta-states-department-of-commercial-aviation-awarded-2-million-agricultural-aircraft-operations-career-pathway-grant-to-train-ag-pilots\/","title":{"rendered":"Delta State\u2019s Department of Commercial Aviation awarded $2 Million Agricultural Aircraft Operations Career Pathway Grant to train ag pilots"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

CLEVELAND, Miss.\u2014<\/strong> Delta State University\u2019s Department of Commercial Aviation was recently appropriated $2 million by the United States Senate to implement an Agricultural Aircraft Operations Career Pathway (AAOCP) program in the Mississippi Delta.<\/p>\n

Requested by U. S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, the funding will establish a partnership-based program to increase the number of safe and insurable agriculture pilots in Mississippi and potentially other approved states. \u00a0Currently, this is the only program of its kind in the state with Delta State offering the state university system\u2019s only undergraduate and graduate aviation programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn agriculture aviation education program at Delta State University will give students the opportunity to learn valuable skills that benefit both their vocational prospects as well as the economy in the Mississippi Delta,\u201d Hyde-Smith said. \u201cI am dedicated to supporting the development of a skilled technical workforce, and I can\u2019t wait to see the great results we get from the new Agricultural Aircraft Operations Career Pathway Program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delta State has been designated as the lead agency for this award and will partner with Mississippi Delta Community College, local WIN Job Centers, Blues Air, Agricultural Flight Operator (AFO) businesses and the South Delta Planning and Development District to develop the pathway leading private pilots to advanced certification in Aerial Applications.<\/p>\n

\u201cDelta State, with its focus on community engagement and economic development for all of Mississippi, is in a unique position to facilitate this important partnership to meet a critical need for our agricultural activities,\u201d said Dr. Andy Novobilski, provost and vice president for academic affairs.\u00a0 \u201cThis grant removes barriers, both training and financial, that a relatively new pilot would face as they move into a well-paying career in agricultural aviation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The program is designed to provide farmers with qualified Aerial Applicators to meet their yearly demand by encouraging and motivating private pilots to succeed in completing a career pathway in Agricultural Aircraft Operations.<\/p>\n

The program will target pilots with a Private Pilot Single Engine Land and a minimum of 100 hours as a pilot in command.<\/p>\n

Dr. Billy Moore, dean of the College of Business and Aviation at Delta State said the partnership-based program is an example of the university fulfilling its mission to serve as an educational center for the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an opportunity to meet a need, and it\u2019s perfectly aligned with our mission to serve as a resource for the Mississippi Delta,\u201d said Moore. \u201cWe are excited to have like-minded partners assist us in building this program and the positive impact it will have on our students and community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The grant will initially offset the cost to pilots accepted into the program to offer an FAA commercial, instrument rating, turbine engine training and flight training specific to an ag-adapted aircraft.<\/p>\n

After completing training at Delta State and from the partner Aerial Applicator businesses, the pilot will take the Agricultural Aviation Exam (AAE) to prove they have the skills to operate the plane while applying chemicals to farm fields safely.<\/p>\n

Once the pilot has passed their AAE Exam, they will be placed with an Agricultural Flight Operator and participate in an internship provided by the WIN Job Center and South Delta Planning and Development District.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited to be able to offer this program to aspiring agricultural pilots while working with Mississippi Delta Community College and local government agencies,\u201d said Joe Saia, interim chair of the Department of Commercial Aviation at Delta State.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Aviation program will improve existing systems by introducing a positive reinforcement approach that gives students immediate, tangible rewards to earn Commercial and Instrument Pilot certificates. In addition, the program will be used to build bridges, both with local community colleges and the South Delta Planning and Development District,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Pilots who might be interested in the program will need to be sponsored by an Aerial Applicator business.<\/p>\n

For questions or more information about the Agricultural Aircraft Operations Career Pathway program, contact Delta State\u2019s Commercial Aviation department at (662) 846-4205 or cavinfo@deltastate.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More Photos:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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