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Aviation Technology
Associate in Applied Science Degree

Green River's Aviation Technology program offers exciting career opportunities in Air Traffic Control, Aircraft Dispatch, Professional Pilot,
and Helicopter Pilot.

Students in the Aviation Technology degree program at Green River Community College receive a background in aviation weather, aviation law, air transportation, air traffic control, English, math, speech, and human relations. Then they choose one of three options to complete the degree:

• Air Traffic Control/Aircraft Dispatch

• Professional Pilot

• Helicopter Pilot.

The Aviation Technology program leads to a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree.

The location of Green River Community College, in the Puget Sound region of Washington, is convenient to several airports and offers multiple opportunities for aviation employment. The college is about 10 miles southeast of SeaTac International Airport. Other aviation facilities in the region include:

• Boeing commercial and military aircraft manufacturing at three large airports: Boeing Field, Paine Field, and Renton

• Federal Aviation Administration regional headquarters

• 40 airlines and several more aviation companies operating at SeaTac International Airport

• Military bases at McChord, Gray and Whidbey Island

• Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center in Auburn

• Seattle Flight Service Station

• Several air traffic control towers

• Several general aviation airports

The Aviation Technology degree program includes the following three options:

1. Air Traffic Control/Aircraft Dispatch
   This option focuses on radar air traffic control (ATC) and aircraft dispatch. While these are really separate areas of employment, they both require similar skills and preparation. Both controllers and dispatchers must have knowledge of airspace, facilities, procedures, charts, navigation, aircraft performance, airport procedures and regulations, and good radio communication. Combining the two fields gives the student two good employment choices.
   
   Training equipment for Air Traffic Controllers at GRCC includes a computerized 16-position ATC simulator with a communications system. This is used to simulate en route and terminal radar systems. It presents an actual radar map for any location, such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Tokyo, or London. This system is also used for acquisition of real-time aviation weather through phone lines, weather briefing training, dispatch flight planning, and pilot test question review.
   
   Air traffic controllers must pass an Airmen Class II physical, given by an FAA-approved physician, every 12 months.
   
   An Aircraft Dispatcher works for an airline and plans flights, orders fuel, determines the weight and balance of the aircraft, follows the aircraft to destination, and communicates with the flight crew during the flight. The dispatcher keeps track of the weather at destination and alternate airports and makes most of the decisions regarding routing and diversion of the aircraft. Aircraft dispatchers must be certified (licensed). Green River is an FAA-approved dispatcher school. Call for a list of dispatch locations you can visit in the Seattle area.
   
   Aircraft dispatchers are not required to pass an FAA Airmen physical.
   

2. Professional Pilot
   This degree option requires completion of the FAA Private Pilot, Instrument Pilot, and Commercial Pilot certificates (licenses). All ground instruction and supporting courses are available on campus. Because Green River does not own or operate any aircraft, all flight training, except for the on-campus flight simulator hours, is accomplished at local airports where the flight schools are located. Each pilot certificate requires the passage of a flight physical, a written test, accumulation of a prescribed amount of flight time, and a flight test. The written test may be taken anytime, and actual flight time is not required. The pilot ground school classes and other supporting courses at Green River prepare students for the written test.
   
   Charges for flight training include a per-hour rate for the aircraft (about $72 per hour), and a per-hour rate for the flight instructor when the instructor is on-board, for a combined total of about $100 per hour. As the student progresses to higher ratings, such as instrument pilot, more expensive aircraft are required for at least part of the flight time. The flight instructor will also charge a fee for pre- and post-flight instruction. Flight costs are additional to tuition and can be paid to Green River or to the flight school.
   

3. Helicopter Pilot
   The Helicopter Pilot option is similar to the Professional Pilot option, except that an instrument rating is not required. The Commercial Helicopter Pilot FAA certificate (license) is required. This certificate requires 150 hours of flight time. Flight training is conducted at one of three locations in the area: Boeing Field, Tacoma Narrows, or Crest Airpark.

We welcome your questions!

For general information about our professional and technical or academic programs, please call us at—

(253) 833-9111 Auburn
(206) 464-6133 Eastside
(253) 924-0180 Tacoma
Extension 2500

For specific information about the Aviation Technology program, contact:

George Comollo
Extention 4336
gcomollo@greenriver.edu

Web site
www.instruction.greenriver.edu/aviation

George Comollo
Extension 4336
gcomollo@greenriver.edu