Alternative Paradigms for Structuring Collegiate Flight Programs

Abstract

Collegiate aviation programs traditionally have been modeled on industry flight training programs, as exemplified by the U. S. Military and the airlines industry. Recently university administrators have been urging a shift in such programs to a more conventional academic paradigm where faculty are required hold doctoral degrees and to publish regularly. Such a transition may not succeed for a number of reasons, including the fact that faculty in aviation programs with extensive experience flying heavy aircraft typically do not hold the PhD degree and often have little or no interest in publishing scholarly papers. At the same time, the need to conduct funded research in aviation universities cannot be ignored. A possible solution to these contradictions lies in allowing some faculty in collegiate programs to teach and provide service to the university, which encouraging others so inclined to accept reduced teaching and service loads in exchange for pursuing funded research grants.