About
The year was 1903, and two seemingly unconnected events were unfolding. The institution, which would eventually become Western Michigan University, was founded in Kalamazoo, Mich, while down in Kitty Hawk, NC, two inventors from Dayton, Ohio were destined to revolutionize the transportation industry. Although education and aviation seemed worlds apart, in 1939 those two worlds blended into one when aviation maintenance was added to the curriculum offerings at Western State Teachers College.
Fast forward 85 years, and the genesis of the aviation program in 1939 at Western Michigan University can be viewed in its current state. As the program expanded and evolved, the aviation program added flight training and aviation management to its curriculum offerings, to complement the established aviation maintenance program. As it continued to grow, the program was eventually established as a stand-alone college within WMU, and in 1999, was renamed the Western Michigan University College of Aviation.
Over the course of its 85 year history, the College of Aviation has grown into a world renowned program with a prodigious industry reputation. With over 1,200 resident undergraduate students, the College of Aviation is recognized as one of largest aviation program in the United States and with its fleet of 32 Cirrus SR20 G7, 9 Piper Seminole, 1 Piper Super Cub, 1 Super Decathlon it is home to the largest flight schools in the mid-west. Additionally, the College of Aviation offers the only comprehensive aviation program at a public university in Michigan, making the College of Aviation a powerful force in the future of aviation training.