By Evan Bentley
At Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), the professional flight program is training the next generation of pilots with a highly immersive approach to aviation education. The only program of its kind in Kentucky, EKU Aviation allows students to get hands-on experience in a real-world learning environment.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median salary of $171,210 for airline and commercial pilots and projects a demand of 5,600 more pilots in the U.S. by 2032. With a strong career outlook, EKU’s Aviation program boasts a 100% job placement rate.
For Lily Norman, a suggestion from her father and a passion for adventure and the skies, pointed her to EKU’s highly competitive professional flight program.
"My dad always did whatever he could to try to help me figure out what I wanted to do," Norman said. "One day, he told me, ‘You love to travel, you love to do crazy things, and you love heights and flying.' He suggested I should be a pilot, and I thought, ‘You know what? That sounds really cool.'"
Norman's first experience with flying came at Bowman Field in Louisville, Kentucky, where she took an introductory flight with an instructor. “I just fell in love with it after that,” she said, cementing her decision to pursue aviation at EKU.
“Whenever I first came to EKU, I started out doing the private pilot ground class, which teaches you the ground knowledge you need to know and the basics of flying before you actually get up in the plane,” said Norman, a sophomore from Greensburg, Kentucky. “I was then able to apply the knowledge that I've learned in the ground class and actually learn how to fly the plane.”
This hands-on training takes place at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Madison County, where Norman flies a Cessna 172 single-engine airplane. In addition to the fleet of training aircraft, the program also utilizes flight simulators to teach and prepare students for real-world flight. The simulators are an actual model of an airplane cockpit, helping students learn the flow and processes of flying a plane without the stress of being in the air and become familiar with instruments and systems necessary for navigating the skies.
Currently working toward her instrument rating, Norman explained, “It really helps learning them in the sim so whenever you're actually up in the air, you're not worried about trying to press all these buttons and figure out how everything works.”
Norman credits her success in the program to the support of her instructors and peers.
“If I ever have a question, there's always someone around to help,” she said. She added that her flight instructor, Jimi Brown, has been particularly helpful in her training and providing insight.
Beyond technical training, EKU supports students in finding career opportunities post graduation. In addition to the option of becoming a pilot, graduates can pursue a career path as a certified flight instructor (CFI) as they complete the necessary flight hours required for these positions through the degree program.
For those considering a future in aviation, Norman said, “Find what motivates you to stay motivated, and don't let yourself get behind on your studies. Ask questions and put yourself out there.”
EKU’s innovative and engaging aviation curriculum turns aspiring pilots, like Norman, into skilled aviators. With an enrollment of more than 400, EKU’s Aviation degree program offers concentrations in professional flight, aerospace management and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).