About Us

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology
• Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management
• Associate of Science in Aviation Technology

Eleven Reasons Why You Should Choose to Study Aviation at WWU

1. A modern curriculum with safety, excellence, and Christian values in mind.  Walla Walla University offers specialty classes in crew resource management, aviation safety, and multi-crew operations.
2. We operate under Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.  This provides you flexibility not offered by other flight programs that operate under Part 141.  Under Part 61 the curriculum is custom tailored to your skills and needs.  That way we can spend more time on subjects you need more focus on, and use your finances as efficiently as possible.  Walla Walla University also qualifies for VA funding under Part 61.
3. Walla Walla University shows great confidence in your ability by providing aircraft for rental when not being used for training.  Fly to nearby Kennewick, or Spokane airports and take a date to dinner!  Students have taken our planes as far east as Florida, North to Maine and Alaska, and South to Los Angeles and Baja, Mexico.  If you have a dream to travel while attending school, there's no better way than by piloting the airplane yourself.
4. The Walla Walla Valley has on average 200 days of clear sky per year, and another 100+ days of flyable weather.  This means less time spent on the ground and more time in the air.  
5. The Columbia basin provides lower elevation and wide open spaces to safely train, while remaining central to accessing the great Northwest.  Our location in the Walla Walla Valley is central to accessing training in a variety of climates and terrain from the rainforest and inlets of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, to the rolling hills of the Blue Mountains, to the high plateaus, deep valleys, and steep crags of Idaho, Montana, and Utah.  Flying in the Northwest is rewarding and the scenery is vast, diverse, and beautiful. 
6. Because WWU Aviation is based at Walla Walla Regional (KALW) airport, we have access to 2 Intrument Landing System (ILS) approaches, a non-directional beacon (NDB) approach, 3 Area Navigation (GPS/RNAV) approaches, and 2 VOR/DME approaches on field.  This saves you money and time by not having to commute to practice these approaches during your instrument training.
7. Another advantage of being located at Walla Walla Regional is the opportunity to train at a Class Delta controlled airport.  An FAA ground and tower controller will separate you from other traffic and issue clearances from the moment you pull out to taxi to when you return to land, adding to the safety of your flight.  You will learn to talk to ground and tower controllers the first day in the airplane and become comfortable and familiar with controlled airspace right away, something some pilots never achieve.  Better understanding and interacting with Air traffic control on a daily basis will make you a better pilot and more attractive applicant when you begin your career.
8. The WWU Aviation program offers mission/humanitarian focused flight training.  Commercial pilots receive training in our CubCrafters Sport Cub on the following topics: 
   • Conventional gear aircraft operations (tail-wheel endorsement);
   • Opeartions in remote areas;
   • Takeoffs and landings from unimproved surfaces;
   • Selection and judgement of landing sites.
9. Our large facility houses our main office, directors offices, flight instructor spaces, and Flight Training Devices (Simulators).  You will have an assigned flight instructor selected to guide you through your training from day one to the day you earn your certificate.  We are personally invested in you and want to see you succeed.
10. Walla Walla University is a certified Computer Assisted Testing Site (CATS), meaning you will not need to travel or make external payments to take the FAA knowledge examinations.  We also have two designated examiners in the area so when the time comes to take your practical exam there will be no problem getting an appointment. 
11. Our aircraft are extremely well maintained and under continuous update to keep up the with ever changing modern world of aviation.  All our aircraft are fully Instrument flight rules (IFR) capable and ready to explore the north-west.  We also have three flight training devices (simulators) to use when training for unusual emergency situations, bringing an unprecedented amount of flexibility and safety to your training. Don't just take our word for it, take a tour of our fleet and see for yourself.

The Program

Although most pilots transport passengers and cargo, others are involved in more unusual tasks, such as testing aircraft, monitoring traffic, rescuing and evacuating injured persons, directing fire fighting efforts, and spreading seed for reforestation. Except on small aircraft, two pilots make up the flight crew. The most experienced pilot, the captain, is in command and supervises all other crew members. The copilot assists with flying the aircraft, monitoring the instruments, and communicating with air traffic controllers.

Virtually all new aircraft are equipped with computerized controls, eliminating the need for the third pilot, the flight engineer. Takeoff and landing are the most difficult parts of the flight, and require close coordination between the pilot and first officer. Pilots usually start with smaller commuter and regional airlines to acquire the experience needed to qualify for higher paying jobs with national airlines.

The Aviation Technology program at Walla Walla University features a 13,700 square-foot flight center located near the campus at a tower-controlled commercial airport with three paved runways and multiple instrument approaches. The university owns five aircraft, including a Piper Seminole, specially equipped for training purposes. Computerized Aviation Testing Service (CATS) is available on campus for all FAA written examinations.

Commuter airlines are now hiring candidates with 1,000 hours total time which includes 100 hours multi-engine time. Walla Walla University students graduate with more flight hours than most other schools. Because of this, our Aviation Technology students go straight to pilot positions.