Aviation students’ access to flight times has been limited due to increasing enrollment in the BGSU aviation program, according to a BG Flight Center technician.
The increase in aviation students over the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years has resulted in a need for more planes and flight simulators to accommodate student needs.
Bennet Roberts, a BGSU alumni and line service technician at the BG Flight Center, said why increased enrollment has affected students’ experiences in the aviation program.
“As they see more students come in, they get more airplanes. More airplanes is great, but at the same time, it’s tougher for my job,” Roberts said.
Roberts said increased plane use results in a shorter lifespan for the plane. Additionally, an increase in aviation enrollment also limits students’ opportunities to fly.
“Usually, you always were able to get a flight slot and fly within your first two or three weeks of starting the program. This semester, it’s different. They had to split up the freshman group to first semester and second semester. As we get more people, people get less and less lucky with airplanes,” Roberts said.
Aviation students not only need to practice flying the planes but also have a required number of flight hours they must complete in order to graduate the program and get their pilot’s licenses.
The BGSU aviation program received a new CRJ-700 flight simulator in August to help support more flight training. This addition was preceded by seven planes and three flight simulators purchased by the Flight Center in 2023.
Students interested in flight technology and operations also must undergo a secondary review process, which involves students writing two essays, according to a recent update from the Aviation program.
Adrianna Erdman, a sophomore flight technology and operations major, said she has noticed the program change because of more students.
“It’s more people at the moment to share our resources, which, if we’re managing our time well, that’s not a problem. But if things get behind, then there’s going to be a backup. So, we’ll see. Right now, they’re managing it very well. I’m very pleased with how it’s going,” Erdman said.
Catherine Smith, the interim director of BGSU’s School of Aviation, said there are many reasons students choose BGSU’s aviation program over other schools.
“We are one of four schools in the country that have our airport on campus – really rare. The student academic experience and schedule are so much more effective as a result of the unique proximity of the airport to campus,” Smith said.
Smith also said she believes the partnership between BGSU and the BG Flight Center is another benefit of BGSU aviation students’ experiences.
“We have an amazing public-private partnership. The Bowling Green Flight Center is the exclusive flight training provider for BGSU aviation. The company exists solely to support and facilitate student success in flight training at BGSU,” she said.
Smith said community is another important factor in increased enrollment.
“The aviation student organizations and learning community provide networking opportunities for students to connect, not just in their classroom, but beyond, laying the foundation for how they will connect with the industry as aviation professionals in the future,” she said.
Erdman also said the aviation community was a factor in her liking her experience in the program.
“A lot of my friends are from aviation, and we have a really strong connection because we’re all going through the same thing here. It’s challenging, but that brings us together,” said Erdman.
