DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
The Cleveland Municipal Airport is also home of the Delta State University Flight Operations Department. Delta State is a FAA certified FAR Part 141 Flight School, and it is the only four year university in the State of Mississippi to offer a Bachelors of Commercial Aviation (BCA) or a Masters of Commercial Aviation (MCA).
The two degree plans under the BCA are Flight Operations (which is located at the Airport) and Aviation Management. The Flight Operations Degree will prepare students to enter the aviation industry as a professional pilot. The program is designed to transform individuals from a student pilot to certified flight instructor within the four year period.
The certificates available at DSU are:
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Private Pilot
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Instrument Pilot
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Commercial Pilot
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Multi Engine Certificate
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Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
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Certified Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII)
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Multi Engine Instructor (MEI)
DSU Flight Operations also has a flight team which allows students to compete in association with the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA). The “Flying Okra” competes at both a regional and national levels against approximately 40 flights schools across the United States.
Delta State University has graduates across the country in all areas of the aviation industry including all major airlines, corporate flight departments, major airports, and military operations.
At the request of the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Association (MAAA) and the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) U. S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, the United States Senate included funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, totaling $2 million for Delta State University (DSU) to implement an Aerial Applicator Operations Career Pathway (AAOCP) in the Mississippi Delta. That appropriation bill passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 15, 2022. The purpose of the funding is to establish a partnership-based program to increase the number of safe and insurable Ag Pilots in Mississippi (and other states, funding allowed). Delta State University (DSU) will serve as the Lead Agency for this award and partner with the South Delta Planning and Development District, Mississippi Delta Community College, Agricultural Aerial Applicator businesses, Blues Air, LLC . Advanced Turbine, LLC and Cleveland Municipal Airport to develop the pathway to advanced certification in Aerial Applications. The program's targeted audience is pilots with a Private Pilot Single Engine Land (PPL) and a minimum of 100 hours as a pilot in command. This program will improve existing systems by introducing a positive reinforcement approach that gives students immediate, tangible rewards for earning required ratings, certificates and experience. In addition, the program will be used to build bridges with local Ag Businesses, DSU, community colleges and the South Delta Planning and Development District.
The program's targeted audience is pilots with a PPL and a minimum of 100 hours as a pilot in command. The community college will award a Workforce Certification (non-credit) in Agricultural Aircraft Operations Career Pathway Certification. DSU will provide the training necessary to obtain the instrument and commercial FAA rating. DSU will also provide Turbine Simulator Training. Blues Air, LLC will provide light bar (GPS) flight training in a Citabria Airplane and light bar (GPS) aerial application training in the Cessna 188 Ag Wagon. The last phase of the training will be conducted by Advanced Turbine, LLC which will provide a type rating and actual light bar aerial application in an Air Tractor AT-802.
After completing the training, these pilots will take and pass the Agricultural Aviation Exam (AAE) to prove they have the skills to operate the plane while applying chemicals to farm fields safely. Once the pilot has passed their AAE Exam, they will be placed with an Aerial Applicator Business and participate in an internship provided by the WIN Job Center and South Delta Planning and Development District. State and Federal Grant funding will offset some cost of the pilot training.