Louisiana Tech University is a pioneer in academic professional aviation and was the first Louisiana college to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aviation. The program was later extended to include a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management in the Fall Quarter of 1999 while a Master degree program in Aviation has been sumitted for approval. Graduates of the program represent nationalities throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Louisiana Tech University, located in North central Louisiana, can trace its history in Ruston, Louisiana, to 1894. Forty- five years later in 1939, Louisiana Tech participated in Civilian Pilot Training (CPTP), a US government program. In 1967, the Louisiana State Board of Education approved the new Professional Aviation Curriculum for Louisiana Tech. The curriculum was designed for pilots to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aviation. While in 1999, The Board of Regents approved a Bachelor of Science degree program in Aviation Management, an additional degree in Professional Aviation. One thousand six hundred students have earned their college degree in Professional Aviation; many have graduated cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude.
In 1967, the FAA approved Louisiana Tech Flight School for both pilot ground and flight training. In 1995, Louisiana Tech received examining authority for conducting the FAA airmen written test. Since then, Tech has administered 1,500 FAA written exams.
Once the professional aviation program started, it grew quickly. Fay G. Adams became the first person to head the Department of Professional Aviation. And then in 1968, Fay G. Adams expanded the Tech aviation program to include aviation courses at the Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana.
In 1968, local businessmen secured commercial airport leases from the City of Ruston and reorganized the Fixed Base Operations (FBO) facilities at the Ruston Municipal Airport. The purpose for the new FBO was to support the Tech Aviation program and to facilitate flight training in Ruston. Aviation students could get flight training near the Tech main Campus. Much credit must be given to local businesses such as T.L. James and Company and James Davison and Company. Their efforts provided aviation support for students in the Tech aviation program and helped them obtain flight training at the Ruston Municipal Airport. Without community support, the growth of the Tech aviation program would have been difficult.
Louisiana Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau is credited for the construction of two new professional aviation buildings. On the main Tech campus is the 52,000 square foot professional aviation building, Davison Hall, and located at the Ruston Regional Airport is the 8,000 square foot Flight Operations Center.
The program is administered by the Department of Professional Aviation. Aviation professors teach aviation ground school classes on the main campus at Davison Hall. Flight Instructors certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conduct flight training at the Ruston Regional Airport. The flight school is FAA, Part 141 approved and has recently been awarded also part 142 which allows more flight time to be done on the new Level 6 Flight Simulator. The Chief Instructor supervises the Flight School whereas The head of the department of professional Aviation serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of both the Aviation Department and the Flight School.
Since 1968, Tech has awarded 1,600 Bachelor of Science degrees in Professional Aviation. Because Louisiana Tech is a pioneer in formal pilot education in the State of Louisiana and has such a large number of graduates, it is imperative that this story be told. (Steve Dugas)
