January 18, 2004 - I think that the most exciting thing about being an aviation professional is that my office will be five miles above the earth says Daniel Webster College freshman Andrew Matthaey, of N. Y.

Adds sophomore Mitchell Groder of Wilton, Maine, Even as a student its exciting to wake up in the morning and think, I'm going flying today - a feeling that most college students don't experience.

Not uncommonly, Mitchell's passion for flight goes back to his childhood. Whenever I flew on the airlines as a youngster, I began to notice that I was more excited about it than any of the other passengers on board. My love of flying grew as I did, and when I began flight lessons in high school, I knew the world of the professional pilot was for me.

Even for those who have never flown, when the sky calls, they often find themselves investigating professional pilot education opportunities such as is offered at DWC, which started as the New England Aeronautical Institute at Boire Field back in 1965. With the well-respected Bachelor of Science degree in aviation flight operations in hand, the door can open to an array of professional opportunities.

An industry on the move
Aviation is perhaps the most dynamic industry in the world, observes DWC aviation chair Dr. Phillip Poynor, and industry experts agree that there's never been a better time to become a pilot.

According to one airline pilots career information service, hiring is expected to increase significantly through 2014. One reason is the mandatory retirement of commercial pilots at age 60; for thousands of baby boomers - pilots from the Vietnam-era and post-deregulation - 60 is fast approaching and some 25,000 of them will need to be replaced with a group of new, highly-skilled, experienced and educated aviators.

And it doesn't just stop there; there is a growing need to fill positions in the burgeoning commuter, low fare, and regional jet carrier markets, as well as with charter and air taxi services. Research also shows that by 2010, military flight operations will be facing pilot shortfalls through 2020 and beyond. And, according to airline industry forecasts, hiring for new positions will recover to record levels by 2008 - just when next falls incoming class at DWC graduates.

Choosing DWC
Its just the adventure of it, declares New Jersey native Marge Dominguez, a member of DWC's Class of 03, as she talks about her love of flying, a passion she's held since a child. So it was no surprise that when it came time to choose a college where she could pursue that dream, Marge decided to go where everybody knows your name, and enrolled at DWC, an institution long distinguished as one of the nations leaders in aviation, yet with an intimacy - and a day population of just 600 students - that creates strong bonds between students and the faculty and staff, as well as with alumni who actively support the division and are the first to contact the Colleges career resources office when they become aware of industry opportunities.

Having graduated last year and currently working as a DWC Certified Flight Instructor, Marge is not only helping students who are following in her educational footsteps, but further polishing her own flying skills, amassing hours in the air, and working with others in the profession - all very important for new graduates. Her ultimate career flight plan? To be a commercial pilot with a major airline.

As for Andrews ambitions, I plan to fly for the rest of my life. If I earn a pilot slot with the U.S. Air Force through AFROTC, then I will be excited at the opportunity to serve my country as well. Eventually, he would like to fly for the airlines on long-haul international flights.

The freedom of travel is very exciting, says Mitchell. And flying is fun because no two flights are the same. Mitchell is also looking ahead to building the experience necessary to fly for a regional airline, and then move along to the majors. And, as has been said before, A pilots career is more about the path to get there than the destination.

DWC's aviation division is located within the Nicholas N. Tamposi Aviation Center at the Nashua Airport, directly adjacent to the College. Among other things, the Aviation Center houses a fully-equipped flight operations center, training suites, an air traffic control simulation laboratory, as well as two recently FAA-approved advanced personal computer aviation training devices (simulators), with improved visuals and pilot interaction. DWC was also the first of any college-based flight-training program to integrate motorize gliders and advanced aerobatic trainers with standard and complex training aircraft. The Colleges current fleet totals 42 aircraft.

In addition to being accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, DWC's three aviation division majors are accredited by the council on aviation accreditation; every instructor is a Certified Flight Instructor; and the divisions air traffic management major is one of only 13 academic programs recognized by the FAA as part of its Collegiate Training Initiative. Additionally, DWC is the only institutional computerized testing center in the region, making it easy for students and professionals alike to take FAA pilot and mechanic knowledge tests.