Epic Flight Academy Partners with Purdue

The partnership between Epic Flight Academy and Purdue Global will allow students to seek an online bachelor’s degree in aviation management or professional flight. [Courtesy: Epic Flight Academy]

One of the challenges of pursuing a career as a professional pilot is balancing flight training with the pursuit of a college degree, if that is your choice. It helps when the flight school has a partnership with the university. That’s the case with Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and Purdue University Global, which are now partnering to offer an online bachelor's degree in aviation management or professional flight through the Purdue Global aviation program.

“This partnership will help both parties work together to address the need for more pilots, as well as those who work in the aviation industry," said Sara Sander, Purdue Global vice president, dean of the college of social and behavioral sciences and interim dean of the school of aviation. “We are pleased to partner with Epic Flight Academy through recognition of prior learning in both the professional flight and aviation management programs."

Said Danny Perna: Epic Flight Academy founder and CEO: “Our flight students can earn up to 45 transfer credits through their Epic flight training with Purdue Global.”

Taking advantage of the partnership can save an individual up to $28,400 in tuition and enable them to complete the degree online in two to three years while simultaneously pursuing flight training or working full-time as a flight instructor.

The next start date is January 31.

To be admitted to the professional flight degree program, the applicant must hold a private pilot certificate, first-class medical certificate, and have either a high school degree or GED.

Those enrolled in the aviation management program need not hold a pilot certificate or medical certificate.

About Epic Flight Academy

Epic Flight Academy is a Part 141 school that has been training pilots since 1999. In addition to the main campus in New Smyrna Beach, there are campuses in Ocala and Tallahassee, Florida, and one in Arizona that offer pilot training. Epic also provides mechanic training at New Smyrna and Erlanger, Kentucky.

About Purdue University

Purdue University has been at the forefront of aviation education since the 1930s. One of its famed faculty members was none other than aviatrix Amelia Earhart. In 1936, the Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research was created with the Purdue Research Foundation. The fund raised $80,000, which was used to purchase the Lockheed Electra that was known as Earhart's flying laboratory. Earhart, navigator Fred Noonan, and the aircraft disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 while attempting an around-the-world flight.

Founded in 2018, Purdue Global offers online degrees for working adults. It operates as a "nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University."

For more information visit https://stories.purdue.edu/purdue-global.

aviation management Epic Flight Academy professional flight Purdue Global Purdue University

Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.