DENTON (UNT), Texas — As COVID-19 continues to affect the availability of everything from meat to toilet paper, getting supplies to people in need has never been more important. In the midst of the pandemic, the University of North Texas Aviation Logistics program is celebrating 10 years of providing work-ready graduates to help people get the products they need when they need them the most.
The program began after a conversation at the North Texas Council of Governments highlighted the need for four-year aviation programs. With the help of Tarrant County College and the U.S. Aviation Academy and Denton Enterprise Airport, the Aviation Logistics program was born and implemented at UNT’s main campus.
“We decided to focus our educational programs on the non-flying aspects of the aviation industry but still show students how they could go on to obtain a pilot's license,” said Terrance Pohlen, director of the Jim McNatt Institute for Logistics Research.
UNT developed the Aviation Logistics degree program, as well as the Bachelor of Arts and Applied Sciences program with a concentration in aviation logistics, and collaborated with TCC to provide flight training programs. A four-year degree is preferred for aspiring pilots to become a commercial pilot.
“We made a very compelling argument that our program was about the business of aviation,” Pohlen said. “Pilots often move into non-flying positions later in their career, and this program enables them to successfully make this transition.”
Aviation logistics students benefit from UNT collaborations with Southwest Airlines, Hillwood Properties – which operates the Fort Worth Alliance Airport – and Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics, all of which have provided students with internship opportunities.
