Dubuque Mayor Proclaims Monday, August 19, 2024, as the University of Dubuque Aviation Day in Celebration of 50 Years of Aviation

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh, MSW, proclaimed Monday, August 19, 2024, as the University of Dubuque Aviation Day on behalf of the Dubuque City Council, city staff, and residents of Dubuque during the regular city council meeting Monday night.

This year, UD is celebrating 50 years of fostering academic and professional skills that have enabled its over 1,300 aviation graduates for success in all segments of the aviation industry. Alumni have gone on to work in various branches of the military, emergency medical services, utility, helicopter tours, and more.

"What a tremendous honor it is for the University of Dubuque and our aviation program to be recognized by Mayor Cavanagh, the City Council, and the City of Dubuque," said Travis Frampton, PhD, president of the University. "Our aviation program has been around longer than most aviation and flight schools across the country. Flight students from all over the world come to Dubuque because of the strong national reputation our faculty, staff, and graduates have built over the past 50 years. The incredible support shown by the greater Dubuque community is one of the reasons for our success. The UD aviation program is a great example of success brought on by Dubuque's supportive community."

Alumni Kate Hanley (C'19) and Keegan Zimmerman (C'23), who are both certified flight instructors at UD, accepted the proclamation from Mayor Cavanagh on behalf of the Spartan family. They were joined at the meeting by Frampton, Doug Horstmann (C'75), MBA, chair of the Board of Trustees, and Randy Warm, MS, director of aviation programs.

Hanley shared it was an honor to hear city officials share their ongoing support of the aviation program.

Zimmerman added, "It was nice to see recognition from the city that we're doing a good job and our hard work is being noticed."

The UD aviation program launched in 1974 with two airplanes and 35 students. It has grown since then to 27 airplanes, two helicopters, and approximately 440 students this fall. There are three majors: applied aviation technology, aviation management, and flight operations.

A major expansion to the aviation program occurred fall 2019 when the Edward Babka Aviation Learning Center opened. The state-of-the-art flight operations center is double the size of the previous space and houses classrooms, a dispatch desk, flight briefing rooms, simulation rooms, and more. It is located next to the Dubuque Regional Airport and is just minutes from campus.

"Our program stands out because of the dedicated people in the program who go that extra measure to help students understand not only how to fly and function as a professional pilot, but how to uphold the strict standards of aviation," Warm said. "Our graduates are 100 percent employed and are leaders across the industry. Aviation is one of the most highly regulated industries in this county, and the University of Dubuque produces professionals who work to grow and sustain aviation."

Those individuals and their experiences in military, airline, and corporate aviation was a critical piece for Zimmerman in his education as a flight operations student.

"You're being taught how to fly from these people who have been flying for thousands of hours and many years; we have great faculty and staff," said Zimmerman, who is also enrolled in UD's master of business administration program.

In addition to experiences at the flight center, students have access to internships with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, the Dubuque Regional Airport, and others. UD also participates in preferred programs, and all the major, regional carriers recruit UD students.

"We have cadets from Envoy who work for us until they have enough time to be hired by the airlines," Warm said. "By law, an airline pilot must be 23 years old and have 1,500 flight hours. By attending a university like UD - a Part 141 program designated by the FAA - a person can be hired at age 21 with 1,000 flight hours and a bachelor's degree."

The demand for helicopter and airplane pilots is expected to soar by 2036, leaving shortages of upwards of 61,000 for helicopter pilots and 600,000 to maintain the global aviation industry, according to Boeing and Airbus.

"However far you want to go in aviation is very achievable, and the University of Dubuque can help set you up for success," Hanley said.

Zimmerman added, "I thought it was the best thing ever getting hired to work here after graduating. For a program that has been around for 50 years, it just shows that it breeds success and makes me feel confident that I'm going to end up doing something successful with my education."

To learn more about the UD aviation program, visit www.dbq.edu/Academics/UndergraduatePrograms/Aviation/.

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