The aviation department, which struggled last year from issues with its new flight training contractor, is looking for a new outside chair.

Amy Hoover, professor and chair of the aviation department will be finishing her second term as department chair this June.

Hoover began her time as department chair in 2007, after serving as an assistant professor since 2003.

With department chair terms lasting four years, faculty typically won’t serve more than one term because it is such a demanding position.

In 2011, “there were no other faculty that were willing to do it, so I said I’ll step up and do it for another four years, but I’m not going to go past that,” Hoover said. “We’d known all along that a new chair would start in 2015, so this is not a surprise.”

Upon completion of her term, Hoover will be returning to the role of full-time professor.

“I’m looking forward to teaching and doing research,” Hoover said. “I only teach one class a term, so I really miss being in the classroom.”

The new chair of the department will officially begin their term in September 2015 and will boost the number of faculty from four to five.

Jason Underhill, aviation assistant professor, is optimistic about the coming changes in the aviation department, after some rough air with the change in flght training contractors last fall.

Flight majors were unable to begin flying until Oct. 31, rather than their normal September start date.

“Yes, our students are behind, but we are continuing to make strides in the right direction,” Underhill said.

According to Underhill, enrollment numbers this past year have been the best the department has had in a while, with a total 160-170 students currently enrolled in the aviation program.

He is certain the department will continue to make positive changes.

As Hoover reflected on her last eight years serving as chair, she said that one of the department’s most recent accomplishments is their revamped online degree in aviation maintenance management, which will be released Fall 2015.

Central will be the only university in Washington to offer a four-year online aviation management degree.

“To me, that’s a huge thing,” Hoover said. “It’s really going to benefit the students at the community colleges in Washington that are doing their FAA maintenance degrees.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues the certificate which is required for an individual to become a certified aircraft maintenance technician.

Hoover said, that any place-bound students going to one of the five community colleges in Washington to become an FAA certified mechanic can now finish a four-year degree online without having to relocate.

This online program is designed to benefit a multitude of students, including veterans, non-traditional and international students.

“The flexibility that is going to be there is really key, and I’m a big proponent of offering that option,” Underhill said.

While online education doesn’t work for everyone, Underhill said it’s proven to be a highly requested option that students are looking for.

“I’m really excited that we are going to be able to go full-force and say that this is an option for you to pursue that doesn’t involve you having to uproot your family to Ellensburg,” Underhill said.

Aviation students can look forward to a bright future, with ongoing discussions of a potential master-level program, in addition to a new pilot pathway agreement with Express Jet Airlines, which is essentially, a direct hire program.

“If we had really good success with the management degree, it wouldn’t be hard to say that within maybe three or four years, we would be in the planning stages of a masters program,” Underhill said.

Underhill believes the new direct-hire program is a great opportunity for students.

“Any way that we can help connect our students with the industry and fast-track them to their career, then that’s part of our job,” Underhill said.

Underhill said part of the department’s goal is to provide students with real-world opportunities such as Express Jet’s pilot pathway program. This program will help prepare students to be industry professionals, increasing their chances of success in a future aviation career.

“I am really pleased that we have these kind of opportunities,” Underhill said.

Underhill explained that it’s the long-standing industry relationships the department holds with companies, such as Alaska Airlines, that will land students on the fast-track to where they want to be.

This fast-track to success is part of why freshman professional pilot major, Morgan Bernethy, chose to pursue Central’s aviation degree.

“I’m going through Central because of the connections you can make to get a job after you graduate,” Bernethy said.

“Everything you learn in class, you actually use when you fly the next day. So I’m not wasting my time; I’m always learning something new.”