Frequently Asked Questions

How and when do I apply?
What do I need to qualify for the Aviation Program?
What other aviation equipment will I need?
What does it cost?
How many students are in the flight program?
Can I participate in sports as well as Aviation?
Do I need to have a car as an aviation student?
Are scholarships available?
Should I visit the campus?
Do you compete in the National Intercollegiate Flight Association flight events?
Are you a member of the University Aviation Association?
Are you a member of International Association of Missionary Aviation?
Is your program accredited?
What type of experience does your staff have?
What is the Missionary Pilot Loan Forgiveness Program?
What medical requirements do I need to qualify for the Aviation Program?

1. How and when do I apply?

You must fill out a completed application for San Diego Christian College, and upon acceptance you declare Aviation Technology as your major. Missionary pilot candidates will specify Missionary Aviation as their major. For more information about applying for admission to SDCC, go to our Admission’s page: Admissions information and links

2. What do I need to qualify for the Aviation Program?
To qualify for admission into the Aviation Program, you must have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 and be accepted by San Diego Christian College. You must also be able to pass the FAA 2nd class medical and have eyesight that is correctable to 20/20. For information about FAA medicals please go to: http://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/

We highly recommend checking with a local airport source for a personal reference to an AME. This website allows you to find a list of FAA medical doctors in your area. Additionally, we will need a readable copy of your birth certificate and government photo ID or current passport upon acceptance into the program.

3. What other aviation equipment will I need?

These website links offer pilot supplies including course books, headsets, plotters etc. for SDCC Aviation classes. Our JEPPESEN ONLINE COURSES including Private and Instrument (Commercial will be offered soon) are only available at the Jeppesen (JeppDirect) website. All other websites can be used to purchase online and El Cajon Aircraft Supply and Marv Golden Discount Pilot Supplies are local companies with a wide range of aviation products for pilots and both offer discounts to SDCC aviators upon request.

FYI: We recommend the ASA plotter and E6B rather than Jeppesen

You will be expected to have required pilot gear for your classes. The cost of these supplies is in addition to tuition, room and board and flight fees paid to the college. You can purchase online with a credit card.

Jeppesen – features JeppDirect with pre-determined "bundles" of pilot supplies recommended by SDCC for Private (AVT 115), Instrument (AVT 216), Commercial (AVT 315), CFI (AVT 412), Multi-engine (AVT 499) and IFR charting solutions for instrument pilots. You must enter the COUPON CODE for the discount. The new coupon code for SDCC discount is on Blackboard ANNOUNCEMENTS. (Note: You must be logged into SDCC Blackboard to access the code).
Jeppesen: JeppDirect for SDCC

El Cajon Aircraft Supply (located on Gillespie Field KSEE – 10 minutes from SDCC)
El Cajon Aircraft Supply - gives SDCC a discount

Marv Golden Discount Pilot Supplies (located on Montgomery Field KMYF – 25 minutes from SDCC)
Marv Golden Discount Pilot Supplies (mention SDCC for discount)

Pilot Lifestyle Store for SDCC (customized bundles created for classes offered by SDCC Aviation)
Pilot Lifestyle Store - discounts for SDCC Aviation - and Flight Team funding

For those with iPads and in some cases Kindles, ASA has an "e-Book" site where you can purchase aviation text books in an electronic version for much less than the hardcopy. Not all texts will be available but you should use this site as a resource if you used electronic media either on an iPad or laptop computer:

Electronic Aviation books for iPad and Kindle

You will need a laptop computer for the online courses. SDCC computer lab and library have computers you can use as well.

4. What does it cost?
The Aviation program averages approximately $5000 per semester over and above tuition, room and board. The flight fees consist of the hourly rental rate for the airplane and flight instructor fees. The average cost of the program after four years is between $40,000 and $45,000. There are many scholarships available to help defray the cost of flying and we encourage our students to apply to all they qualify for: Links to a partial list of aviation scholarships

5. How many students are in the flight program?
For Fall 2011 we have approximately 50 students enrolled in the Aviation Degree program.

6. Can I participate in sports as well as Aviation?
Yes, but…We have many students that are involved in both aviation and sports. Check with your coach first. Collegiate sports are very demanding –but so is aviation. So we will need to carefully schedule your classes and flight blocks.

7. Do I need to have a car as an aviation student?
Our flight training facility, Jean’s Flight Training, is located at Gillespie Field approximately 7 miles from campus. It is highly recommended that aviation students have their own transportation. If it is impossible for the student to have a car, you should be aware of the following:

Unless students have their own vehicle, transportation is not guaranteed.
It is up to the student who needs transportation to request the help.
Flight times are mandatory classes- absences and tardiness will not be accepted.

8. Are scholarships available?
There are many aviation scholarships available, especially for women and incoming freshmen. Please see the link above for further information.

9. Should I visit the campus?
I highly recommend that you come visit us at any time. SDCC sponsors College for a Weekend events that you can participate in or you can simply call us to arrange a visit. We encourage you to attend an aviation class or two during your visit. We can schedule tours Monday-Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm.

10. Do you compete in the National Intercollegiate Flight Association flight events?
Yes, we are in Region II. Our opponents in Region II are Embry Riddle (Prescott Campus), Mount San Antonio College, Cypress College and San Jose State University. We also compete with the US Air Force Academy as an “out of region” guest. Every fourth year we host the NIFA Region II Championships at Gillespie Field. In 2011, the Regional Championships will be at ERAU in Prescott AZ. Dates have not been announced yet.

SDCC Flight Team has competed in the NIFA National Championships for the past 3 years in a row. Flight Team is also considered a Student Ministry.
SDCC Flight Team blog: SAFECON 2011 Ohio State University

11. Are you a member of the University Aviation Association?
Yes.

12. Are you a member of International Association of Missionary Aviation?
Yes.

13. Is your program accredited?
Yes, we are fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

14. What type of experience does your staff have?
Our Director of Aviation has over 40 years of aviation experience in military, airline and general aviation flying. Captain Denny Breslin has over 21,000 flight hours ranging from J-3 Cubs to Boeing 777’s (and over 800 parachute jumps!) He was a US Navy pilot, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander with a combined total of 7 years active and 6 years in the Navy reserves. He has been our Director since retiring from American Airlines in 2008.

15. What is the Missionary Pilot Loan Forgiveness Program?
Pilots who aspire to the mission field may apply for a loan to cover the cost of flight training. Aviation flight training includes plane rental and flight instructor fees. Over the course of a 4-year degree, flight, or “lab” fees average about $45,000 over and above tuition, room and board. If the student is accepted into the loan forgiveness program, they are loaned the money for flight training. Upon graduation, if they are accepted by an approved missionary aviation organization, their loan is forgiven at the rate of 25% per year. If they drop out of the program the loans must be repaid to the college. Here are some additional details: Missionary Pilot Loan Forgiveness Program

16. What medical requirements do I need to qualify for the Aviation Program?

You must be able to pass the FAA 2nd class medical exam and have eyesight that is correctable to 20/20. We recommend your first flight physical from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) be a first class exam so you can know that you meet the requirements for the highest medical class given. First class medical is a requirement for an airline transport pilot rating (ATP). You can choose any AME you wish, but our recommendation is that you ask local pilots for a recommendation before making an appointment.

You can find a list of AME's here: FAA AME locator Choice of a "pilot advocate" AME is important. If you do not have an AME in your area, we recommend contacting Dr. Larry Marshall in Lakeside CA, located 5 minutes from Gillespie Field. Here is his contact information:

Larry J Marshall MD
12517 Lakeshore Drive
Lakeside, CA 92040
Phone: (619) 443-3843

Additionally, we will need a readable copy of your birth certificate and government photo ID or current passport upon acceptance into the program. This is a DHS rule to prove citizenship.