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Submitter's Information
Crystal Thornton
Curriculum Specialist
North/Far North
Sacramento City College
CTE Dean
Jennifer Laflam
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Program Details
Professional Pilot
New Program
Piloting (302020)
08/01/26
- Enrollment Eligibility:
- To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:
- The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all applicants read, write, speak, and understand the English language. FAA guidance on language proficiency can be found in the current version of Advisory Circular AC60-28 and the Level 4 proficiency standards of ICAO Doc 9835.
- A minimum grade of "C" in FLTEC 200 Professional Pilot Orientation.
- Be at least 16.5 years of age at the time of enrollment.
- Student must attain an FAA Class II Medical Certificate. No more than one alcohol-related motor vehicle action within three years, or more than three alcohol-related motor vehicle actions in any time period.
- Enrollment Process:
- Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:
- Admission to Sacramento City College.
- Enroll in FLTEC 200 Professional Pilot Orientation, and obtain a final grade of "C" or better.
- Obtain FAA Class II Medical Certificate and FAA Student Pilot Certificate.
- Description:
- Sacramento City College offers a two-year (including a summer session) certificate program organized to offer aspiring pilots all of the academic ground instruction, and all of the flight training required for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private, Commercial certificates with a Instrument rating.
During the course of the program the student will qualify to take the written portions of the FAA Private, Instrument and Commercial examinations. Examinations are given at FAA-authorized locations not related to the college. Each exam is given on a PASS/FAIL basis, and costs between $175 and $185. Results of the exams are valid for 2 years after the date of examination.
During the course of the program the student will also qualify to take the FAA Practical Tests for: Private Pilot-Single Engine Land, Commercial Pilot-Single Engine Land, and the Instrument Rating.
All flight training will be completed at partner flight schools, with the student enrolling in lab courses at SCC to obtain college credit for their flight training.
This is an intensive, pilot-focused aviation program that will bring participants with little or no aviation knowledge up to the level of an instrument-rated commercial pilot. The program is taught in cohorts, with 7 to 12 units per semester.
All required courses must be passed with a grade of "C" or better.
Projection of number of students to earn certificate annually: 3-4 students (estimate)
Program Proposal Attributes
- Certificate of Achievement: 16 or greater semester (or 24 or greater quarter) units (C)
This program is the expansion/evolution of our current Flight Technology program. Our current program is comprised of ground instruction (lectures) only. This new program builds upon the existing Flight Technology program by incorporating all of the courses from the Flight Technology certificate program, with the addition of an orientation course (FLTEC 200) and flight training labs (FLTEC 360, 362, 364). The flight training labs are conducted by local partner flight schools. This program will allow students to qualify for FAA certification as a Commercial, Instrument-rated airplane pilot.
Career Opportunities:
Professional Pilots are employed as Charter Pilots, Flight Instructors, Ground Instructors, Agricultural Pilots, Bush Pilots, Survey Pilots, Helicopter Pilots, Flight Engineers, and Regional Airline/Major Airline Pilots as well as working for a Government Agency or the Military.
Course Units and Hours
40
n/a
n/a
Course Report
| Total Units: | 40 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Program | ||||
| Enrollment Eligibility Course: | ||||
| FLTEC | 200 | Introduction to Professional Pilot | 1 | |
| First Semester (Summer): | ||||
| FLTEC | 320 | Private Pilot Ground School | 4 | |
| FLTEC | 360 | Private Pilot-Airplane Flight Techniques | 3 | |
| Second Semester (Fall): | ||||
| FLTEC | 302 | Aviation Weather | 3 | |
| FLTEC | 304 | Human Factors and Risk Management in Aviation | 3 | |
| FLTEC | 306 | Federal Aviation Regulations | 3 | |
| FLTEC | 330 | Airplane Aerodynamics | 3 | |
| Third Semester (Spring): | ||||
| FLTEC | 310 | Instrument Pilot/Instructor Ground School | 4 | |
| FLTEC | 312 | Air Navigation, Airspace, and Communication | 3 | |
| FLTEC | 314 | Large Aircraft Systems | 5 | |
| FLTEC | 321 | Commercial Pilot Ground School | 3 | |
| FLTEC | 362 | Instrument Pilot-Airplane Flight Techniques | 3 | |
| FLTEC | 364 | Commercial Pilot-Airplane Flight Techniques | 2 | |
Requirements | Course Designator and Number | Course Title | Units | Semester Sequence |
Required (1 unit) | FLTEC 200 | Introduction to Professional Pilot | 1 | Prerequisite (anytime prior to S1) |
Required (4 units) | FLTEC 320 | Private Pilot Ground School | 4 | S1, Summer |
Required (3 units) | FLTEC 360 | Private Pilot-Airplane Flight Techniques | 3 | S1, Summer
|
Required (3 units) | FLTEC 302 | Aviation Weather | 3 | S2, Fall |
Required (3 units) | FLTEC 304 | Human Factors and Risk Management in Aviation | 3 | S2, Fall |
Required (3 units) | FLTEC 306 | Federal Aviation Regulations | 3 | S2, Fall |
Required (3 units) | FLTEC 330 | Airplane Aerodynamics | 3 | S2, Fall |
Required (4 units) | FLTEC 310 | Instrument Pilot/Instructor Ground School | 4 | S3, Spring |
Required (3 units) | FLTEC 312 | Air Navigation, Airspace, and Communication | 3 | S3, Spring
|
Required (5 units) | FLTEC 314 | Large Aircraft Systems | 5 | S3, Spring |
Required (3 units) | FLTEC 321 | Commercial Pilot Ground School | 3 | S3, Spring |
Required (3 units) | FLTEC 362 | Instrument Pilot-Airplane Flight Techniques | 3 | S3, Spring |
Required (2 units) | FLTEC 364 | Commercial Pilot-Airplane Flight Techniques | 2 | S3, Spring |
Proposed Sequence:
Prerequisite = 1 unit
S1, Summer = 7 units
S2, Fall = 12 units
S3, Spring = 20 units
Total Required Program units: 40
Supporting Documents
North/Far North Regional Questions
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Submission Details
10/23/25 - 03:31 PM
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Return to Drafts
Please list the reason(s) for returning "Professional Pilot". to Crystal Thornton's drafts. This message will be sent to thorntc@scc.losrios.edu
Comments, Documents, Voting
Comments
All Comments
Shari Dempsey Super User · 11/19/25
Program approved for recommendation by the NFN voting members on November 7, 2025.