The state of Texas is a national leader in the field of Aviation and Aerospace. With 1,429 FAA-approved airports, four major airlines and 12.1 million take-offs and landings in terminal facilities in Texas, business is booming. That means lots of job opportunities.

If you’ve dreamed of becoming a pilot, you’ll want to train with the very best.  With aviation experience dating back to 1968, Texas State Technical College has long been a leader in this field. You can obtain an associate degree in Aircraft Pilot Training (APT) and become certified as a flight instructor to more quickly rack up airtime flight hours.

As a student at TSTC, you will receive the advantage of years of collective experience from our FAA-certified instructors, as well as the college’s unique features: top-notch equipment, a dual runway and operational control tower and the nation’s largest airport owned and operated by a public educational institution.

And TSTC Waco has now joined forces with its sister college in West Texas to provide a single Aerospace Division with expanded resources that will help develop the next generation of Texas Airmen – including you!

Former Congressman Chet Edwards said... "TSTC is right where the action is when it comes to training students in aerospace and other key industries," said Edwards. "It has been doing tremendous work for decades, and hopefully the folks at the state and federal levels are finally realizing its potential. When you come to TSTC, you're looking at the future."

What you’ll do!

• Experience the thrill of flight and polish your flying skills in 14 training aircraft


• Practice real-world scenarios on first-class flight simulators


• Utilize a broad array of piloting tools, including flight computers, radios, electronic navigational devices and more


• Study flight plans, operating procedures, charts and maps, fuel calculations, aircraft performance and other important functions


• Learn from FAA-certified instructors with years of experience in the industry


• Join TSTC’s Flight Team that competes annually to further their skills and networking with other aviation students and instructors

TSTC’s star power prep

• 5 semesters of intensive training on a working campus airport campus with operational control tower and dual runway, in addition to the academics and support courses you need to succeed 


• High-tech hands-on practice on a comprehensive simulator suite that provides students with a virtual experience simulating real-world conditions


• Small class size with a strong one-on-one instructional approach


• Access to TSTC’s Aerospace Center with new terminal facility, air traffic control tower and expanded programs (to open 2012)


• Experienced staff with industry training guided by an advisory board comprised of field experts


• Additional multi-engine training and ratings options


• Ability to join the college’s flight team and gain experience though collegiate flight competitions

Faculty

TSTC’s Aircraft Pilot Training faculty comes to the college with years of professional experience in their respective aviation fields.

TSTC Aircraft Pilot instructors hold FAA Private, Instrument and Commercial certificates, along with Flight Instructor and Multi-engine Instructor certificates.

Led by a host of experts from civil and military aviation backgrounds, TSTC’s instructors bring a combined experience of hundreds of years in aviation training to students.

 Small class size

At TSTC, our Aircraft Pilot Training Technology classes average 20 students per class to ensure instructors have plenty of time to work with each student.

Hands-on learning

Compared to other colleges, TSTC students spend a lot less time in the classroom and much more time in work settings, operating the instruments they will use in their respective fields – including flying planes! Students spend more than 60 percent of their time learning by doing the actual work they will do upon graduating from college. It’s just one of the many ways TSTC ensures you get the strong training you need to succeed in your career choice.

Advisory Committee

TSTC’s strong programs match industry needs, making it easier for graduates to obtain jobs at hiring time.

How do we do this? As industry professionals, our advisory committees assist the college in determining the courses you study, providing a valuable advantage. They can ensure that what we teach matches what industry is seeking.

Combined with internship opportunities with associated partners, it provides a compelling reason why employers are attracted to TSTC graduates. 

Value Added

Degree plans within the Aerospace division family can provide additional job credibility through certifications, club memberships and industry partnership opportunities.

TSTC Waco, for example, has a student chapter of Alpha Eta Rho, the international aviation fraternity.

Additional aviation industry partnerships aid students as well, including APT’s First Officer Program with the Texas Farm Bureau, and TSTC’s connections with American Eagle, Colgan Air and more.