Improving Training Aircraft Utilization in Collegiate Flight Programs: A Case Study at Purdue University

Abstract

Aircraft fleets employed for student training in collegiate aviation programs are operated to varying degrees of efficiency, a metric that is influenced by such factors as scheduling, weather, and maintenance requirements. Recent research focusing on the utilization rate of the Cirrus training fleet at Purdue University indicated an average rate of 24% (Avery, 2014). An improvement in the efficiency of the scheduling of the Cirrus fleet would subsequently allow an accurate determination of the degree of excess capacity in the system. This excess capacity should ideally be treated as an asset that could be used to support an increase in enrollment in the Professional Flight program, a concept that could ultimately result in a reduction of student flight fees by spreading fixed costs across a larger student base, thereby improving the overall affordability of the program. This article examines the overall Cirrus utilization at Purdue, identifies both supply and demand components that affect the metric, and proposes recommendations for improving utilization. Through application of the recommendations developed in this paper, it is estimated that the Professional Flight program can accommodate a 20% increase in enrollment, resulting in significant incremental revenue which can be allocated to support additional program growth, reduce student fees, and provide internal employment opportunities for Aeronautical Engineering Technology students studying to obtain their Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certification. Implementation and monitoring of these recommendations is being integrated into an undergraduate course in aviation managerial economics to provide additional experiential educational opportunities for Aviation Technology students.