The aviation program at Kansas State University’s Salina campus has added five new Cessna Skyhawk 172 G100s to the university’s fleet of learning aircraft.
“In addition to having the G1000 avionics system, these new planes have autopilot. This means that our students get a well-rounded experience in our Cessna 172 aircraft. They start learning in a gas gauge environment and, as they build flight time, move into more technologically advanced aircraft,” said Kurt Barnhart, aviation department head.
“Adding to our learning fleet was important to the program. As we gain students, it’s important to gain aircraft to maintain our low student-to-aircraft ratio,” said Dennis Kuhlman, CEO and dean of K-State Salina.
The university took delivery of the aircraft in late November and students were able to use the aircraft for their last two weeks of classes.
Located on the Salina campus adjacent to a 12,000-foot runway, K-State has a fleet of more than 40 learning aircraft and more Master Certified Flight Instructors than any other college or university in the country, according to university officials. K-State Salina offers bachelor’s degrees in professional pilot, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, airport management, avionics and unmanned aircraft systems as well as technology management and engineering technology. An airframe and powerplant certificate program is also available.
For more information: Salina.K-State.edu/aviation
