Aviation Industry Career Training
Saint Francis University's New Aviation Education Center
The Saint Francis University Aviation Education Center is dedicated to developing innovative, high-demand programs that meet the workforce needs in aviation and related industries.
SFU's growing presence at the John Murtha Johnstown–Cambria County Airport is a result of the university’s aviation education partnership with the airport authority, Nulton Aviation Services, Cambria County, SkyWest Airlines, Lockheed Martin Aeroparts Inc. and Martin-Baker America.
Aviation Careers Start at Saint Francis University
Whether your goal is to work on aircraft and drones, or to pilot them, we offer degree and certificate preparation options to get you on the right path to a rewarding career.
Our Offerings
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Aviation Maintenance Technician Training
This hands-on technical program is designed to be completed in 21 months and will prepare students to work as technicians in the aviation industry and beyond.
- Courses will be held in Johnstown at SFU's new Aviation Education Center at the John Murtha Cambria County Airport.
- Our unique curriculum will prepare students to test for their General, Airframe and Powerplant certificates and prepare them to execute precision, detail-oriented maintenance and manufacturing tasks.
- SFU is partnering with SkyWest Airlines, giving future AMT graduates access to their AMT Pathway Program.
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Aviation Specialization/Pilot Training
The Aviation Specialization, provided in coordination with Nulton Aviation Services, catapults a student with no past flight experience to the edge of commercial aviation.
- Obtain Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial ratings within 3.5 years.
- Prepare for a career in commercial aviation by leveraging Saint Francis University's Elite Partnership with SkyWest Airlines.
- Enhance your marketability in law enforcement, engineering, and many other fields
Admissions paths are open for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals.
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Flexible Online Degree Paths
Both the Pilot 's Training and the Aviation Maintenance programs can be worked into an SFU degree. The most flexible path is our online B.S. in Organizational Leadership.
Build out your degree path:
Division of Professional Studies
This hands-on technical program is designed to be completed in 21 months and will prepare students to work as technicians in the aviation industry and beyond.
- Courses will be held in Johnstown at SFU's new Aviation Education Center at the John Murtha Cambria County Airport.
- Our unique curriculum will prepare students to test for their General, Airframe and Powerplant certificates and prepare them to execute precision, detail-oriented maintenance and manufacturing tasks.
- SFU is partnering with SkyWest Airlines, giving future AMT graduates access to their AMT Pathway Program.
The Aviation Specialization, provided in coordination with Nulton Aviation Services, catapults a student with no past flight experience to the edge of commercial aviation.
- Obtain Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial ratings within 3.5 years.
- Prepare for a career in commercial aviation by leveraging Saint Francis University's Elite Partnership with SkyWest Airlines.
- Enhance your marketability in law enforcement, engineering, and many other fields
Admissions paths are open for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals.
Both the Pilot 's Training and the Aviation Maintenance programs can be worked into an SFU degree. The most flexible path is our online B.S. in Organizational Leadership.
Build out your degree path:
Division of Professional Studies
Meeting Workforce Needs
The need for pilots: Recognizing the global shortage of pilots, SFU entered the aviation education space in 2017 after receiving startup funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to develop a pilot training program in partnership with Nulton Aviation Services.
The need for aviation maintenance technicians: Beyond the need for pilots, the university has also stepped up to meet a critical demand in aviation maintenance. In October 2022, the university was awarded a $1 million grant by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to develop Aviation Maintenance Technician programming.
Choose your career path.
Contacts:
Dean of the Division of Professional Studies
Dr. Tricia McFadden
TMcfadden@francis.edu
814-471-1163
Aviation Maintenance:
Director Aviation Maintenance Tech. Program
Brianna Pavkovich
814-471-1153
Pilot's License Training:
Aviation Program Chair/Engineering Instructor
Br. Marius Strom, T.O.R.
mstrom@francis.edu
814-472-3934
Our Facilities
Aviation Maintenance:
AMT courses will be held at SFU's new Aviation Education Center located at 220 Fox Run Road, Johnstown, PA 15904 adjacent to the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.
Pilot Training:
Flight and ground training in the Aviation Specialization (Pilot's License Training) is taught by certified flight instructors from Nulton Aviation Services, an FAA-certified part 141 Pilot School.