Prominent distinction defines caliber of programs, offers students career advantages.

Farmingdale State College (FSC) is pleased to announce that its Department of Aviation has received acceptance by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a member of the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program. AT-CTI status was awarded for two of FSC’s degree programs: Aeronautical Science: Professional Pilot, and Aviation Administration. 

The AT-CTI Program is a partnership between the FAA and select colleges and universities that provide the FAA with applicants that have a high likelihood of passing the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam. Almost all applicants with endorsement letters from AT-CTI schools are invited to take the FAA ATSA exam. To achieve the certification, FSC prepared a customized curriculum for students in the AT-CTI Program that includes five-to-seven courses in each degree program. They are pre-requisites and build the foundation for Air Traffic Management (AVN 350), providing the tools for careers in air traffic control and a wide array of aviation opportunities.

“This high-level certification and recognition by the FAA demonstrate the caliber of our degree programs, faculty and students,” said Barbara Christe, Dean of the School of Engineering Technology at Farmingdale State College. “Our graduates will have a solid advantage as they progress with their air traffic career training, and greater opportunities and choices toward a future in this highly competitive field.”

FSC offers one of the largest collegiate flight school in the Northeast and is the only four-year degree program in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Located less than two miles from the FSC campus, the Aviation Flight Center serves as the primary hub for flight training with a fleet of 17 aircraft that the College owns and operates, and features advanced aviation training devices. The main campus also houses a fully interactive air traffic control simulator that provides simulation in both tower and radar positions. It is also less than 40 minutes from the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center, the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility, and four other towered Airport Traffic Control Towers. Students can earn one of two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Aviation Administration or Aeronautical Science: Professional Pilot, with minors in Air Force ROTC, Aviation Administration or Aviation Flight. A drone pilot certification course is also available. 

Learn more about Aviation at FSC.