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Liberty chosen to host Global Cessna Pilot Center Conference

A Cessna Skyhawk flys over Liberty University's mountain property.Liberty University has been selected to host the 2015 Global Cessna Pilot Center (CPC) Conference, an annual seminar for leaders and staff of Textron Aviation’s Cessna Pilot Centers across the country, June 17-19. The two-day general session, with an additional session for Chinese flight schools, has traditionally been held near Cessna’s headquarters in Kansas. The conference is expected to bring more than 200 guests to Liberty’s campus. Certain events will also take place at nearby off-campus locations.

The seminar focuses on a number of topics related to flight training education, such as current and emerging issues in aviation law, business tips for flight schools, and best practices for reducing human error.

While at Liberty’s campus, guests will be given a guided tour of campus as well as a trip to Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.

Liberty’s selection for this honor speaks to the strong relationship the university has built and maintained with Textron Aviation.

“When Textron Aviation, the leading manufacturer of general aviation aircraft, asked Liberty to host this year’s annual international Cessna Pilot Center conference, we were honored to accept,” said Dave Young, president of Freedom Aviation and Liberty’s assistant provost for aeronautics education. “We believe Textron has recognized the uniqueness of a university aviation program that also owns a full service Fixed Base Operation (Freedom Aviation), and the exclusive opportunities such a combination creates. Hosting the Cessna conference not only strengthens our relationship with Textron, but also enables us to showcase Liberty and the Lynchburg area to several hundred attendees from around the country and the world.”

Last semester, the Liberty University School of Aeronautics signed with Textron a long-term agreement for the purchase of Cessna Skyhawk aircraft for Liberty’s growing flight training fleet. Liberty also reached an agreement with Cessna to provide an affiliate flight training program for its qualifying Cessna Pilot Centers (CPCs) at airports across the country. This allows Cessna, which operates a network of approximately 150 CPCs, to make it possible for more of their students to not only earn pilot’s licenses, but also degrees in aviation. Under the agreement, students who enroll in flight training at a CPC can also enroll in Liberty’s online program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree.

As a demonstration of its appreciation for Liberty, Textron Aviation delivered the 10,000th single-engine aircraft from its Independence, Kan., facility to the School of Aeronautics on Aug. 28. The milestone aircraft, a Cessna Skyhawk, features a decal highlighting this distinction.

  • The Liberty University School of Aeronautics has grown from four students to the largest faith-based university aviation program in the country. The school offers a variety of online and residential programs, including a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in military aviation, missionary aviation, commercial/corporate aviation, and unmanned aircraft systems. The School of Aeronautics works closely with Freedom Aviation, the fixed-based operator located at the Lynchburg airport and owned by Liberty University.
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