Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies (Honours) - Commercial Aviation Management - Flight Training (EDN)

Western University

Program Description

The Commercial Aviation Management (CAM)program at the Western University is a stepping stone to a career in aviation.  CAM students will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Studies (BMOS), with specialized courses in aviation management.  In Canada, this type of aviation education is available exclusively at Western University.

The CAM program was developed in response to the changing Canadian aviation industry, which is increasingly requiring a university degree.  Whether pursuing a position as a pilot, manager, or other professional career; the aviation industry values the skills acquired through a university education.  The sky is the limit for graduates of the CAM program as, many choose to begin their careers, many others decide to pursue advanced education.  CAM alumni have gone on to successfully complete law school and MBA’s to broaden their professional horizons.

Today's aviation industry offers many challenging career opportunities. As air transportation systems increase in sophistication, and the role of the pilot changes, airlines are looking for employees who possess an optimal mix of academic knowledge and aviation skills.  Within the CAM program, students have the option of combining their four-year Bachelor’s degree with professional pilot flight training.  CAM students graduating with the Flight Option would receive a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Studies and a Transport Canada approved Integrated Commercial Pilot’s License (ICPL) with Multi-Engine and Instrument Ratings.  These credentials allow one to act as a professional pilot while being capable of assuming management responsibilities, both on the ground and in the air.  In addition, as pilots are required to hold a valid medical certificate, in the unfortunate event of an unforeseen medical issue a BMOS degree allows students to pursue professional positions in aviation management (which is not an option with a college-level pilot program).

Commercial Aviation Management at Western University, which was started in 1999, has been a success and is growing year after year. The program is building a positive reputation within the aviation industry and has brought awareness to the Western University.

Flight Training Option
It is strongly recommended that students who wish to receive flight training have completed at least two hours of small aircraft flying time prior to submitting an application to the flight training option. Flying in a small aircraft is much different than riding as a passenger in a transport-category airplane. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that students are comfortable in small aircraft and to give them a glimpse of what training will be like.  Diamond Flight Centre, who conducts all pilot training within the CAM program, offers this type of introductory flight training.

Some applicants to the CAM program have already completed some pilot training.  In this situation, previous flight experience will be evaluated on an individual basis.  It is possible that appropriate credit will be applied towards the flight training component of the program.  Such credit is granted at the discretion of the Chair of the DAN Department of Management & Organizational Studies and the co-ordinator of the flight school.

The flight option of the Commercial Aviation Management (CAM) program is one of the unique features that Western is very proud of. Many students are attracted to the CAM program because of the option of attaining an Integrated Commercial Pilot’s License (ICPL) along with the BMOS (Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies) degree. Graduates will also complete a Group 1 Instrument Rating (Group 1 = Multi-Engine and Instrument rating). 

CAM students complete flight training in state-of-the-art Diamond aircraft at the London International Airport (CYXU). The modern Diamond training fleet consists of the DA-20 C1, the DA-40 and DA-42, along with modern flight training devices for simulator exercises. Students in the flight option begin pilot training at the commencement of their second year in the CAM program at the University of Western Ontario. This allows students to become familiar with the University environment and comfortable with their academic workload, before being faced with the challenges of pilot training.

In addition to their academic coursework at Western University, students in the Flight Option will travel out to the airport several times a week to complete classroom-based ground school and in-aircraft flight training. Students’ progress through ground school with their CAM classmates, which results in a strong camaraderie within the group.

NOTE: Please note the English scores listed are minimum requirements. Meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission. Students with low English scores may be admitted to the English BOOST Program, a 9 week training program for conditional admission to their chosen program.