Council Bluffs, IA (Apr 28, 2025) — Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) and the Nebraska Flight Center have partnered to launch the region’s first Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) program, providing a direct pathway for aspiring pilots to enter the aviation industry.
A shortfall of 34,000 pilots is expected in the US by 2025, which is about 10% of the aviation workforce, and as the nation faces a growing shortage of professional pilots, the PAC program was designed to meet industry demand while elevating training quality, safety standards, and career readiness. In as little as 21 months, students can complete the program, earning essential FAA certifications through a focused, cohort-based model designed for those pursuing a career as a professional pilot.
The curriculum is non-degreed, so students can skip the degree altogether or choose an area of study that supplements rather than duplicates their professional flight licenses. “We built this program to leverage the structure and rigor of collegiate aviation while aligning with IWCC’s value proposition of providing streamlined, affordable, local education,” said Dr. Christopher Johnson, the program architect and former professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “While other programs bolt on expensive, aviation-related degrees that generally go unused by pilots flying the line, our program skips the degree component, which shortens the time commitment and reduces the overall cost of the program.”
Students will split their time between IWCC and the Nebraska Flight Center at Omaha Eppley Airfield. Weekly instruction includes 15–20 hours of classroom learning, one-on-one instruction and simulator- and aircraft-based flight time, preparing students to earn all of the requisite FAA certifications to become professional aviators:
- Private Pilot License (PPL)
- Instrument Flight Rating (IFR)
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
- Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII), and
- Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI)
An Open House will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. at The Nebraska Flight Center on Eppley Airfield. Free and open to the public, the event invites attendees to explore the PAC program, attend a safety seminar, connect with aviation professionals, and learn more about career opportunities in aviation.
The Nebraska Flight Center located at 3636 Wilbur Plaza, Omaha, NE 68110, which is located on Omaha Eppley Airfield (KOMA).
For more information or to RSVP for May 10th or future events, please visit Nebraska Flight Center.
About The Nebraska Flight Center:
The Nebraska Flight Center (NFC) was founded in 2003 by David Silchman, a graduate of IWCC. David holds private pilot, instrument rating, airframe & powerplant mechanic, advanced ground instructor, instrument ground instructor, and commercial drone certificates. He has been flying since the 1990s, and the NFC is the longest running flight school at Eppley Airfield.
About Iowa Western Community College:
Iowa Western Community College, located in Council Bluffs, was founded in 1966 and offers more than 80 programs of study in both Career and Technical Education and in Liberal Arts. Nestled on 250 beautiful acres in Iowa’s Loess Hills, the college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers students the amenities and atmosphere of a larger institution combined with the comforts and quiet of a smaller campus setting.
For media inquiries, contact Chris Johnson at 563-249-4315 or info@PilotTrainingSystem.com.