JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University’s School of Aviation has seen enrollment increase from 220 to nearly 317 solo students since 2022.
The program, founded in 1983, maintains relationships with regional and major airlines.
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Captain Matt Tuohy, the program’s director.
“Our top priority is to continue producing students that the industry wants,” Tuohy said.
Tuohy noted the program trains both pilots and aviation management students.
“We’re preparing students for just about all aspects of flying airplanes and managing,” he said.
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Tuohy said JU’s program is doing its best to alleviate the nationwide pilot shortage.
The program reports that 20% of its pilot students are women, compared with a national average of 6%.
He added that graduates typically begin as flight instructors before moving to regional airlines or corporate flying. “Every one of them’s got a job waiting for them,” he said.
Tuohy summarized the program’s purpose.
“You go to law school to be a lawyer, you go to medical school to be a doctor, and you come to a collegiate aviation program to be the best pilot you can be,” Tuohy said.
To watch the full interview with Tuohy, along with insights from Jacksonville City Council Vice President Nick Howland and political analyst Rick Mullaney on the city’s budget and the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, tune in to This Week in Jacksonville.