FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Epic Flight Academy Collaborates with Daytona State College to Offer Degree Opportunity
Oct. 5, 2019
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL – Epic Flight Academy and Daytona State College have announced a new collaboration that allows Epic students to transfer their flight training credits to Daytona State for college credits to be applied toward an Associate of Science in Operations Management Technology degree. The articulation agreement between the schools is an effort to address a growing pilot shortage.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Epic Flight Academy,” said DSC President Tom LoBasso. “We look forward to welcoming Epic students to the DSC community and are excited about helping them create opportunities to advance their careers.”
Epic Flight CEO Danny Perna said, “With the pilot shortage worsening and the requirement by major airlines for pilots to hold a college degree, we want to be proactive. Working with Daytona State offers the ideal relationship. They have a solid reputation for meeting the needs of the community, and we are thrilled to team up with them.”
Under the agreement, Epic’s student pilots will complete 700 hours of private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, multi-engine, flight instructor, and flight instructor instrument training. Most students complete this flight training in one to two years.
“Epic students can simultaneously enroll at Daytona State and take courses toward their Industrial Management Technology degree,” said Epic’s Director of Education, Dr. Cindy Lovell.
Once students complete their flight training and 24 Industrial Management credit hours, DSC awards them 23 additional college credit hours toward the degree. The AS in Industrial Management Technology requires a total 60 hours to complete.
“Epic hires its own graduates as CFIs (certified flight instructors),” added Perna. “This means that our graduates work for us as they build the 1,500 hours required by the Federal Aviation Authority to fly for the airlines. During this time, they can complete their AS and/or BS at Daytona State, all while earning a living as a CFI. This is an ideal arrangement that makes them highly qualified to work for major airlines.”
Flight students may enroll at Daytona State as early as Fall B semester, which begins Oct. 22. They may simultaneously work toward their pilot certifications at Epic while earning credit toward the associate degree at DSC.
Full details for this program are available through Epic and DSC.