Aviation and Aerospace

Technological advances in air and space flight have made aviation a dynamic and rapidly growing industry. The tagline “Faster, Farther, Cheaper” has never been more appropriate. Aviation and space industries will need educated and skilled workers to not only replace those pilots, technicians and engineers who will soon be retiring but also to fill the newly created positions necessitated by invention.

This rigorous course will provide the eager student an introduction to the science of air and space flight and the career opportunities available following this course of study. Learn to fly. This course is designed to serve as a general introduction to topics covered in aviation ground school and will serve to assist the student in preparing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private Pilot and Sport Pilot written exams. This course will include flight simulator time in the classroom and a familiarization flight around the Twin Cities Terminal Control Area.

Topics covered will include, among others, the history of aviation and space flight, the physics of flight, aviation meteorology, navigation and communications, aircraft systems, instruments and performance, and the history and engineering successes of major human spaceflight missions.

Aviation and Aerospace: Syllabus

Texts:	Private Pilot Manual (2010 ed.), Jeppesen Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Federal Aviation Administration Readings and notes from various sources
Week	Schedule of Topics and Assignments	Reading	Quiz/Exam
	Fundamentals of Flight
1	Introduction A Brief History of Aviation Career Opportunities in Aviation Pilot Training: How can I become a pilot?	Jepp ch. 1 PHAK ch. 1	Intro. to aviation
2-3	Airplane Systems Airframe Structure and Components The Powerplant Flight Instruments	Jepp ch. 2 PHAK ch. 2, 5-7	Q1 Airplane Systems Q2 Flight Instruments
4	Aerodynamics and the Principles of Flight Forces of Flight Aircraft Stability and Maneuvering	Jepp ch. 3 PHAK ch. 3-4	Q3 Aerodynamic Principles
	Flight Operations
5-6	Safety of Flight The Cockpit The Airport Aeronautical Charts and Defined Airspace	Jepp ch. 4 PHAK ch. 13-15	Q4 Safety of Flight Q5 Aeronautical Charts Q6 Airspace
7-8	Communication and Flight Information Radar and Air Traffic Control Radio Procedures Flight Manuals and other Documents Sources of Flight Information and FARs	Jepp ch. 5 PHAK ch. 8, 13	Q7 Communication and Flight Information
	Aviation Weather
9-10	Meteorology for Pilots Basic Weather Theory Understanding Weather Patterns and Potential Hazards to Aviators Obtaining and Interpreting Weather Reports and Forecasts Sources of Weather Information	Jepp ch. 5 PHAK ch. 8, 13	Q8 Meteorology for Pilots Q9 Interpreting Weather Data
	Aircraft Performance and Navigation
11-12	Factors Affecting Aircraft Performance Understanding Performance Charts Takeoff and Landing, Climb and Cruise Weight and Balance Flight Computers	Jepp chs. 6-7 PHAK chs. 11-12	Q10 Airplane Performance Q11 Flight Computers
	Integrating Pilot Knowledge and Human Factors
13-14	Navigation Pilotage and Dead Reckoning Instrument Flying and VOR Navigation ADF Navigation Advanced Navigation	Jepp ch. 9 PHAK ch. 15	Q12 Navigation
15-16	Human Physiology and Flight Aviation Physiology and Decision Making Flight Planning Cross County Flight	Jepp. chs. 10-11 PHAK chs. 16-17	Q13 Human Factors in Flight Q14 Flying Cross Country
	The Space Beyond
17	The Environment of Space The Solar System Earth and it’s Reference Systems Gravitation and Mechanics Interplanetary Trajectories and Planetary Orbits	Jepp. chs. 10-11 PHAK chs. 16-17	FAA Pilot Knowledge Exam
18	Space Flight Procedures and Projects Spacecraft Classification Telecommunications Typical Onboard Systems and Science Instruments Spacecraft Navigation and Flight Operations

Aviation and Aerospace: Guidelines & Expectations

We are partners in learning. During this course, you will have the opportunity to discover things about aviation and aerospace that should amaze and fascinate you. I will make every effort to present this material in an interesting, informative, and provocative way. However, attending class and paying attention will probably not be all you need to do to achieve success here. I expect you to study at least 1 hour each day (7-10 hours/week), outside of class, so you may fully understand and assimilate this material. You need to make this effort.

Come to class on time. Students are expected to be in their assigned seat at the tone that marks the beginning of the period. Three or more unexcused tardies will result in disciplinary action. Each student is expected to exhibit appropriate classroom behavior. Disruptions and annoyances that interfere with students’ ability to learn will not be tolerated. The use of cell phones or other electronic devices will not be permitted during class.

Be prepared each day with your text (if requested), notebook, pen or pencil, calculator, and an active mind. Please don’t ask to borrow a pen, pencil, calculator, or mind.

If you miss a day, you miss a lot. It will be your responsibility to make up all work due to absence. Immediately upon your return to class, you should make an appointment with me to discuss what you have missed. Failure to do so may result in no credit (grade of 0) awarded for the assignments missed. Be sure to contact a responsible classmate to obtain notes you missed during your absence.

You will have 1-day makeup time for each day you have an excused absence.
If your absence is unexcused, no credit (grade of 0) will be given for that assignment.
Missed assignments, labs, or tests must be made up after school on the assigned make-up date.

Assignments need to be completed on time. Work turned in late (except for absences noted above) will not be accepted and a grade of 0 will be given. You will be given sufficient time to complete your assignments. Many of these assignments require several days to complete. Do not wait until the night before the due date to attempt to complete these tasks.

Your submitted assignments must be just that...yours. Cheating, including plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Penalties for this type of infraction will be severe, up to and including an F in the course.

Grading Procedure: Students receive their grade based upon the total number of points earned from the following assessments:

Tests and quizzes:	40%	Grading scale:			A	93-100	A-	90-92
Laboratory exercises and observations:	40%		B+	88-89	B	82-87	B-	80-81
Class activities (i.e. projects, reports, homework):	20%		C+	78-79	C	72-77	C-	70-71
			D+	68-69	D	62-67	D-	60-61
							F	< 60

This is an "elective" course. I am assuming you are here because you want to learn about Aviation and Aerospace. To do well, your work needs to be completed on time and be a reflection of your best efforts.

Please also take a moment to read this letter from the National Commission on Excellence in Education.