I also pulled this off of Airliners.net. This was from 2000 and it was posted by me. It's a good description of our program. I can't believe I wrote this. I can't write nearly this well anymore.
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I can field any questions you folks have about the Aviation Administration program here. I'm not an expert, but I will see if I can track down some of the answers to your questions (if I can't answer them).
I'm pretty partial myself, as I go to Purdue. I'll attest to the fact that the land here is pretty boring, which doesn't do the campus justice. Too bad Purdue's not in Boston!
Anyhow, I feel that I have made the right choice where I am. I have found that my classmates have been just as enthusiastic about the program as I. I have yet to find someone who isn't.
Although Purdue is a Big 10 school, it doesn't feel like it. I come from a small town and I usually find the ol' "hustle and bustle" of city life to be a tad unnerving. When I say, "I feel right at home at Purdue" is no small statement.
You're mainly grouped with the folks from your area of study. In the classes that pertain specifically to your area of study you will be usually with the same people; this allows for some close friendships to be forged.
The teachers here too are very happy about their position. In fact my Aircraft Systems teacher, Denver Lopp looks for any reason to got outside to walk around our two static trainers; the Boeing 727 and 737. I feel like I'm in ER making the rounds with a group of residents and a Doctor looking at patients!
At times, Lopp (as well as other Professors) like to joke around and make the class very entertaining. That makes all the difference in the world when the subject could be very cut and dry.
As Purdue is a school of about 45,000 there is a vareity of interests in and around campus. It's very easy to get involved in clubs that aren't of your major and meet people who aren't involved in any aspect of flying. That's one of the pluses I've found; you're not limited to aviation.
I, for one, am a person who likes a little variety in life. Remember: "variety is the spice of life!" I have found this school to be very accomidating of that.
The only downside that I've found is that our simulator equipment is a little lacking. We have only 2 "outdated" 727 (which I'd love to fly, don't get me wrong) that aren't up to current industry standards. IMHO, I think we need to get a glass cockpit simulator. We were supposed to get a Fairchild-Donnier 328 simulator, but now it doesn't seem it will ever happen!
I hope that I've been of assistance. Oh, before I leave: We do get airline service here. United Express (Great Lakes Aviation) and Northwest Airlink (Mesaba) fly into this airport.