Administration

Steven Brinly, B.S., M.A., M.C.A., FAA COMM, INST, ME, CFI, CFII, AGI, RP, A&P
Interim Dean, School of Aeronautics
Associate Professor of Aeronautics

Julie Speakes, B.C.A., M.B.A., M.C.A., Ph.D., FAA COMM, INST, ME, CFI, CFII, MEI, IGI, AGI, GS, RP 
Associate Dean, School of Aeronautics
Professor of Aeronautics

Aviation Qualifications Legend

• A&P – Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance Technician
• AGI – Advanced Ground Instructor
• ATP – Airline Transport Pilot
• CFI – Certified Flight Instructor
• CFII – Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
• COMM – Commercial Pilot
• DME – FAA Designated Maintenance Examiner
• DPE – FAA Designated Pilot Examiner
• GS – Gold Seal Flight Instructor
• HELO – Helicopter Rated
• IA – Inspection Authorization
• IGI – Instrument Ground Instructor
• INST – Instrument Rated
• ME – Multi-Engine
• MEI – Multi-Engine Instructor
• RP – Remote Pilot

Program Directors

A listing of program directors can be viewed on the Program Director webpage.

Research Intensive Courses

All research intensive courses are listed online on the Center for Research & Scholarship QEP Overview webpage.

Purpose

The purpose of the School of Aeronautics is to equip, mentor, and send Champions for Christ into the aerospace community.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certification

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certificate. The School of Aeronautics is a FAA 14 CFR 141 certified school. Liberty University provides Part 141 training for online Private Ground, online Instrument Ground, online Commercial Ground, residential Private Pilot, residential Instrument Rating, and residential Commercial Pilot training. The School of Aeronautics partners with our approved Flight Training Affiliates to deliver FAA 14 CFR Part 141 training under their air agency certificate. The Aviation Maintenance program is an FAA 14 CFR Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School authorized to teach Airframe and Powerplant.

Course Fees

Some aviation courses, including all flight courses have additional fees, which vary depending on course requirements. In addition, course fees may vary between residential and online courses.

All University course fee information can be found at this link: https://www.liberty.edu/student-financial-services/basic-costs/course-fees/

Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits

For those qualified for and using Veterans Benefits, please review: https://www.liberty.edu/military/gi-bill/

Admission Requirement for Online Degrees

In order to be admitted into the Liberty Online BS Aviation degree, the student must certify that he or she understands that degree completion requires acceptance, enrollment and completion of all flight training requirements at an LU-approved, independent Flight Training Affiliate and requires the student to meet all Federal Transportation Security Administration requirements for flight training, or the student must have a Commercial Pilot Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration prior to admission. Further information about admission into this program can be found at this link: https://www.liberty.edu/online/aeronautics/bachelors/aviation/.

An FAA Medical Certificate is required prior to starting flight training at most training locations, and prior to solo flight at all training locations. Although the minimum certificate required for flight training is a Class 3 Medical Certificate, students should obtain a Class 1 Medical Certificate to ensure eligibility for airline operations as Class 1 is the minimum required for employment as an airline pilot.

In order to be admitted into the Liberty Online BS Aviation Maintenance Management, students who do not hold a valid FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate must certify that he or she understands that based on FAA requirements, the AVMT courses (45 hours) listed on this degree cannot be offered online and must be taken residentially at Liberty University. FAA mechanic training and certification, with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, may be done outside of Liberty University and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credit may be awarded for licensure to meet the requirements of the AVMT courses (45 hrs.) if a student already has a valid FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate. Further information about admission into this program can be found at this link: https://www.liberty.edu/online/aeronautics/bachelors/aviation/aviation-maintenance-management/.

Language Proficiency Requirements

Minimum English proficiency test score requirements for admission to a School of Aeronautics major, minor, or certificate program of study leading to FAA certification or enrollment in a course leading to FAA certification are:

• TOEFL (Internet Based Test or iBT): 79
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS):  6.5
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 55
• International Test of English Proficiency Academic Plus (iTEP):  3.9
• Successful completion of Level 7 at Language Consultants International (LCI)
• Successful completion of Level 112 at ELS Educational Services (ELS)

Students enrolled in these programs or courses, who do not reside in an English-speaking country, are not eligible to have the English proficiency test requirement waived.