Florida Tech combines the benefits and resources of a larger school (think world-class faculty members, high-tech facilities and a high-quality curriculum) with a close-knit academic community, small class sizes and one-on-one time with professors.

Florida Tech’s faculty are accomplished researchers, aviators and engineers—experts in all aspects of human factors and safety. You’ll learn from educators with backgrounds as broad-ranging as the study of human factors itself. In our classrooms and at the flight line you’ll find faculty who have years of experience within the industry, including experienced pilots and experts in areas such as airline consulting, airport consulting, design, management and aviation human factors.

Florida Tech is a world-class aeronautics school—and one of the top institutions for engineering and science. Students benefit from our excellent facilities and aircraft fleet and a wide range of high-tech tools for hands-on learning and research, from wind tunnels and air quality monitoring systems to advanced modeling software.

At the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research, just minutes from campus at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, students have access to our state-of-the-art aircraft fleet, featuring Piper planes equipped with cutting-edge glass cockpits. The center also houses facilities for weather and flight planning, simulators and more, providing a comprehensive environment for aviation training and research.

The College of Aeronautics’ Skurla Hall houses a first-rate computer lab equipped with a wide range of applications and networking capabilities, offering hands-on learning in aviation subjects such as airport design and planning.

Using computer-aided design (CAD) programs, you can complete projects in designing airports and airport terminals, and conduct experiments, such as noise studies. In the Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) Lab, you can fly desktop simulators under the guidance of a flight instructor and practice air traffic control (ATC) operations, enhancing your aviation skills.

Our 130-acre campus is located in a high-tech corridor on the Space Coast—NASA-Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral is just north of us—and many high-tech corporations and government and military organizations are located nearby. Our location provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities for our students. You can’t find a better location for immersion in aviation human factors and safety.

Flight students appreciate that we have over 300 days of ideal flying weather each year, and that our College of Aeronautics is ranked one of the safest flight schools in the U.S. Melbourne is home to an international commercial airport that is just a 10-minute drive from campus.

When it’s time to relax, Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean, with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches. We are minutes from the Indian River Lagoon, a highly biodiverse estuary, and it’s a short trip to the Florida Keys and the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs and social activities.

As a human factors and safety student you’ll find a world of internship opportunities in many different industries, with organizations such as Avidyne Corporation (right here in Melbourne), the U.S. Department of Labor, JetBlue Airways and Garmin.

Aviation human factors and safety students benefit from the strong connections the College of Aeronautics has within the aviation industry. You'll have the chance to meet recruiters from major airlines, airports and aviation-related companies at university career fairs. These opportunities help you expand your professional network and build an impressive résumé—often leading to job offers even before graduation.

Florida Tech is a world-class aviation university, and one of the best schools for pilot training. University flight training is conducted under the provisions of Federal Aviation Regulations Part 141.

Flight training is an integrated series of four courses designed to qualify you for the Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument and multiengine ratings and a minimum of 190 hours of flight training.

If you've had previous flight and ground training, advanced placement or transfer credit may be possible.

For safety and compliance with federal regulations special requirements apply to flight students, such as medical clearance and English language proficiency. Please see the university catalog for additional information.

The B.S. in aviation human factors with flight is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to receive the maximum time reduction allowed toward the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. Graduates of this program are eligible for a restricted ATP at 1,000 flight hours.

Interested in air traffic control? An air traffic control (ATC) specialization is offered in conjunction with the B.S. in aviation human factors and safety.

This specialization provides in-depth knowledge of ATC and the aviation industry and hands-on experience with industry-standard air traffic control programs to ensure graduates have the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed as air traffic controllers.

The ATC specialization meets the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program and is FAA-approved.

Graduates of the AT-CTI program may be eligible to bypass the Air Traffic Basics Course covered during the first five weeks of qualification training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. You must successfully complete all required training at the FAA Academy for employment with the FAA.

Learn more about air traffic control at Florida Tech.