The academic component of the aeronautical institute will be housed in the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business, currently slated for expansion. Westminster's aeronautical institute will be one of only a few aviation programs in the country that develops pilots with a strong foundation in both liberal arts and business.
Pilots are resource managers.
Studies show that the future demand for pilots will continue to grow at a rapid pace. The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that major and regional airlines will hire 700,000 new pilots in the next 12 years. Pilot retirement rates will increase annually, with up to 54 percent of today's pilots retiring by the year 2007. Seidelman pointed out that a well-rounded business background also offers a pilot the additional option of entering aeronautical management. He noted that the strict physical requirements for pilots make other career options essential in the aviation industry.