Introduction to Aviation

Course Description

AVS1001 — Introduction to Aviation is a college-credit lecture course providing a broad introduction to the aviation industry: history of flight; basic aerodynamics; aircraft types and engines; airports and air traffic control; aviation regulations and the FAA; airline industry economics; aviation careers; and current aviation issues including safety, environmental concerns, and emerging technologies. The course is suitable as a foundation course for students entering any aviation degree pathway: pilot, aviation maintenance, aviation management, airport management, or air traffic control. The "AVS" prefix at the 1xxx (lower-division) level denotes Aviation Sciences/Services college-credit programming distinct from PSAV aviation services courses (AVS 0xxx series).

This course is offered at Broward College Aviation Institute, Eastern Florida State College, Polk State College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and other Florida public colleges with aviation degree programs. Articulation to upper-division aviation programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Tech, and other 4-year aviation universities is generally available.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of AVS1001, students will be able to:

• Describe the history of aviation from the Wright Brothers through the modern jet age, including major technological and operational milestones.
• Apply basic aerodynamic principles: forces of flight (lift, weight, thrust, drag); airfoil theory; stability and control fundamentals.
• Identify and describe aircraft types and engines: piston engine, turbojet, turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft; general aviation, business aviation, commercial transport, military, and rotorcraft categories.
• Describe the U.S. airport system: airport classification (commercial primary, commercial nonprimary, GA, reliever); airport facilities; National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS); Florida airport network.
• Describe air traffic control: airspace classification (A, B, C, D, E, G); ATC services; FAA Air Traffic Organization; NextGen modernization.
• Apply aviation regulatory framework awareness: FAA structure; major 14 CFR parts (1, 23, 25, 39, 43, 61, 65, 91, 121, 135, 145, 147); the FAR/AIM.
• Describe airline industry structure and economics: legacy carriers, low-cost carriers, ultra-low-cost carriers, regional carriers, cargo carriers; revenue and cost structures; deregulation history (1978).
• Identify aviation career pathways: pilot, aviation maintenance, air traffic control, aviation management, airport management, dispatch, flight attendant, ground operations.
• Discuss current aviation issues: pilot shortage; sustainable aviation fuels (SAF); urban air mobility / eVTOL; cybersecurity; safety culture and SMS.

Optional Outcomes

• Apply introductory navigation: pilotage, dead reckoning, electronic navigation overview.
• Apply introductory weather awareness: weather products, hazardous weather phenomena.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Aviation History: Wright Brothers; pioneer aviators; commercial aviation development; jet age; supersonic flight; modern airline industry.
• Aerodynamics Fundamentals: Four forces of flight; airfoil terminology; angle of attack; lift coefficient; stability and control.
• Aircraft and Engines: Aircraft categorization; reciprocating engines; turbine engines (turbojet, turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft); rotorcraft; emerging eVTOL.
• Airport System: FAA airport classification; airport facilities; NPIAS; Part 139 airport certification; Florida airport network (major hubs and GA airports).
• Air Traffic Control: Airspace classes; ATC towers, TRACONs, ARTCCs; AFS Flight Service Stations; NextGen.
• FAA and Regulatory: FAA history and structure; major 14 CFR parts; FAR/AIM; Type Certificates and Production Certificates; Airworthiness Directives.
• Airline Industry: Carrier classifications; route networks (hub-and-spoke vs. point-to-point); revenue and cost structures; deregulation history; international airline operations; alliances.
• Aviation Careers: Pilot career path (private, commercial, ATP); maintenance technician path (A&P, IA); ATC; aviation management; ground operations; flight attendant.
• Current Industry Issues: Pilot shortage; sustainable aviation fuels (SAF); urban air mobility (UAM); unmanned aerial systems (UAS) integration; cybersecurity; sustainability and emissions.

Resources & Tools

• FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM); Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK)
• Industry texts: John H. Mott Aviation 2025; W. David Holt Air Transportation
• FAA.gov resources; ICAO documents
• Industry publications (FlightGlobal, Aviation Week, Air Transport World)

Career Pathways

AVS1001 is a foundational course for any aviation career pathway in Florida's substantial aviation workforce. Specific careers include commercial pilot (passenger and cargo), aviation maintenance technician, air traffic controller, aviation management, airport management, dispatcher, and flight attendant. Florida hosts major airline hubs, FBO networks, aviation manufacturers, and aviation universities (Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach being globally recognized).

Special Information

Course Format

Typically 3 credits, 45 contact hours (lecture).

Articulation

AVS1001 typically articulates as a foundational aviation course toward A.S. and B.S. aviation programs at Florida College System and SUS institutions, and toward upper-division programs at Embry-Riddle and Florida Tech.