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School of Aviation

SIU Aviation offers a comprehensive aviation program offering both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in aviation. SIU Aviation has three different undergraduate majors including Aviation Flight, Aviation Management and Aviation Technologies. In addition, we offer a graduate degree in Aviation Management.

The SIU Aviation Flight program is accredited by Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI). View our Aviation Flight Student Achievement Data.

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Be a Part of this.

The Boeing Company generously donated $50,000 to the School of Aviation to assist in subsidizing the cost of an aviation education for our students Thank you Boeing!!

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United Airlines Career Day was a Huge Success

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United Airlines Career Day was held on October 19, 2024.  The day was enjoyed by 140 Chicago area students and 26 United employees/alumni of the SIU Aviation program. 

The 737 Max 8 arrived in Carbondale a few minutes after 9:00 a.m.  The students disembarked from the plane to fanfare and hand-shakes from administration and aviation faculty, staff and current students.  A group picture was taken by the plane before the students boarded buses to tour campus.  There were lots of smiles on faces as they were fed lunch by the Women in Aviation group and excited to talk about their experiences.  After lunch, a presentation by various United employees, informed students about Aviation and the opportunities that abound at this time in both pilot and maintenance fields.

After lunch and the presentations, the students took a walking tour of the School of Aviation while groups were loaded onto one of the twelve SIU planes for introductory flights.  All students on the United flight were able to get a flight in.

After the tours and flights, students were screened to board the plane for the return trip home.  They were treated to pizza before boarding the plane.

United Airlines Career Day 2024 is in the books and we are looking forward to the next one.  Please watch our website for news on the next Career Day.

SIU Aviation Flying Salukis Plane and Trophies

Flying Salukis

The Flying Salukis is part of our nationally recognized aviation program. The 15- to 18-member squad plays an important role in highlighting both the aviation program and the university’s accomplishments.

The team has nine National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) titles dating back to 1977. Since 2011, when the Flying Salukis surprised many competitors by winning a then-seventh national championship, the team has nine straight top 3 national finishes. That includes championships in 2014 and 2015 and second-place showings in 2016 and earlier this year.