A successful flight takes a team. Pilots bring the aircraft safely to its destination. Dispatchers help plan and support the flight. Aviation business professionals help keep the organizations behind those operations moving.
At Academy College, you can explore which part of that team fits your interests—and take the next step toward an aviation career.
With fall quarter beginning October 5, 2026, now is a great time to ask questions, explore programs, and start your application. Apply by September 15 to have your $40 application fee waived.
How Academy College and Thunderbird Aviation Train Pilots Together
Becoming a professional pilot means connecting what you learn in the classroom with what you do in the aircraft.
Academy College and Thunderbird Aviation work together to make that connection. Students pursue their academic program through Academy College and complete flight training with Thunderbird Aviation at Flying Cloud and Crystal airports in the Twin Cities.
Academy’s coursework builds knowledge in subjects such as weather, navigation, aircraft systems, flight planning, and aviation safety. With Thunderbird’s certified flight instructors, students put that knowledge into practice while developing their flying skills.
A classroom lesson about weather becomes part of a preflight decision. Navigation concepts become a route to plan and fly. Each stage helps students connect aviation knowledge with practical experience.
Academy offers bachelor’s, associate degree, and certificate pathways in commercial pilot training, with the certificates and ratings earned depending on the program selected. Explore Academy College’s commercial pilot training programs.
Aircraft Dispatch: Put Your Planning Skills to Work
If you enjoy problem-solving, paying attention to details, and making decisions as conditions change, aircraft dispatch is a career worth exploring.
Dispatchers help evaluate weather, plan flights, and coordinate with pilots to support safe operations. It is a role for people who want to be closely involved in the decisions behind a flight.
Academy College’s aircraft dispatcher training prepares students for FAA aircraft dispatcher certification. For someone considering a career change, it offers a focused way to explore a professional role in aviation. Learn more about Academy’s aviation programs.
Aviation Business: Support the Industry You Love
An interest in aviation can also lead toward the business side of the industry.
Airports, flight schools, charter companies, and airlines depend on people who understand both business needs and the environment in which aviation operates. If you enjoy organizing, communicating, and helping a team succeed, Aviation Business could be a direction to explore.
As a career college, Academy offers aviation education that reaches across flying, dispatch, and business. That gives prospective students an opportunity to consider where their interests and existing skills might fit.
Visit Our September 18 Open House
Come explore Aircraft Dispatch and Aviation Business at Academy College’s upcoming Business, Accounting & Aircraft Dispatch Open House.
Friday, September 18, 2026
3–4:30 p.m.
Academy College, Bloomington
Bring your questions about programs, getting started, and choosing a path that fits your goals.
Save on Your Application Before September 15
The $40 application fee waiver ends September 15—before the open house. If you’re ready to apply, submit your application by the deadline to take advantage of the savings.
Fall quarter begins October 5, 2026. Whether your interests lead toward the flight deck, dispatch, or aviation business, your next step starts with exploring the possibilities at Academy College.
