Welcome to CWU's Flight Training Program!

Prior to the start of the school year, there are some items to plan for prior to your arrival. As you noticed in your acceptance letter, we need TSA Documentation for all students. These documents must be presented before we can enter you in the flight training software and get you scheduled for flights.

•     US citizens – must present either a government certified copy of your birth certificate and a current driver’s license (or other current government issued photo identification) OR a current copy of your passport. Please bring this with you at the start of classes for faculty to verify.
•     NON-US citizens – No non-US students are allowed to begin flight training, nor are the flight lab fees collected and paid to the flight school, until the TSA vetting process is completed and approved.  Normally this process takes about 6 weeks, it requires certified fingerprints, and there is a cost. For information on how to apply
• Please contact Teresa Sloan, CWU Chief Ground Instructor, at 509-963-3691 or teresa.sloan@cwu.edu for information.

Headsets: It is recommended that you purchase and bring your own aviation headset. If you choose not to, CWU has provided 6 headsets for students to rent ($5.00) during the duration of their flight. Aviation headsets can be purchased online through websites such as sportys.com/pilotshop or mypilotstore.com. It is also highly recommended to purchase a headset that has Active Noise Reduction (ANR). This helps reduce the noise of the engine and protects your hearing. More information to aid you in choosing a headset can be found here.

Charts: Other items students will need to order are a Seattle Sectional Chart and Airport/Facility Directory (Chart Supplement) NW. A sectional chart is essentially a pilot’s map and a chart supplement contains information about all the airports in a specific region. These items must be ordered online and are not provided by CWU.

Equipment: Students will also need a flight plotter, flight computer, kneeboard, logbook, and flight bag to hold necessary items when on a flight. A backpack works just fine as a “flight bag”. These items can be purchased either online or at the Wildcat Shop, although stock may be limited.

iPads: Many students have also asked if they are able to use an iPad for their training. iPads are useful, though not necessary for training. Private students will be focusing on flight planning and making calculations by hand with paper charts. Instrument students can use either paper or digital charts. If you choose to use a digital chart on your iPad, you should have a paper chart in your flight bag as a backup in case your iPad malfunctions.

Hood: View limiting devices will be used by private students for only a few flights, while Instrument students will spend a vast majority of their flight time using one. View limiting devices will be provided in the airplanes, though it is optional to purchase your own.

Dress: Students are expected to wear closed toed shoes and long pants for all flights, regardless of weather. This ultimately ensures student safety. For stage checks and checkrides, students are expected to wear business/ business casual. Professionalism is highly valued in the aviation industry. As the weather changes, students must dress appropriately for weather conditions. In Ellensburg, we can experience anything from 90+ degree weather in September, 40mph winds at times and snow starting around late November. Please pack clothes accordingly.

We hope this information helps to prepare you for your transition to CWU. Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have.