DSC collaborates with Epic Flight Academy

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2018) - Daytona State College and Epic Flight Academy have announced a new collaboration that allows Epic students to transfer their flight training credits to Daytona State for college credits to be applied toward an Associate of Science in Industrial Management Technology degree. The articulation agreement between the schools is an effort to address a growing pilot shortage.

"We are pleased to collaborate with Epic Flight Academy," said DSC President Tom LoBasso. "We look forward to welcoming Epic students to the DSC community and are excited about helping them create opportunities to advance their careers."

Epic Flight CEO Danny Perna said, "With the pilot shortage worsening and the requirement by major airlines for pilots to hold a college degree, we want to be proactive. Working with Daytona State offers the ideal relationship. They have a solid reputation for meeting the needs of the community, and we are thrilled to team up with them."

Under the agreement, Epic's student pilots will complete 700 hours of private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, multi-engine, flight instructor, and flight instructor instrument training. Most students complete this flight training in one to two years.

"Epic students can simultaneously enroll at Daytona State and take courses toward their Industrial Management Technology degree," said Epic's Director of Education, Dr. Cindy Lovell.

Once students complete their flight training and 24 Industrial Management credit hours, DSC awards them 23 additional college credit hours toward the degree. The AS in Industrial Management Technology requires a total 60 hours to complete.

"Epic hires its own graduates as CFIs (certified flight instructors)," added Perna. "This means that our graduates work for us as they build the 1,500 hours required by the Federal Aviation Authority to fly for the airlines. During this time, they can complete their AS and/or BS at Daytona State, all while earning a living as a CFI. This is an ideal arrangement that makes them highly qualified to work for major airlines."

Flight students may enroll at Daytona State as early as Fall B semester, which begins Oct. 22. They may simultaneously work toward their pilot certifications at Epic while earning credit toward the associate degree at DSC.

Full details are available here.

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For additional information contact:

Danny Perna
Epic Flight Academy
600 Skyline Drive
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
Phone: 386-409-5583, ext. 380
Email: danny@epicflightacademy.com

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MORE: Offering more than 100 certificate, associate and bachelor’s degree programs, Daytona State College is the leader in education and workforce training needs of Volusia and Flagler counties and beyond for more than 60 years. The College enrolls nearly 25,000 students a year at its seven instructional sites, with graduates serving in critical fields including healthcare, emergency services/public safety, business, education, hospitality, engineering, technology, digital media, and more. 

Daytona State has been recognized as a leader in higher education numerous times, consistently by U.S. News & World Report, which ranks the College among the Top Tier Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. The U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Center has ranked DSC among the top 50 most affordable public four-year institutions in the country, with less than half the tuition of the national average. Community College Week, a leading publication in higher education, annually continues to feature the college in its list of Top 100 Associate Degree Producers. And U.S. News & World Report has ranked DSC among its Top Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans multiple times.

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