The purpose of this guide is to outline major capabilities, resources, and facilities within the College of Aviation (COA). Laboratories found in the various departments are highlighted. Additionally, potential areas of future research are provided as examples of how COA capabilities may be used. This is meant to be a living document based on products developed by the university and various departments and current inputs by the subject matter experts.
The College of Aviation hosts five departments: Aeronautical Science, Applied Aviation Sciences, Aviation Maintenance Science, and School of Graduate Studies. Each of the departments is represented in this guide.
Aeronautical Science
The Airline Operations Center Lab is a simulation facility for aircraft dispatch and operations in the national airspace. Students learn airline operations for AS 472 and AS 474 during the last 3 weeks of the semester.
The Aviation Learning Center (ALC) in the College of Aviation is a student resource center where free tutoring is provided to students with a primary focus on Aeronautical Science and Flight course related topics.
The Les Kumpula Flight Techniques & Electronic Navigation Lab is one of the few simulation labs in collegiate aviation instruction where students are taught the nuances of automatic flight and aircraft performance.
Professional pilots spend the majority of their flight time at high altitudes making Hypoxia Awareness Training an extremely valuable resource.
The Spatial Disorientation Lab allows aviation students to experience physical sensations normally associated with prolonged or sudden changes in attitude and/or visual references.
The College of Aviation UAS Lab is the largest Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Lab for research and aircrew training in the United States.
The mission of the ER lab is to explore, develop, and test immersive simulation technologies for use in aviation and aerospace research learning.
Applied Aviation Sciences
The Applied Aviation Sciences Department operates the Aerospace Forensics Lab, formerly known as the Aircraft Crash Lab.
This lab is a high-fidelity simulation of ATC in a tower, integrating ATC interactions, and includes the capability to simulate air traffic Local Controller, Ground Controller, and Flight Data positions, pseudo pilot control of aircraft and adjacent sectors.
The Enroute Laboratory is a real-world environment where Air Traffic Management students learn and practice communications and aircraft handling skills required during the enroute phase of air traffic control.
The mission of the lab (currently under development) will be to support and advance experiential learning and unique research activities of students and faculty. The lab will enhance flight data analysis and promote collaboration with industry and aviation experts.
The mission of the lab (currently under development) will be to provide development, operations, and testing support for university-class space research payloads and instrumentation.
The mission of the lab (currently under development) is to conduct innovative and collaborative spacesuit research and integrate this knowledge into the commercial spaceflight arena while providing a student and faculty-centered education platform that supports critical thinking and creativity.
Suborbital Operations Science Lab
The lab simulates a space vehicle and associated control center to perform takeoffs and landings from conventional runways and flights up to 350,000 feet.
The Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Lab is a realistic simulation of the Class C airspace around Daytona Beach International Airport and the high-density Class B airspace surrounding Orlando International Airport.
Potential research topics include video editing techniques, communication of complex information for different audiences, symbolic representation of scientific information, effectiveness of different on-camera interview techniques, the role of cognitive bias in the perception of climate theories, spatial and temporal perception of displayed meteorological data.
The Weather Center is primarily used as a location where students can access weather data and analysis applications for lab assignments and student research products.
Aviation Maintenance Science
The 1,300-square-foot Avionics Lab is utilized by courses in the Avionics Line Maintenance (ALM) minor: AMS 388 Air Transport Systems Line Maintenance Capstone Course, and its’ AMS 384 General Avionics Systems Integration prerequisite class.
The 2,000-square-foot Basic Engines and Propeller Systems Lab supports two AMS courses: AMS 271 Aircraft Reciprocating Power Plant and Systems and AMS 273 Propeller Systems.
The Engine Repair Station is a unique experience for students in the ERAU AMS degree program. This FAA certificated facility has been a part of the power plant curriculum since its establishment by Chandler Titus in 1956.
Reciprocating Engines Lab
This 3,000-square-foot lab is equipped to accommodate a variety of functions related to the fabrication and repair of aircraft metal and composite structures.
Flight
Next-generation Flight Simulation and Training Devices (FSTDs) are increasingly valuable in today’s complex flight training environment. To meet the need of these environments, the Advanced Flight Simulation Center (AFSC) operates an extensive fleet of FAA qualified FSTDs including eleven Level 5 and 6 Flight Training Devices (FTDs), as well as a single Level D Full-Flight Simulator (FFS).
School of Graduate Studies
