Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation and West Michigan Aviation Academy have created a new program to streamline the transfer between secondary school and collegiate aviation training in order to address the aviation worker shortage.
West Michigan Aviation Academy (or WMAA) and Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation recently announced a new partnership that aims to expand opportunities for students looking for careers in the aviation industry while also helping address an ongoing need for new qualified aviation professionals.
The aviation industry is currently experiencing an ongoing shortage of workers, as there is a large lack of qualified pilots as well as other professionally trained aviation workers. This has put a large burden on higher education institutions, as the need continues to grow.
WMAA is located near the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a nationally recognized public charter high school that specializes in STEM and aviation education.
Western Michigan’s College of Aviation is less than an hour away from most WMAA students, and is one of America's most comprehensive and respected aviation programs. It has been recognized as one of the top six flight schools in the entire world, and is the only aviation college in the state.
The new agreement will allow qualified WMAA students to receive designated admission into the aviation flight science program at Western through a pathway that has been created to create a quicker pathway between secondary aviation education into collegiate flight training.
In an article posted on Western Michigan’s University’s website, the school’s President Russ Kavalhuna spoke about the partnership, saying, “We are proud to partner with the West Michigan Aviation Academy to create a guaranteed route into our aviation college for these exceptionally prepared students.” Kavalhuna is also an alumnus of WMU’s College of Aviation, and a former commercial airline captain himself.
He went on to note, “The aviation industry needs highly trained pilots and aviation professionals, and this partnership reflects a shared commitment to helping meet that demand while expanding opportunity for students who are passionate about flight and already building valuable aviation experience before entering college.”
The WMU-WMAA Pathway Program will officially begin in the Fall 2026 semester, and will provide as many as five guaranteed admission opportunities a year for WMAA students who qualify and are looking to join WMU’s competitive aviation flight science program.
The founder and board president of the West Michigan Aviation Academy, Dick DeVos, was quoted about the program and the shortage it is addressing, saying, “There is a real need for exceptional talent in aviation. More than 2.2 million workers are part of the aviation industry with employees in every state. But nearly a quarter of that workforce is over the age of 55, and over the next 20 years, the world will need more than 600,000 new pilots,” he then added, “WMAA was founded to help students pursue meaningful futures through aviation and hands-on learning, and this partnership with Western helps create a direct pathway into one of the nation’s premier collegiate aviation programs.”
The WMU-WMAA Pathway Program was celebrated at an event that took place at WMAA’s Flight Training Center in Grand Rapids.
Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation and West Michigan Aviation Academy have had a relationship since the inception of the academy, when faculty at WMU consulted and provided support during the creation of the aviation programs at the academy. Back in 2024, the relationship was strengthened through a credit articulation agreement that allowed for the university to recognize the classwork and learning outcomes of the academy’s students.
This new aviation flight science pathway agreement is another link in the chain for qualified academy students who want to transition directly into flight training at the collegiate level at Western Michigan University.
Nicole Gasper is the CEO of the West Michigan Aviation Academy, and was quoted about the partnership between the two education institutions, saying, “This collaborative partnership with Western Michigan University is a definitive win for our students, our region and the broader aviation industry. By linking the exceptional aerospace preparation students receive at WMAA with WMU’s world-class flight training, we are creating seamless, guaranteed career pathways right here in West Michigan. Together, we are building a robust talent pipeline that keeps our brightest young aviation professionals local, fueling the industry's workforce demands directly from our own community.”
The dean of WMU’s College of Aviation also spoke about the benefits of the agreement for students, saying, “WMAA students arrive with an exceptional level of preparation, technical understanding and commitment to aviation. This agreement creates a transparent, merit-based route into a highly selective program while maintaining the rigorous standards expected of future aviation professionals. Together, our institutions are helping strengthen the educational continuum from secondary aviation education to collegiate flight training and ultimately into the aviation workforce.”
WMAA alumnus and current WMU aviation flight science student, Patrick DeVito, was in attendance at the event and spoke positively about both education institutions and the impact they have made on his journey into the aviation industry. He said, “ever since I was young, I’ve looked at airplanes and imagined myself in the cockpit. WMAA gave me a place to grow that passion and build confidence in myself, and WMU has helped me continue that journey in a really meaningful way. Coming to Western challenged me in all the right ways. I found a community here, met people who helped me through the transition, and discovered opportunities I never expected outside the classroom and flight deck. This partnership creates opportunities for students like me to pursue aviation dreams with a clear direction and incredible support.”
Finally, Kavalhuna noted that the partnership with WMAA is part of a larger commitment on the part of Western to create strong educational connections in West Michigan: “Grand Rapids and the broader West Michigan region are incredibly important to Western Michigan University. This partnership reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for students across this community while strengthening relationships with outstanding educational partners like WMAA.”
More information about West Michigan Aviation Academy can be found at the school’s website.
More information about Western Michigan University can be found at the school’s website.