Ivy Tech & LIFT: Partners in Aviation Training

Matthew Medley is a Professor of Aviation Operations and the Chair of the Aviation Technology – Flight program at Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus. This program partners with LIFT Academy to provide the most extensive, up-to-date aircraft training possible.

The program started up in 2022, but they started working out of the LIFT hangar in 2023.

This program allows students to pursue their Associate of Applied Science in Professional Flight degree while gaining important, on-the-job skills by training at LIFT. Students can finish this program in 2 years.

Students schedule classes at Ivy Tech and fly at LIFT around that schedule. Students take about 7 credit hours at Ivy Tech on average and can expect to actually fly with instructors in their first semester in the program.

On this program, students can receive their private pilot certification after their first semester, instrument rating after their second, and then their commercial and multi-engine ratings after their third and fourth semesters.

When participating in this program, students receive extensive training that allows them to learn and practice concepts simultaneously.

“Any time you can have a student learning procedures in class and then that very afternoon they are going down to apply it, that’s the best,” Matthew shared. He says this dual training is one of the reasons why this program is successful. “Our student success rate is certainly very high with the flight training program, and I believe that is because we teach it one day and we, quite literally, apply it within 24 hours.”

The program certainly benefits from the geographic proximity between the Ivy Tech and LIFT Academy Columbus campuses. The campuses often share resources, expertise, and people to ensure quality training for students and a harmonious relationship between Ivy Tech and LIFT.

This program is open to all who are interested, but most students are in their early 20’s, know that they want to work in aviation, and want to take learning outside of the cockpit. Most students are from Indiana, but this program has attracted students from all over the country.

Students benefit from the dual approach this program offers. The program provides extensive education and training to ensure that students are well-rounded in all things aviation — from the classroom to the sky. While a college degree is not necessary for a career in aviation, it can set students up for future success. A FedEx captain that works closely with Ivy Tech always tells Program Chair Matthew Medley and students “a degree separates you from the rest for your first job.”

Read more about our partnership with Ivy Tech – Columbus here.