MTSU Sidelines

Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Alex Blackwelder Will Thomas ties down one of the Diamond DA40 new models.

It's been nearly a decade since the last fee increase, but this fall, the aerospace department will raise prices to help battle rising fuel and new equipment costs.

"We realize that any increase of any type, be it flight training, textbooks or parking passes, is an increased hardship on students, but, unfortunately, it is something that we have to deal with," said Paul Mosey, chief aerospace instructor at MTSU.

Mosey said that over the years the flight school has strived to keep the costs as affordable as possible to students, but a problem develops when universities have increased costs of operations and the equipment.

"We needed to adjust prices to get back on track and get operating costs under control," Mosey said.

There are a couple of reasons for the increase in fees, but the main reason is because of fuel costs, Mosey said.

"In January of 2004, MTSU was paying $1.99 per gallon, which prompted a modest price increase for aircraft rental, but in May 2008, fuel costs went to $5.20 per gallon," Mosey said.

Mosey said that with a $2 per gallon increase, 10 gallons per hour usage per engine and 12,000 average flight hours per year, it is easy to see not only the increased in losses in the future based upon those numbers, but the losses incurred over the past two years when there was no increase.

"All airlines are having to add fees and increase prices because of high fuel costs, so I think it is something MTSU needed to do," said Laura Alonso, sophomore aerospace major. "The money for it has to come from someone."

"I think that the price increases were necessary due to the rising fuel prices and the cost of the equipment," said Michael Moore, sophomore aerospace major. "The school can't be expected to just absorb the extra cost of fuel. If that were the case, then it probably wouldn't be able to provide the same level of service it has in the past."

"It's difficult to have to increase prices, but as the times change, we had to face the reality of the situation," said Wayne Dornan, chairman of the aerospace department.

Mosey said that they consider their flight school to be a premier program offering the best collegiate flight training available in the country.

"I think that the changes will end up helping aerospace students get a better education," Moore said. " Nobody likes to have to pay more money than they already are, but I hope that the extra costs will be worth it."

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