Aviation & Travel Careers


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When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.

– Leonardo da Vinci

The Aviation & Travel Careers Department has been helping students go places since 1967. We are proud of our long tradition of success and the fact that our students work for all the major airlines and travel companies throughout the world. Our many programs and course options mean that students may attend part-time or full-time, online or in person, or during the day or evening, depending on what schedule is most convenient. Students work at all of the major airlines and airports, including Alaska, American, Cathay Pacific, Compass, Delta, Emirates, JetBlue, SkyWest, Southwest, United, Virgin America, LAX, Long Beach Airport, John Wayne Airport, and Boeing. Students also work for AAA, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Contiki, Disney Travel, and many more.

Person piloting a plane

What You’ll Study

  • Special Projects
  • Introduction to Aviation
  • Introduction to Travel Careers
  • Career Communication/Portfolio
  • Aviation/Travel Open Lab
  • Air Transportation
  • Homeland Security
  • Aviation/Transportation Security
  • Disaster Preparedness/Response
  • Travel Sales and Tour Operations
  • Travel Management
  • Private Pilot
  • Air Navigation
  • Meteorology
  • Aircraft and Engines
  • UAV-UAS (Basic & Basic Flight)
  • Destinations (Americas/Europe & Africa/Pacific)
  • Tourism/Conference Management
  • Cultural Tourism
  • Customer Care: Airline/Travel
  • Flight Training (Device & Private Pilot)
  • Airline Reservations: SABRE
  • Flight Training (Flight Instructor, Instrument Rating, & Commercial Pilot)
  • Flight Simulator (Private Pilot, Commercial, and Instructor)
  • Cabin Safety Simulation
  • Airline/Aviation Management
  • Advanced Air Navigation
  • Cruise Line Sales and Operations
  • Instrument Rating
  • Aerodynamics
  • Commercial Pilot Seminar
  • Aviation Instructor
  • Turbine Simulator (Observation & Orientation)
  • Crew Resource Management
  • UAV-UAS (Advanced, Advanced Simulator, & Advanced Flight)
  • Airline Operations
  • Airport Operations
  • Passenger Services and Safety
  • Public Relations
  • Aviation/Travel (Internship & Seminar)
  • Independent Study

Catalog

Visit our catalog for more information about the degrees and certificates, courses, and program learning outcomes for students majoring in Aviation & Travel Careers.


Careers & Salary

Careers

  • Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager
  • Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk
  • Tour Guide and Escort
  • Transportation Attendant
  • Flight Attendant
  • Travel Agent
  • Travel Guide
  • Airline Pilot
  • Copilot
  • Flight Engineer
  • Commercial Pilot
  • Transportation Inspector

Salary

  • Low: $21k
  • Average: Varies
  • High: $208k

Program Mapper

Crane Icon
Visit our Program Mapper for more information.

What Students Say

“I owe everything I have accomplished to this day, to Cypress College Aviation & Travel Careers Program. I am so thankful to have Kathleen Reiland and Kathy March on my team. They have supported me through every decision I have made since I started the program at 17 years old.”

Katy Straughn

“I give ship loads of credit to the incomparable, incredible Ed Valdez (ATC). I have never seen someone do so much and go so above and beyond. Kathleen Reiland has also been an influential faculty member throughout my career.”

Brandy Manfredonia


Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

  • Jeff Co
  • Michael Hannah
  • Nancy Matsui
  • Cira Oropeza
  • Evie Palicz
  • Clarence Stanback
  • James Wilcox
  • Darrell Wittmier

Aviation & Travel Careers Department

Location: Technical Education I Building, Second Floor
T: (714) 484-7231
Department Chairs: Captain Ed Valdez, evaldez@cypresscollege.edu, Jacqueline Aguet jaguet@cypresscollege.edu