A Little Rock native has made history at the University of Central Arkansas, becoming the first graduate of the UCA Aviation Academy.
Zane Harris completed the Academy’s non-degree aviation program in just 18 months, earning his private, instrument and commercial pilot certificates as part of the inaugural class. Harris is the first student to successfully complete the full program since its launch.
With a background in media production and a lifelong passion for flying, Harris said the Academy’s structure and financial aid options made it the right fit for his career goals.
“I’m super proud and thankful to be the first person to go through the program in its entirety,” Harris said. “My favorite experience through the UCA Aviation program has honestly been meeting all the people.
“I’ve really enjoyed taking people up who’ve never been in a small plane before.”
Harris progressed through the required flight training sequence, beginning with his Private Pilot License before earning an Instrument Rating, which allows pilots to fly using only aircraft instruments under Instrument Flight Rules. He then completed his Commercial License, which requires a minimum of 190 hours of flight time and extensive experience in areas such as night flying and cross-country navigation.
“Zane has been a committed student in our program,” said Brad Teague, director of the UCA Aviation Academy. “It has been exciting to watch him progress efficiently through all the certifications in our program.
“It is a nice validation of our curriculum and program process. As we continue to graduate our students, I am excited for the impact on workforce development in Arkansas. We want to do our important part to assist with the dearth of pilots in Arkansas and beyond.”
Harris is now pursuing certification as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), which will allow him to train future pilots. UCA plans to hire him to teach at the Academy.
“I’m excited to return to Conway and teach in the same aircraft where I learned to fly,” Harris said.
The UCA Aviation Academy offers new classes every three months and provides multiple certification pathways, including private, commercial and instructor licenses, as well as instrument and multi-engine ratings. Discovery flights are also available for those interested in exploring aviation as a career.
For more information, visit uca.edu/aviation.
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