Bolivar Bullet
Delta State Aviation Program Continues to expand and offer multiple training option
By Lyndsi Naron, The Bolivar Bullet
The Daily Bullet - Vol. 31 No. 80
Bradly MacNealy has been a pilot for 43 years and is currently the Interim Chair of the Aviation Department as well as the Director of Flight Operations for Delta State.
“I’m over all the academics,” said MacNealy. “We take 60 hours of academic courses in order to get your commercial aviation degree at Delta State. I also cover the flight operations piece, which is right now 25 flight instructors. We have 22 aircraft that we’re flying and we have a maintenance staff of two people. We have a dispatcher, three full time flight instructors, and manage all the training out there at the airport.”
MacNealy said he spends most of his time focusing on the academic aspect of the position because the requirements of the degree must constantly be up to standard.
“I spend most of my time on the academic side because that demands more out of me than the airport does. The flying is pretty much regimented in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements and we’ve got a routine down.”
Delta State offers private pilot licensing as a part of their commercial aviation program, and commercial aviation students are prioritized for the classes as well as the airtime.
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