Rumors have been circulating lately about Parks College of Engineering and Aviation possibly adopting flight fees for students in the pilot program.

Last week, Parks Dean Wolf Yeigh, Ph.D., sent out an e-mail to the aviation students to dispel the "SLUmors," saying that no decision has been made. Right now, the department is scrutinizing the best, if any, course of action.

"In an effort to improve our flight instruction and the infrastructure that supports this top-notch program, the Aviation Science Department has been asked to investigate the effects of adding flight fees to strengthen our program," Yeigh said in the e-mail.

"I ask that you await further written communication from me rather than listening to SLUmors which have no basis in fact," Yeigh said.

Parks College charged flight fees when they were located in Cahokia, Ill., until the move to Saint Louis University in 1997, when the fees were suspended.

"This was never meant to be permanent," Yeigh said.

Yeigh said that the flight program has recently reached capacity, and there are new needs to be met. Meeting those needs will require additional resources, and the department is looking at all options carefully.

"Offering one of the nation's best flight instruction programs is extremely costly. There are huge capital, operating and maintenance costs. To maintain and enhance our great aviation program requires additional resources," Yeigh said.

"The department is currently in the process of examining all possible funding sources, including flight fees and other forms of investment," Yeigh said.

Other schools with large, renowned flight programs like Embry-Riddle, Purdue and the University of North Dakota have flight fees of varying sizes. For example, Embry-Riddle flight fees average about $4,400 a semester; Purdue fees can run up to $5,234 per semester.

The Parks camp is hesitant to give an estimate, since everything is speculation at this point.

"It could add up to, I think, $17,000," said aviation management junior Joe Cirillo. "That's a little unrealistic."

"They're all abstract numbers, because there is no definite amount of what the flight fees might be," Cirillo said. "It's just speculation."

Cirillo added that with flight fees, pilots' total tuition could get up to around $40,000.

"No cost recommendation has been made to me at this point. What you have heard are indeed rumors and have no basis in fact," said Yeigh.

Cirillo said that students need to be involved in the process of these changes to the program and the curriculum.

"Pilots aren't too happy with it," Cirillo said.

Department chair Manoj Patankar said that focus groups composed of flight students will not have anything to do with the decision regarding flight fees, just possible changes to the curriculum.

"We are also looking into what effect this might have on prospective students," Yeigh said.

"[It will have] some negative impact on some people," Patankar said. "If we're just talking about $500, that's different from $5,000."

"Parks College's aviation science/professional pilot program is already a top-tier, nationally ranked flight program, and we intend to maintain the esteem in which our program is held. We are constantly striving to take all of our programs to the next level," Yeigh said.