Flight Series - Part 3: Deans utilize aircraft for business, commencement purposes
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 10/28/2009
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Editor's Note: On April 27, The Exponent filed a public information request for the flight logs of the three planes used to transport Purdue VIPs for the period of Jan 1, 2008 to date. This is the first in a five-part series examining the University's use of these aircraft.
Deans in eight different areas have approved an estimated $280,250 in flights from Jan. 1, 2008, to April 30, 2009.
Deans in the Colleges of Agriculture; Science; Technology; Consumer and Family Sciences; Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences; and the School of Veterinary Medicine have requested a total of 112 flights. Deans from the other areas of Libraries and Continuing Education have requested a total of six flights.
There were no flights requested by deans in the Colleges of Education, Engineering and Liberal Arts, or in the School of Management.
Deans, as Turbine Flight Operations primary users, are authorized to use the planes as much as needed, said Jim Almond, senior vice president of business services and assistant treasurer.
“Authorized users may utilize the plane as long as there is a business purpose,” he said. “There are no threshold levels.”
COLLEGE BREAKDOWN
Out of the nine different schools, the College of Technology has used the planes the most, taking 73 flights. Seven of those flights were flown to a destination less than 120 miles from West Lafayette, Ind.
The School of Veterinary Medicine was the second highest college to use the planes, taking 18 flights, while the College of Agriculture and College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences took 13 flights.
When asked why the College of Technology surpassed any other school, dean Dennis Depew said the airplanes act as an investment of laboratories for students, especially since some act as co-pilots on the flights.
“I look at planes like large pieces of equipment for research,” he said. “It’s a way we invest in labs; our labs just happen to have propellors.”
There is a transfer of money from each college to the TFO to offset the costs of operating the planes. Even though the Department of Aviation Technology is part of the College of Technology, Depew said it still pays the aviation department for flights taken.
USAGE
Many of the flights used by the College of Technology are used to fly short distances. Depew said cross-country flights are rarely taken because airplanes would then be out of commission for students.
“We don’t want to tie up the aircraft for students when they could be taking other short missions,” he said. “It takes a long time and you would have to have several stops ... it just wouldn’t be an efficient use.”
Depew also said he encourages multiple individuals to be on board of aircraft when the College of Technology uses the planes so the aircraft can be used for multiple purposes.
One of the main purposes the College of Technology uses the planes is for commencements. Depew said the college offers Purdue degrees to students across the state not limited to regional campuses. With graduations in Columbus, Richmond and New Albany, Ind., many staff members travel to participate in commencements.
“If you try to drive, you’re looking at about three hours,” he said. “It allows us as a staff to be on campus then get on a plane for commencement and then fly back so we can be back in West Lafayette by the next morning.”
While there have been a few cutbacks on the number of flights taken, Depew said the college can’t decrease its flight usage too much otherwise students wouldn’t get adequate experience. Since around 65-70 students are co-pilots on most flights they need to log a certain number of hours.
“We are cognizant that students get experience when we fly, but we are also mindful of the distances or locations,” he said. “We have to be more conscious and come to a good balance.”