A New Aviation Living Community Takes Flight at UNO
- published: 2026/08/24
- contact: UNO Aviation Institute
- phone: 402.554.3424
For the first time in its history, the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute is welcoming students into a residential community created specifically for aviation majors.
During move-in for the 2026–27 academic year, 48 Aviation Institute students moved into a designated area of Maverick Village, marking the beginning of UNO’s first aviation-focused living community. The new housing option was created to give aviation students the opportunity to live alongside classmates who share similar academic interests, career goals, and experiences.
The Aviation Institute sees the new living community as another way to support students as they transition into college life. Beginning college can bring a number of changes, including adjusting to university-level coursework, meeting new people, and becoming involved on campus. For aviation students, that transition can also include flight training, specialized coursework, industry expectations, and schedules that are unique to an aviation degree program.
By bringing aviation students together in one residential community, the Aviation Institute hopes to help students build connections early and create a stronger sense of belonging both within the program and across the UNO campus.
Move-in day offered students and their families an early introduction to that sense of community. Despite rainy weather, Aviation Institute volunteers were outside cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for students and their families as they settled into Maverick Village. The gathering gave new students an opportunity to meet classmates, connect with members of the Aviation Institute community, and spend time with their families before the start of the semester.
Students living in the community will have classmates nearby to study with, attend Aviation Institute events alongside, share experiences from flight training and coursework, and develop friendships throughout their time at UNO. The Aviation Institute believes those everyday connections can play an important role in helping students feel more comfortable, supported, and engaged during their college experience.
The creation of the aviation living community also reflects continued interest from students and families in having an aviation-specific residential option at UNO. As the Aviation Institute continues to grow, the new community provides another opportunity to support students academically, professionally, and socially.
The Aviation Institute offers a Bachelor of Science in Aviation with concentrations in Professional Flight, Air Transport Administration, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations. Although students within each concentration may pursue different career paths, they share many of the same foundational courses, student organizations, industry events, and professional development opportunities.
Living together gives students from across those concentrations another way to learn from one another. A Professional Flight student may live near someone interested in airport or airline management, while another student may be studying unmanned aircraft systems. These interactions can help students gain a broader understanding of the aviation industry while building relationships outside of their individual areas of study.
Community has long been an important part of the Aviation Institute student experience. Throughout the year, students have opportunities to become involved through aviation student organizations, industry events, conferences, career development activities, outreach programs, and social events. The new living community extends that environment beyond the classroom and into students’ everyday lives.
For incoming students in particular, living alongside other aviation majors can make it easier to meet people and become involved early in their college experience. Aviation Institute students come to UNO from Nebraska and communities across the country, and many begin college without an established network of friends or aviation industry connections. The living community gives students an immediate opportunity to begin building that network.
The inaugural group of 48 residents will also play an important role in shaping the future of the aviation living community. As students begin classes, flight training, student organization activities, and other experiences throughout the academic year, they will help establish the traditions and sense of community that future residents can continue to build upon.
For the Aviation Institute, the opening of the aviation living community represents more than a new housing option. It is another way to create an environment where students can learn together, support one another, grow professionally, and develop friendships that extend beyond the classroom.
The Aviation Institute is excited to welcome the first group of students into the aviation living community and looks forward to seeing the connections, experiences, and traditions that develop throughout its inaugural year.
During move-in for the 2026–27 academic year, 48 Aviation Institute students moved into a designated area of Maverick Village, marking the beginning of UNO’s first aviation-focused living community. The new housing option was created to give aviation students the opportunity to live alongside classmates who share similar academic interests, career goals, and experiences.
The Aviation Institute sees the new living community as another way to support students as they transition into college life. Beginning college can bring a number of changes, including adjusting to university-level coursework, meeting new people, and becoming involved on campus. For aviation students, that transition can also include flight training, specialized coursework, industry expectations, and schedules that are unique to an aviation degree program.
By bringing aviation students together in one residential community, the Aviation Institute hopes to help students build connections early and create a stronger sense of belonging both within the program and across the UNO campus.
Move-in day offered students and their families an early introduction to that sense of community. Despite rainy weather, Aviation Institute volunteers were outside cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for students and their families as they settled into Maverick Village. The gathering gave new students an opportunity to meet classmates, connect with members of the Aviation Institute community, and spend time with their families before the start of the semester.
Students living in the community will have classmates nearby to study with, attend Aviation Institute events alongside, share experiences from flight training and coursework, and develop friendships throughout their time at UNO. The Aviation Institute believes those everyday connections can play an important role in helping students feel more comfortable, supported, and engaged during their college experience.
The creation of the aviation living community also reflects continued interest from students and families in having an aviation-specific residential option at UNO. As the Aviation Institute continues to grow, the new community provides another opportunity to support students academically, professionally, and socially.
The Aviation Institute offers a Bachelor of Science in Aviation with concentrations in Professional Flight, Air Transport Administration, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations. Although students within each concentration may pursue different career paths, they share many of the same foundational courses, student organizations, industry events, and professional development opportunities.
Living together gives students from across those concentrations another way to learn from one another. A Professional Flight student may live near someone interested in airport or airline management, while another student may be studying unmanned aircraft systems. These interactions can help students gain a broader understanding of the aviation industry while building relationships outside of their individual areas of study.
Community has long been an important part of the Aviation Institute student experience. Throughout the year, students have opportunities to become involved through aviation student organizations, industry events, conferences, career development activities, outreach programs, and social events. The new living community extends that environment beyond the classroom and into students’ everyday lives.
For incoming students in particular, living alongside other aviation majors can make it easier to meet people and become involved early in their college experience. Aviation Institute students come to UNO from Nebraska and communities across the country, and many begin college without an established network of friends or aviation industry connections. The living community gives students an immediate opportunity to begin building that network.
The inaugural group of 48 residents will also play an important role in shaping the future of the aviation living community. As students begin classes, flight training, student organization activities, and other experiences throughout the academic year, they will help establish the traditions and sense of community that future residents can continue to build upon.
For the Aviation Institute, the opening of the aviation living community represents more than a new housing option. It is another way to create an environment where students can learn together, support one another, grow professionally, and develop friendships that extend beyond the classroom.
The Aviation Institute is excited to welcome the first group of students into the aviation living community and looks forward to seeing the connections, experiences, and traditions that develop throughout its inaugural year.