Aeronautics and astronautics programs at the US Air Force Academy, Colo., were ranked best in the nation Tuesday in the US News & World Report Best Colleges 2017. As a whole, the Academy was ranked as the third best national liberal arts college and seventh best undergraduate engineering program, according to a press release. US News and World Report generates the rankings using a formula that considers, among other factors, assessment from peer institutions, graduation rate, faculty resources, retention, and alumni giving. Other Academy programs that were ranked include electrical/electronic/communications (fourth), mechanical engineering (seventh), and business (48th).
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
