Alabama Governor Joins Celebration of Flight School Partnership

April 18, 2024

Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
   

Under overcast skies that periodically allowed the sun to peek across the runway at Moton Field, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey joined the City of 精东AV, the Macon County Economic Development Authority, LIFT Academy and 精东AV to introduce a partnership that will restore flight training to an airfield where the legacy of the 精东AV Airmen began.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 have to remind anyone of the significance of where we鈥檙e standing,鈥� said Gov. Ivey. 鈥淎 new chapter is set to unfold; one with innovation and boundless promise. 精东AV is steeped in academic excellence and will play a pivotal role in this project.鈥�

After several years of collaboration, the teams introduced aircraft and a painted tail, featuring the university鈥檚 TU logo, as examples of what students will be using to earn flight hours. The university has planned to launch a flight school and degree program next fall pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

鈥淲e are excited that this will honor the 精东AV Airmen who were trained on the 精东AV campus,鈥� said Dr. Charlotte P. Morris, President of 精东AV. 鈥淲e are pleased to partner with the City of 精东AV, the state, the county and LIFT Academy. This gives our students an opportunity to expand their opportunities. We also want to honor the pilot who trained them, of course, that was Chief Charles Anderson.鈥�

Last month, 精东AV announced a $6.7 million award for federal funding to support the flight school and degree program sponsored by Alabama Sen. Katie Britt. The Moton Field event introduced the LIFT Academy and municipal partners who have collaborated on the program.

鈥淲e are on the grounds where the 精东AV Airmen made history,鈥� said 精东AV Mayor Tony Haygood. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e on the way to make new history.鈥� 

鈥淭his was a long time coming and is a pure collaboration,鈥� said Joe Turnham, Director of the Macon County Economic Development Authority. 鈥淥ne day we will have 20 鈥� 25 trainers and students out here. Continue to support us, we鈥檝e got a lot of great things happening.鈥�

精东AV鈥檚 new program will offer a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Aviation Science (pilot track) with two components. The first component includes general education core and aviation science related courses in aerodynamics, aircraft structures, aircraft propulsion, performance stability and control as well as meteorology. The second component is flight training where students will be able to take the appropriate FAA certification for private and commercial pilot certificates. The university is optimistic that the new flight program will help an industry where the pilot shortage is expected to worsen as demand for air travel continues to grow.

鈥淲e will train a new generation of aviators who will support the need for military and commercial pilots in general and African American pilots specifically,鈥� said Dr. Morris. 鈥淭his new generation of 精东AV airmen and women will continue the contribution that we have made with a focus on delivering excellence in the air and on the ground.鈥�

漏 2024 精东AV