The San Bernardino International Airport Authority has approved a lease with World Wide Wings to establish a Part 141 professional pilot school to train domestic and international students for careers as professional pilots.
The school will occupy office and hangar space at the northeast end of the airport that will support administration, classroom training, flight training and maintenance of World Wide Wing’s aircraft.
“With baby boomers retiring, commercial aviation is expected to experience a significant shortage of qualified pilots over the next 20 years according to just about every industry forecast,” said Mark Gibbs, director of aviation at the airport. “The establishment of a pilot school at SBD International will bring employment opportunities to the local economy while seeding the industry with a fresh crop of new pilots.”
“We had several options for opening an aviation facility,” said Rehan Siddiqui, project coordinator and director of World Wide Wings. “We chose SBD International Airport because it is easily accessible from around the world and is a very hospitable. San Bernardino also has a lower cost of living in order to attract international students. World Wide Wings will also bring local jobs and tax revenue to the city which is mutually beneficial decision for all parties involved.”
Pilot schools requiring certification, such as World Wide Wings, must comply with FAA policy and approvals under CFR Title 14, Part 141 for personnel, aircraft, facilities, training curriculum, examining authority, operating rules, and records. Additionally, international students will be required to pass stringent background checks, including financial worthiness, before obtaining required visas to train in the United States.