DAYTON, Ohio — Sinclair Community College, the city of Dayton, and Dayton International Airport (KDAY), in conjunction with PSA Airlines, have unveiled plans for a new Aircraft Mechanic Training Center that will be housed in a renovated hangar at KDAY.
The training center will contain two classrooms and two lab spaces and will be dedicated to aircraft mechanics and aviation service maintenance coursework and hands-on training. The renovation is expected to be complete in early 2023.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians is projected to grow 11% through 2030. Over the next decade, 14,400 openings for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians are projected each year. Annual salaries range between $50,000 to $75,000.
The total cost of the project is $1,014,000. Sinclair College has committed $560,000 for educational materials, including training aids and displays, furniture, and renovation costs. The city of Dayton Department of Aviation will contribute $204,000 toward the renovation of the hangar. The partners are seeking additional federal and state funding for the project.
When the renovation of the hangar is complete, Sinclair College will expand its existing aviation maintenance programs into the new space at Dayton International Airport, creating the largest program capacity in the state of Ohio, according to college officials. Classes will be conducted at both the new facility and Sinclair’s downtown campus, college officials add.