Expanding Maintenance and Flight Training Programs

The city of Danville, Virginia, has submitted an application to the US Economic Development Administration to help fund a planned 12,532 square foot aviation training facility at Danville Regional Airport (KDAN). 

Averett University and Danville Community College (DCC) will share the $8 million facility for flight training through Averett’s Aeronautics program as well as aviation maintenance technician training in DCC’s program.

The new facility will include classrooms, a dedicated avionics area, space for repair of composite materials and sheet metal, a student lounge, and more. It will be capable of accommodating up to 70 students.

A second application will be submitted to build an 80’ x 80’ hangar for storage and maintenance of Averett’s fleet. DCC already has a hangar for maintenance training, but the new hangar will enable DCC to offer a full program for students to get hands-on experience with Averett’s fleet to complete their program.

The facility grant will fund 60% of the cost, and the hangar grant will cover 90% of the cost, with the rest being made up through state and local grants and other fundraising efforts.

Danville’s Transportation Services Director Marc Adelman says the projects are extremely important not only for the workforce development of pilots and maintenance technicians but also for future development at the airport.

"It’s very significant. There are very few aviation maintenance schools across the country, and this will improve the opportunities for students to have different opportunities to go into the workforce to start out a very strong wage range,” he said.

FMI: www.averett.edu/academics