Official Wants To Know Why, Or See Progress On FAA-Approved Facility

A new aviation maintenance training facility was approved for Pierpont Community and Technical College and $25 million was allocated for its construction in August 2023, but not one shovel of dirt has been turned yet and Tracy Miller wants to know why.

Tracy Miller is President of the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex (MAAC), located at the North Central West Virginia Airport (KCKB) in Clarksburg. That is where the new, FAA-approved and certified hangar for the Pierpont maintenance training program is also to be built. The MAAC markets and promotes the aviation and aerospace capabilities at the airport as part of West Virginia’s efforts to enhance economic development in the region.

Miller said, "There is absolutely no reason in the world why we haven't had a ribbon cutting and a celebration and dirt being moved. We have a win for two schools that can make their enrollments higher. I do not want to quote the employer, but it is not only one of our major employers, but is a world renowned employer. That said, they are turning away work because construction on this new school hasn't started."

Money for the hangar was allocated in a bill signed by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice during a ceremony at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center. The money is for a 70,000 square foot facility for Pierpont’s maintenance training program. Without the hangar, the school is capped at 130 students and the hangar will raise that to 200 per year.

Miller said since the signing, nothing has been done on the project and that she would take any kind of progress over an explanation at this point. People keep asking her but she has no answer for them.

“It’s surprising. And unnecessary,” she said.

Pierpont officials have not yet responded to inquiries.

 FMI:  www.pierpont.edu/