Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College is teaming up with the Middlesboro-Bell County Airport and Eastern Kentucky University’s Aviation Program to bring their flight program to the students in Middlesboro.
Called a 2 + 2 agreement, Eastern is joining with community and technical colleges statewide in an effort to educate pilots for the estimated 500,000 that will be needed in the next 20 years.
With this program students will be able to have access to pilot training and earn their Aviation Technology degree locally.
“We cannot generate the number of pilots needed to meet the forecast demand in Richmond alone,” said director of Aviation at EKU, Ralph Gibbs. The only way I can make a dent as a part of EKU Aviation is to partner with community colleges like Southeast that are co-located with regional airports.”
With this 2 + 2 the student will do their associate and bachelor’s degrees and their lower division aviation courses at Southeast. There upper division courses will be done their junior and senior years entirely online. The student can then graduate with all their aviation certificates and ratings from EKU without leaving Middlesboro.
“I think this is an excellent program,” said vice president of SKCTC and Campus director, Dr. Vic Adams. “Ralph and I first had a conversation about this five or six years ago and the timing just wasn’t right — now the timing is right and we are very excited.”
SKCTC President Lynn Moore concurred adding, “This program is amazing. It is a wonderful partnership and we have great community support.”
Students can begin the programs as early as this month at Southeast.
To find out more about EKU’s Aviation Program and to see a list of participating community and technical colleges throughout the state, visit their website at aviation.eku.edu/kctcs-eku-aviation-partnerships.
http://middlesborodailynews.com/news/3425/aviation-program-lands-in-middlesboro