Pilot training program lands at Drake Field
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A commercial pilot training program is coming to Drake Field in Fayetteville.
Why it matters: The flight school will offer another educational and job training program for the region and better utilize the city-owned airport as an economic development tool, Fayetteville Mayor Molly Rawn told Axios.
Driving the news: The Fayetteville City Council on Tuesday approved a five-year lease agreement with Norway-based OSM Aviation Academy for a hangar and space at Drake Field for a total of about $5,680 per month, city spokesperson Gracie Ziegler confirmed to Axios.
Zoom in: This will be the second U.S. location for the company, which has a school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- OSM did not respond to a request for comment this week.
How it works: While students will learn to fly planes on-site, much of the instruction will be in classroom space at Drake Field and in simulators, Rawn said.
- The Arkansas Air and Military Museum will continue to operate at Drake Field.
What they're saying: In addition to the rental revenue, the city expects to make approximately $500,000 in net revenue from fuel sales over five years. Most of the initial 30-40 jobs created this year will be hired locally, and the hope is that having students and staff regularly at Drake Field will also encourage more economic growth like restaurants and retail around the municipal airport, Rawn said.
- Context: The airport is in the southernmost part of the city in a relatively rural area bordering Greenland in Washington County. It's underutilized and a largely untapped economic engine for the city, Rawn said.
What's next: The flight school is expected to begin this fall with about 90 students, with plans to grow in a phased approach, Rawn said. Much of the first cohort will be international students, but the school will soon be open to more NWA students.