MTSU is leaving Murfreesboro Municipal Airport for this nearby location

Scott Broden, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
·5 min read

Middle Tennessee State University needs more space than what's available at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport to train its rising number of aviation students.

Coupled with concerns about student aircraft traffic, MTSU responded to this changing landscape with a plan to relocate flight operations and other aviation training to a $62 million aerospace development at the Shelbyville Municipal Airport.

"Our goal is to build a world class aviation academy," MTSU President Sidney McPhee said.

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU president
Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU president

The decision ends MTSU's seven-decade partnership with Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, dating back to 1952 when it opened.

The university hopes to complete the Shelbyville project within the next three years.

The future satellite campus would provide space to educate more students majoring in aerospace disciplines, including professional pilot training. And just in time. The demand for more pilots and other aviation jobs has contributed to MTSU attracting more students, said Chaminda Prelis, a chairperson for the university's aerospace faculty.

In five years, enrollment has increased from 322 pilot majors (2016) to 895 (Fall 2021).

"I think it’s a win-win win for all parties," said Sen. Shane Reeves, a Republican whose district includes Shelbyville and the rest of Bedford County.

"MTSU gets to grow their program. Murfreesboro has less air traffic, which will be a positive for the neighbors and private pilots, and Bedford County becomes the hub for MTSU Aerospace program."

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland previously expressed concerns about residents being upset about the increased student aircraft traffic.

"The university program had outgrown the city of Murfreesboro airport," said McFarland, a 1997 MTSU graduate who'd also been the student body president. "There was only so much we as a city could accommodate."

From March 3 to Dec. 17, 2021, nearly three out of four take off and landing operations at the Murfreesboro airport provided training for MTSU students. During one morning stretch on March 16, student training accounted for more than 90% of operations, said Murfreesboro Municipal Airport Director Chad Gehrke.

"We’re a federally funded airport," Gehrke said. "We have to make this airport accessible to all activities."

Airport and city officials believe the Murfreesboro airport will remain vibrant when MTSU relocates. Remaining clients include Vanderbilt LifeFlight and TDK Aviation.

University officials hope to pursue the project with a $57.2 million appropriation recommended in Gov. Bill Lee's proposed budget. MTSU would raise an additional $5 million for the development, McPhee said.

The project ranks as the state's top higher education development project, said McPhee, adding that there's a significant demand for pilots and other aviation positions.

"We've always had a world-class aviation program," McPhee said. "It's a huge department for the entire aviation industry. We want to take this up to the next level."

The university plans a phase in approach to transition operations and some student training aircraft this fall to the Shelbyville airport, McPhee added.

Bill Allen, MTSU Aerospace Department faculty, second from left, works with students in the maintenance hanger at the Murfreesboro Airport campus. Pictured with him are students Aubrey Vest, Jay Satterfield, James Matthews, and Marshall Cheatham.
Bill Allen, MTSU Aerospace Department faculty, second from left, works with students in the maintenance hanger at the Murfreesboro Airport campus. Pictured with him are students Aubrey Vest, Jay Satterfield, James Matthews, and Marshall Cheatham.

These TN senators support MTSU's plans

The Tennessee General Assembly must approve the budget plans before MTSU can craft adjusted plans for the project, McPhee said.

The aviation academy plan has the backing of Reeves and Sen. Dawn White, a Republican from Murfreesboro.

"I fully support this project and am grateful that Gov. Lee included funding in his proposed budget," White said. "MTSU is an important part of our community and a huge contributor to Middle Tennessee’s economic success.

"The new aerospace project at the Shelbyville airport will allow the university to continue to positively impact students’ education and training for years to come."

MTSU will adjust lease arrangements with MTSU airport

MTSU currently has 35 aircraft for student training at the Murfreesboro airport. The current location also has King Air Turbo Prop aircraft used by staff for university business and smaller sports teams.

The future location of the King Air is yet to be determined, McPhee said.

MTSU has leases to operate four buildings that total about 45,300 square feet for training and hangar space at the Murfreesboro airport. The university also has parking apron space for 26 aircraft.

The university has about nine years remaining on its 30-year lease. Part of leaving Murfreesboro's airport would involve the city providing depreciated land improvement compensation to MTSU, said Greg Van Patten, interim dean of the university's College of Basic and Applied Sciences.

MTSU seeks to relocate previous master plans

This rendering shows MTSU's previously approved Master Plan for aerospace students at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, which has limited capacity for additional training for students. The university now plans to relocate a pending $62 million adjusted plan to Shelbyville Municipal Airport, which has ample space for the fast-growing MTSU degree instruction to train pilots and other aviation majors.

MTSU's previous master plan at the Murfreesboro airport called for adding 144,000 square feet of building and hangar space and 60 aircraft parking positions over the next 10 years.

The Murfreesboro airport has 230 acres and a a runway that's 4,750 feet long. About 2 to 3 acres is used by MTSU at this time, Gehrke said.

MTSU instead will move operations to a 600-acre Shelbyville airport with a runway that's 5,503 feet long, Airport Director Paul Perry said.

"We offered 25 acres," said Perry, who resides in Murfreesboro and earned an aviation administration degree from MTSU in 1992. "We have plenty of room to accommodate their growth."

The 25 acres would have access to the runway and provide space for aircraft, hangars and maintenance training, Perry said.

MTSU is also looking to obtain adjacent property for a building that would provide classroom space and faculty offices, Van Patten said.

"There is the potential for further growth and expansion," Van Patten said.

The university will examine in-person and remote learning possibilities in Shelbyville to prevent students from spending too much time commuting to the satellite campus, Van Patten said. Students, for example, may have a semester with all classes at the future Shelbyville location.

The drive along U.S. Highway 231 South (also called South Church Street and Shelbyville Highway) is typically about 30 minutes.

MTSU also will consider a shuttle service to help students commute from the Murfreesboro campus to Shelbyville, Van Patten said.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips and questions by emailing sbroden@dnj.com or calling 615-278-5158. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden.

Growth of MTSU aviation students

  • Fall 2016: 722 (370 pro pilot majors)

  • Fall 2017: 761 (394 pro pilot majors)

  • Fall 2018: 847 (497 pro pilot majors)

  • Fall 2019: 1,035 (700 pro pilot majors)

  • Fall 2020: 1,215 (856 pro pilot majors)

  • Fall 2021: 1,238 (895 pro pilot majors)

Source: MTSU

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU seeks to build $62M aerospace academy at Shelbyville airport