New OTC aviation repair program buys three airplanes, one helicopter for student training
Ozarks Technical Community College is still months from breaking ground on a new aircraft repair and maintenance training facility. But a critical component of the new Airframe and Powerplant program, set to launch in 2025, will soon be delivered to Springfield.
The OTC Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to spend $1 million to buy four decommissioned aircraft, including one helicopter and three airplanes. Students will use the aircraft to learn the skills they need to find high demand jobs in the aviation industry.
"This is an all-in cost," said Rob Rector, vice chancellor of administrative services, noting delivery was included in the price.
OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon credited former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt with helping the college secure a $3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to buy equipment for the program. However, the bulk of the money has to be spent by April 30.
"We had asked for the money to help us build our A&P building. They put in the line-item we could only pay for equipment so we had to had to be very strategic ... to buy it," Higdon said.
In June, the board approved $640,000 in other equipment purchases, including HVAC and a flight simulator.
Kyle McKee, department chair for aviation, said the aircraft purchased ranged from "light general aviation" to "multi-engine, larger corporate" airplanes.
He said the first cohort will be up to 25 students but will likely grow based on high demand. He said students who enroll will start learning "hands-on immediately."
They will learn to work on the airframe, which is anything to do with the body of the aircraft, and powerplant, which is the engines, turbines and related systems.
"The industry need is huge. We see in the news all the time a high demand for pilots but actually the demand for mechanics is just as great, if not greater," McKee said.
He said students who graduate from the OTC program with an associate's degree will likely earn a starting wage of $25 an hour, which can go up quickly with advanced training and education.
"If they add additional certifications or get a bachelor's degree or move on, they can get up to $60 an hour," he said. "It is not unheard of."
McKee said there will not be another program like it for at least 100 miles in any direction. The closest in Missouri is Linn State Technical College, which is near Jefferson City.
OTC is interested in possibly adding an avionics, or aviation electronics, training program in the future.
Robyn Gordon, dean of technical education, said OTC has hired an A&P instructor who will help develop curriculum for the program.
She said the goal is to prepare for this program and any related ones that may be added.
OTC hopes to break ground this fall
Board member J. Howard Fisk said the college has benefited from a strong partnership with the Springfield-Branson National Airport.
The old airport terminal west of Springfield is home to OTC's pilot training program, started in 2017, and the building for the A&P program will be constructed nearby.
The tentative plan is to break ground in late fall.
Funding for the project includes $5 million from the state and $750,000 each from the city of Springfield and Greene County.
The college budgeted up to $15 million for the building but inflation meant initial cost estimates were higher than expected. The biggest impact is on construction materials.
Architectural plans were tweaked and bids were slated to be opened Aug. 11. They will be presented to the board in a future meeting.
More: Ozarks Technical Community College seeks funds to start aircraft repair program
Depending on the approved bid, the final footprint of the building will be between 15,000 and 22,500 square feet.
McKee said the amount of space allocated to classrooms will stay the same but a smaller footprint will result in less hangar and laboratory space.
The aircraft purchased this week will likely be tied down on the airport tarmac until they can be moved into the new building.
The building was designed in such a way that it can be added onto as the A&P program grows or new programs are added.
Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: OTC pays $1M for airplanes, helicopter for new aviation repair program
