Ozarks Technical Community College takes next step in creating aircraft repair program

Correction: An earlier version of this story included incorrect information about when an American Airlines facility opened.

Ozarks Technical Community College is ready to move forward with the design of a new facility to teach aircraft repair and maintenance.

It is the critical next step in the college's plan to offer the highly specialized and sought-after training by fall 2024.

The OTC Board of Trustees will vote Monday to complete the detailed design of a new airframe and maintenance powerplant facility.

It will be located near the OTC flight training center at the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

"There is a workforce shortage," said Robyn Gordon, OTC's dean of technical education. "We are really trying to fill that demand."

In November, the board approved spending $85,000 to N Form Architecture to develop the schematic design and building cost estimates.

The college is able to fully design the project after receiving $3 million in federal funds, which was championed by retiring U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt.

The project has received $5 million in

"There was money appropriated for the A&P program," Gordon said.

Gordon added that "construction on the building will not begin immediately" after design, She said the timeline will depend, in part, on the supply chain.

The college estimates it will cost $12.5 million to build the facility. The design fee, which is a percentage of the overall cost, is estimated at $937,500.

The project and the training must meet all the requirements set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

OTC officials have worked closely with Brian Weiler, director of aviation at the airport, on the project.

Springfield has long been a transportation hub for the region. There is high demand for skilled aircraft maintenance and repair workers.

American Airlines opened a regional maintenance base in Springfield in 1996, moving to a larger hangar last year, providing additional employment opportunities.

The facility will be used to train aircraft airframe and powerplant repair and maintenance, welcoming 24 in each of the two tracks.

OTC received approval from the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education for the FAA-certified degree program.

In fall 2024, the college hopes to welcome 24 students for "airframe" training, which involves the basic structure of an aircraft, and 24 students for "powerplant" training, which involves the engines.

In Missouri, those who graduate from the two-year program can earn a starting salary of $50,000. The average wage for that job in this state is $62,490.

OTC bookstore

The OTC Board of Trustees will also vote on a proposal to spend $679,285 for repairs and upgrades to the bookstore on the Springfield campus. Included in the amount is a bid of $522,800 from Nesbitt Construction to complete the construction work.

The project will be paid for from the bond fund.

In January, the college noted a section of concrete had released from the raised patio pavilion on the bookstore building.

The college was advised to remove the steel canopy pedestals and replace the patio slab, accessibility ramps and foundations.

Claudette Riley is the education reporter for the News-Leader. Email news tips to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: OTC board to approve design for new aviation facility Monday