Vermont Technical College is now the only U.S. college with flight training options in multi-engine and single-engine seaplanes.
The college announced that a sixth airplane — a Twin Seabee amphibious aircraft — has been donated to the Vermont Flight Academy at a press conference at Burlington International Airport on Wednesday.
Vermont Tech’s Flight Academy program offers a bachelor’s degree in aviation, including aerobatic instruction, three flight instructor ratings and the amphibian seaplane training that will expand with the new donation.
There is a growing interest in aviation training programs in Vermont. The Agency of Transportation (AOT) is hoping to certify 10 new flight instructors at a special, weeklong flight instructor academy at the Hartness State Airport in Springfield next week.
“The need is there because there are too many students right now in Vermont,” said Guy Rouelle, aviation program administrator for the state. He said fuel sales increased about 30 percent by volume between 2012 and 2013. Employment at the state airports also increased by about a third in the same period, from 99 to 131 positions, he said.
Rouelle said there has been an uptick of interest in aviation education programs, following a decline due to the 2008 recession. Recovery since 2011 has been significant enough that AOT is hiring a consultant to coordinate the state’s aviation education programs.
He said one of the biggest challenges facing Soar Vermont, a consortium of four glider groups, is a shortage of flight instructors.
Almost all of Vermont’s 11 state-owned airports offer a training program. Light aircraft manufacturing is set to pick up at the Newport State Airport with the expansion of Flight Design USA, owned by Q Aviation. Stowe Aviation, which took over management of the Morrisville-Stowe State Airport in July, plans to start a flight academy within the next 12 to 18 months.
Stowe Aviation COO Tom Anderson said many established pilots are aging out of the profession, leading to a new “pulse” of demand.
“We go from boom to bust and boom to bust and boom to bust again,” Anderson said. “We’re in one of those modes where we’re lacking experienced pilots.”
Flight training has traditionally been centered in the Midwest or Florida, but Anderson said Vermont is a good location for programs, thanks to beautiful and challenging terrain and an abundance of recreational activities. Stowe Aviation is banking on the ski town’s cachet as part of its draw.
He said a family whose mother, a pilot, is due for ongoing training recently visited the facility. While she flew gliders, the father and the kids hit the bike paths.
“Instead of drudgery, it’s a great opportunity for everybody,” Anderson said.
Jay Peak Resort had a similar strategy in mind when the owners took over management of the nearby Newport State Airport. In addition to the Flight Design manufacturing facility under development, Q Aviation anticipates a brisk business from chartered flights to and from Jay Peak and its sister resort to the south, Q Burke Mountain.
A biotech research and manufacturing facility the Jay Peak owners are building in Newport also is expected to generate demand.
Rick Sylvester founded an aviation technology program in 1990 at Burlington Technical Center. Seventeen high school students are now enrolled in a two-year program.
“But the biggest growth area we’ve seen is adults coming back for retraining,” Sylvester said.
He started with a cohort of two adults in a year-long program at Burlington International Airport. It’s now up to 10 adults, and growing. The nontraditional students range in age from 17 to 75 years old and come from backgrounds ranging from construction to information technology.
Not all aviation students land in the industry and few of those who do stay in Vermont, Sylvester said.
“I wish I could say we had more jobs in the state of Vermont,” Sylvester said. “What jobs we do (have), we fill. Many of our students are having to go out of state to get good paying jobs.”
Universal Studios Florida last year recruited students at Burlington Technical Center for its Transformers ride, he said.
“Who knows more about physics, welding, metallurgy, hydraulics, computer programs?” Sylvester said. He pointed a couple of students in that direction.
Sylvester said it’s hard to get young people interested in aviation when starting pay for technicians is far lower than the $20 an hour they can demand for the same skills.
