A closer look at how CFCC is taking over the sky

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Aviation Day might have been on Wednesday, but at Cape Fear Community College, they celebrate it every day.

Tanner Batts has lofty ambitions. He wants to fly, but he is also interested in what happens on the ground. Cape Fear Community College’s new aviation programs are giving Batts and dozens of other students the flexibility to explore both sides of the industry.

Batts is one of about 40 students enrolled in the college’s new associate degree program in career piloting and aviation management.

“I’m not sure what exactly I’m doing yet. Because I want to fly, but I also am like interested in the ground situation,” Batts said. “But luckily enough, the program here has enough flexibility to kind of cover both.”

The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on training designed to prepare students for careers in aviation.

Flight simulators give students an opportunity to practice what they will encounter in an actual cockpit, from reading instruments to taxiing and preparing for takeoff.

“There’s nothing better than a flight simulator to show them, here’s what it’s like when you’re sitting in the airplane, here’s what the instruments look like, here’s what you’re going to be doing when you’re taxiing down the runway, here’s what you do before takeoff,” said Michele Bourk, a CFCC faculty instructor.

But the college’s aviation offerings aren’t limited to pilots.

CFCC also is introducing an aviation maintenance technician program, giving students hands-on experience working with aircraft systems and real airplanes at Wilmington International Airport.

“For our aviation maintenance technician program, we also have all kinds of simulators that help them learn to work on hydraulics,” said Erica Talbert, senior director for workforce development at CFCC.

Talbert also says students will be learning at Wilmington International to work on real airplanes.

“We also have two airplanes that were donated to the college because the students have to learn how to work on airplanes as well,” Talbert said.

The programs come as the aviation industry faces a significant workforce demand.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 13,000 openings over the next decade for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians, along with other aviation-related positions.

There is also a strong need for air traffic controllers, according to Jennifer Finetti, director of student advocacy with Scholarship Owl.

“There is a huge need for air traffic controllers,” Finetti said. “This is another area where community college can really make a difference.”

Finetti said students interested in aviation careers can find opportunities with strong earning potential.

“If you are interested in becoming an air traffic controller, the wages are outstanding for these fields,” Finetti said.

She said programs such as CFCC’s aviation offerings can help create a pipeline into local jobs while giving students a more affordable path to careers in the industry.

CFCC says their aviation maintenance technician program is currently at its north campus but will move to ILM Airport as early as next month.