Moberly Area Community College opens new aviation training facility at Columbia Regional Airport
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Moberly Area Community College opened a new aviation training facility at Columbia Regional Airport on Wednesday as the college prepares to welcome its first class of commercial pilot students.
MACC and the City of Columbia celebrated the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the former terminal. The facility is home to MACC’s new Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Commercial Pilot program.
The inaugural class includes 16 students, with classes scheduled to begin Aug. 24. The FAA Part 141 program is accelerated and can be completed in two years. The program was announced in 2023.
MACC Aviation Commercial Pilot Program Director Ed Longoria said the program comes as the industry faces a need for more pilots.
“Well, the vision is to help with the pilot shortage. So for 2026, there’s going to be about 24,000 pilots, a shortage of 24,000 pilots,” Longoria said.
The new training center includes classrooms, faculty offices, student learning spaces and an FAA-approved Advanced Aviation Training Device simulator. Flight training will be provided through MACC’s partnership with ATD Flight Systems. The program’s home also gives new life to Columbia Regional Airport’s former terminal, which had been vacant since newer terminal opened in 2022.
MACC and the city entered into a lease agreement in 2024 that initially provided MACC with about 1,900 square feet of space.
MACC added another 1,057 square feet in May to accommodate a Redbird flight simulator and additional training space.
The college says it has invested more than $350,000 in renovations to turn the former terminal into an aviation education and training center.
Airport Manager Michael Parks said the facility allows an unused part of the airport to serve a new role.
“Well, I think this is an absolute fantastic opportunity to utilize the old terminal here at the airport. A space that’s not being used or wasn’t previously being used in a way to help promote aviation, not just in central Missouri, but also just nationwide,” Parks said.
Students will also be learning in the middle of an active airport. Parks said students will be exposed to commercial and general aviation operations as well as the day-to-day work that goes into operating an airport.
Longoria said the demand for pilots is expected to continue beyond the immediate shortage.
“And then Boeing has just released a forecast for the next 20 years that we’re going to be short 660,000 pilots. So, it’s important that we start helping in the process of developing qualified, wide safety minded pilots to help with this dilemma,” Longoria said.
The college says the program is intended to prepare students for careers as professional pilots, with an emphasis on safety, technical training and industry standards.
