(Officials gathered in Tuskegee to announce a new flight training program coming to a storied field. State of Alabama photo.)
By Troy Turner
AUBURN – Auburn University Regional Airport will be receiving $7.2 million for the construction of an air traffic control tower in a new round of federal funding that will provide critical enhancements at several Alabama airports.
Some of the airports, such as Auburn’s, are used for private aviation training by veterans and active military personnel looking to earn their pilots license or considering a new career in aviation management. The Auburn airport and the university’s aviation offerings have seen a steady growth in recent years.
Meanwhile, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that Republic Airways Holdings and its Leadership in Flight Training Academy (LIFT) plan to develop an advanced flight training program in Tuskegee intended “to help prepare the next generation of aspiring pilots for high-paying career opportunities in the airline industry.”
LIFT is teaming with Tuskegee University and the city of Tuskegee to base the training center at the storied Moton Field, where the pioneering Tuskegee Airmen received flight training before becoming the first black military aviators during World War II.
Alabama airports on the list
The Aviation Council of Alabama released details on $25 million in federal aid on the way to six airports in the state.
The funding is coming from congressional-allocated grants, signed into law by President Biden on March 9. The grants are being administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Grants-in-Aid for Airports program.
The funding includes:
• Auburn University Regional Airport – AUO: $7.2 million for the construction of an Air Traffic Control Tower.
• Cullman Regional Airport (CMD): $4,177,000 for apron reconstruction.
• Middleton Field – Evergreen Airport (GZH): $2.9 million for runway, taxiway and apron improvements.
• Mobile International Airport (BFM): $4 million for improvements to the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) capabilities.
• Montgomery Regional Airport – MGM: $3.6 million for Airfield Electrical System reconstruction.
• Pryor Field Airport Authority – Pryor Flight Center (DCU): $3.2 million to support an expansion project for commercial and corporate developments.
The Aviation Council of Alabama “commends the unwavering support of the Alabama congressional delegation in championing the development of our state’s airports,” said Adam Foutz, council president. “Their dedication to enhancing infrastructure not only fosters economic growth, but also ensures a safer and more efficient means of travel for people and goods throughout the state, country and world.
“We celebrate these airports receiving federal support, and we urge the Alabama State Legislature to join this crucial effort,” Foutz said. “It is time for Alabama to provide meaningful support to our airports, ensuring they have the resources necessary to thrive and serve our communities to their fullest potential.”
Coming to Tuskegee
Governor Ivey announced the flight training center coming to Tuskegee during a ceremony last week at Moton Field Municipal Airport, where she was joined by officials from LIFT Academy and Republic Airways Holdings, representatives from Tuskegee University, and state and local leaders.
Students in the LIFT program will train on the academy’s signature fleet of Diamond DA40-NG single-engine and Diamond DA42-VI twin-engine aircraft, as well as technologically advanced flight simulators.
“Alabama has a long history of providing critical flight training for military aviators, and historic Moton Field is the perfect location for a training center for a new generation of commercial pilots,” Ivey said. “The LIFT Academy is an ideal way to build on the legacy of the Tuskegee Airman by creating solid career opportunities for tomorrow’s pilots.”
As part of the project, LIFT will create 35 full-time aviation-related jobs in Tuskegee over a three-year period, with an average annual salary of nearly $75,000, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.
In addition, 57 certified flight instructors will be involved in the program at Moton Field.
The project calls for a capital investment of $27 million for aircraft.
Providing local impact
“Tuskegee University is proud to continue a tradition that has contributed so much to the country through the courage and skills provided by the Tuskegee Airmen. A new generation of Tuskegee airmen and women will have the training they will need to serve our country through the military or as commercial pilots,” said university president Charlotte P. Morris.
“What pleases me most is the enthusiasm with which we see young students ready to step up today to become such an important part of history. The new partnership with LIFT and Republic will build leaders and legacies,” she added.
Mayor Tony Haygood said LIFT’s announcement celebrates Tuskegee’s tradition of making aviation history.
“Commercial flight training by Republic’s LIFT Academy at Moton Field is a very appropriate use of our aviation assets,” Haygood said. “The Tuskegee Airmen would be proud to know that new generations of diverse students will learn to fly from this sacred ground just as they did.”
Joe Turnham, director of the Macon County Economic Development Authority, said the LIFT Academy will add a new dimension to the area’s region, which has seen recent growth in other sectors.
“The economic investment and new jobs created by Republic/LIFT in concert with the community and Tuskegee University are significant and only the beginning towards making Moton Field a hotbed for aviation economic development,” Turnham said.
“It adds another layer of success for us and diversifies our recent gains in manufacturing and retail,” he said. “It will also add demand for housing and services that will lift the quality of life for all our county citizens.”
Auburn’s mascot Aubie greets fans at an Auburn University Regional Airport event in 2023. (Photo by Troy Turner)
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Some of the information included in this report was provided by the Aviation Council of Alabama, and from Jerry Underwood with “Made in Alabama.” Top photo shows Tuskegee-LIFT ceremony, courtesy state of Alabama.
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