The new 17,800-square-foot building at the Kent State University Airport will be named the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center. Construction is currently underway in anticipation of a fall 2019 opening. (Kent State University)
KENT, Ohio -- FedEx has pledged $5 million to build a 17,800 square-foot Academic Aeronautics Center at Kent State University, on top of another $1.5 million already donated for the project.
The new building will make room for the school's rapidly-growing College of Aeronautics and Engineering, which has grown 55 percent since 2010, according to a press release.
There are 401 students enrolled in aeronautics programs at Kent State and 192 studying flight technology.
About 15 students participate in the acclaimed Precision Flight Team, where students showcase their skills in aviation competition. The team will compete next week in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association competition.
Construction is already underway on the aeronautics center, which will house a simulation center, classrooms, offices and working spaces.
Addressing a pending pilot shortage is a priority for FedEx, which rolled out a training and education outreach program in 2018 to try and hire more employees. Many pilots are reaching retirement age and FedEx will lose hundreds this year, according to industry publication FreightWaves.
Whether pilots need a four-year degree to fly depends on the airline or company, but courses are often extensive and at times, expensive. Fees for these courses are sometimes thousands of dollars because of required flight time.
Kent State manages its own airport, houses a Air Traffic Control Laboratory and is home to a fleet of 32 collegiate aircraft, the largest in the state. The school's aeronautics program is the only in Ohio accredited Aviation Accreditation Board International, according to the school's website.
The center is expected to open in the fall of 2019.
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