Construction is underway on an $11 million improvement project at Danville Regional Airport; an investment city leaders say could help position the Southside airport for possible commercial flights in the future.
The project includes a new hangar and expanded classroom space at the airport, aimed at growing aviation training programs and building a local workforce.
Travis Williams, chief flight instructor at Averett University, said the additions are an important step for the university’s aviation program. “This is kind of the next piece to the puzzle to just have an outstanding aviation program,” Williams said.
Along with the new hangar, the project adds new on-site classrooms for students. Williams said the activity at the airport can motivate those in training. “To see all that’s going on out here at the airport– it just gives them an opportunity to dream big,” he said.
The expansion also includes a new aviation maintenance program with Danville Community College that is expected to accept its first cohort of students this fall.
Melissa Mann, dean of career and technical education at Danville Community College, said the program is intended to connect multiple education partners. “We’ll be able to not only partner with them but with our other education entities, our K12 schools, Averett University, to really create that workforce hub,” Mann said.
“We offer three programs. The two programs are going to offer certificates. The first is Powerplant… and Airframe, these two are three semesters, but if they want to finish with an associate degree, it’s four semesters,” said Marcio Couto, Danville Community College’s Aviation Technology Program Manager.
William Robinson, who was brought in to train future aviation mechanics, said students will be expected to do hands-on work as part of the program. “They’ll have to go do engine runs and make sure that whatever they repaired actually fixes the issue,” Robinson said.
The aviation maintenance program is expected to share training spaces with Averett at the airport next year.
With development underway, Danville Transportation Services Director Marc Adelman said commercial flights could be possible down the road. “Well, I hope so, and we certainly have the infrastructure to support it on air side,” Adelman said, adding that parking would still be needed for that to happen.