This article originally appeared in Corridor Business Journal
The Cedar Rapids college will launch the new flight school by fall 2025, as well as a new aviation management program.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – May 24, 2024 – As nearly 100 people gathered in a breezy aircraft hangar at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) on Wednesday morning, Coe College announced its new flight school and aviation management specialization degree.
Coe College President David Hayes, Revv Aviation Vice President of Flight Training & Chief Instructor Jerome Howard, CID Director Marty Lenss, and Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell spoke at the May 22 event at CID.
In collaboration with Midwest flight school operator Revv Aviation, Mr. Hayes said Coe aims to offer flight and aviation management classes as soon as fall 2025. The aviation management program will provide an additional option for students within Coe’s business administration major.
“With these partnerships established, CID, Revv Aviation, and Coe are beginning to build the infrastructure and programs necessary, including seeking the necessary accreditations and approvals such as submitting a substantive application or change to the Higher Learning Commission to approve the academics,” Mr. Hayes said of the collaboration’s next steps.
Mr. Hayes also noted the ongoing commercial pilot shortage across the nation, which led some airlines to stop service to regional Iowa airports in recent years. Despite the shortage and accreditation requirements, he said the school could launch the program as soon as the next academic year, 2024-25, if enough interest is shown.
Revv will help oversee the operations of the Coe flight school, while CID dedicated the entire hangar to the program, as well as providing opportunities for future students to network with aviation professionals.
Mr. Howard with Revv Aviation said the company aims to establish a flight school program with Coe that is similar to its existing program at the University of Nebraska.
“Revv has a history of operating in smaller towns, bringing aviation back to smaller communities to revitalize these smaller areas,” Mr. Howard said at the event. “We’ve had a couple thousand students over the years graduate through establishments very similar to the program here at Coe College, just to help bolster the numbers of pilots and the pilot community.”
Ms. O’Donnell, who is a private pilot herself, touched on Cedar Rapid’s aviation history, including when the Wright brothers lived in the area in the late 1800s. She also noted that the communications technology behind NASA’s Apollo 11 mission was built in Cedar Rapids.
“It’s clear that we stand on the shoulders of those giants as we introduce this new degree,” Ms. O’Donnell said at the event. “[The program] is designed to equip our students with the skills, the knowledge, and the hands-on experience, and the hours they need to excel in various aviation careers from piloting aircraft to managing complex aerospace projects.”
She said the new program will also further the goals of the Cedar Rapids metro area in terms of economic growth and as a hub of technological innovation.
Mr. Lenss with CID said the ultimate takeaway for those at the announcement was to spread the word about the flight school and watch for updates and growth of the program over the next year.
“We’re confident that this is going to be a success,” Mr. Lenss said. “You’ve heard from multiple speakers about the deep aviation history and rich background in aviation in this region. We want to capitalize on that, and really start training up tomorrow’s workforce, so we’re super excited for this adventure.