New ASU Aviation Training Facility Opens at Airport

The $10.2 million, 15,000-square-foot facility is right next to Skyline Aviation’s new FBO facility, San Angelo Jet Center, where ASU student pilots undergo their flight training and where the ASU/Skyline fleet of Diamond aircraft is maintained. Now the primary hub of ASU’s Bachelor of Commercial Aviation (B.C.A.) degree program, the ASU Aviation Training Facility’s cutting-edge features include:

• Large lobby modeled like an aircraft hangar
• Pre- and post-flight briefing room
• Large meeting room
• Technologically advanced classrooms
• Faculty offices
• Breakroom
• Advanced aircraft engine training displays
• Simulator Room with six industry-standard Redbird flight simulators

Funding for the new ASU facility came from both public and private sources. It included a $2 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, a $2 million local grant from the City of San Angelo Development Corporation, a $2 million gift from long-time ASU supporter Richard Mayer, and a $4.2 million gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

Dr. Scott Turner “This new facility is more than just an expansion of our program – it’s a clear reflection of the university’s dedication and the unwavering support of our partners and donors,” said Dr. Scott Turner, B.C.A. program director. “Like all the faculty and staff at ASU, we are passionate about our students’ success, and this facility allows us to deliver a dynamic learning experience that prepares them for high-impact aviation careers.”

ASU enrolled its first students in the B.C.A. program in fall 2021, produced its first graduates in spring 2024, a year ahead of schedule, and has now graduated over 30 students through the program. There are already 80 new students enrolled for the upcoming fall semester, which will bring the total number of students in the program to around 250, more than triple the initial predictions. The ASU/Skyline Aviation fleet of Diamond aircraft has expanded from the initial eight planes to the current 27 planes of various sizes.

Ronnie D. Hawkins “The success and advancement of our commercial aviation program has surpassed even our most optimistic expectations,” said ASU President Ronnie D. Hawkins. “We are already graduating pilots and aviation administrators who will help fill dire needs within the aviation industry, and we will soon be graduating air traffic controllers, as well. But the continued growth of our program is essential because those industry needs are not going away, and this outstanding new facility will give us even greater forward momentum as we prepare our students for careers that matter in an industry that keeps the world moving.”

With the continued development and expansion of ASU’s commercial aviation program, not only will students in the region get to stay home to prepare for fundamental roles in the aviation sector, but the program will also continue to attract even larger numbers of students from across the state and the nation.

The ASU Aviation Training Facility is also another example of why securing funding to support new and enhanced campus facilities is one of the top priorities of ASU’s ongoing “Leading the Charge” capital campaign.

More details on the campaign and ways to contribute are available online at angelo.edu/leading-the-charge or by calling the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 325-942-2116.