In a vacant airport hangar at Indy South Greenwood Airport stands wooden planks, outlining walls and doorways for future classrooms.
The airport has no commercial flights, and is mostly used by a small segment of the population that owns their own airplanes. But Roger Tomey, president of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1354, sees the location, which will house the Young Eagles Aeronautical Center of Technology, as a potential starting point for the next generation of pilots in the midst of a pilot shortage that threatened the airline industry before the coronavirus struck and grounded flights.
After the pandemic, the demand will still be there as older pilots continue to retire, Tomey said.
During the next 10 years, United Airlines estimates half of its approximately 12,500 pilots will retire, and the airline will need to hire 10,000 pilots as demand for flights grows. From last year through 2038, Boeing will need to hire about 645,000 pilots, including about 212,000 in North America, according to ATP Flight School.
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While most students — in fifth through 12th grade — will not get to lift off at the Greenwood Airport, Tomey said he hopes what they learn on the ground will spark an interest and inspire them to take to the skies.
Construction started on the $1.1 million 5,000-square-foot learning center last October, and completion is set for April. In addition to classrooms where students will learn subjects such as algebra, trigonometry, physics, meteorology and topography, there will be spaces for students to put what they learned to use, Tomey said.
“The kids will be working on robotics, drones and rocketry, as well as aviation,” he said. “We’ll be using 3D printers. Kids can design their own wings and drones and learn how the atmosphere changes as you go up and into outer space.”
Students in their second year at Central Nine Career Center will be able to pursue their pilot’s certificate by earning 15 credit hours in a flight training program at the airport in conjunction with Vincennes University.
Students in the flight program will have to qualify. They will be judged on their high school GPA, results on a test for reasoning and prioritization, and an interview with professional pilots. The class will be a boost for students who complete it, as universities with flight schools, such as Purdue University and Indiana State University, prefer students enter college with their pilot’s certificate in hand, Tomey said.
Programs at the learning center will serve as an educational supplement for students, mostly in schools in Johnson County and on the southside of Indianapolis. Students will be able to take programs after school or in the summertime. The airport is also working with the Tuskegee Airmen Indianapolis chapter to study and support racial and economic diversity among future pilots, Tomey said.
“We’ve been working with the Tuskegee Airmen for a number of years to get minorities involved in aviation,” he said. “They help us promote this, to get inner-city kids and minority kids the opportunity to be a part of this.”
Construction of the on-site school is possible with the help of a trio of construction company owners — who requested anonymity — and cooperation from Mayor Mark Myers and the City of Greenwood in moving the project forward. Private donations helped fund the project, including a $100,000 donation from Home Depot. But funds are still needed, Tomey said.
The learning center hopes to host classes next summer, barring any coronavirus-related restrictions. Applications are already available.
“We’ve been wanting to get an education center here for the last 10 years,” Tomey said. “Our goal is to give kids an opportunity to see what’s available in aviation and the aerospace industry.”
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People who wish to donate can do so by contacting Roger Tomey at [email protected] or [email protected]
People who wish to enroll their children in classes can email [email protected] and ask for an enrollment form.
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