Aviation still spreading its wings
Part Two - Part One of this story ran in the Oct. 9 edition of Outlook.

By Jennifer Kirksey Smith

The first airfield in Athens was located on East State Street at the current Kroger's site. The University purchased it in 1943 and this was the terminal. In the late 1960s, the airfield was relocated to Albany because of plans for the new highway.

As enrollment jumps, the Department of Aviation's facilities and flight training program are getting some changes.

"A lot of what we are doing now for the expansion is driven by the increase in our enrollment," said Juan Merkt, chair of the Department of Aviation in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

The increase in enrollment, which has doubled over the last five years, has led to some physical changes within the Department of Aviation. For example, there is planned construction of a 2,300 square-foot addition (and a 500-square-foot second floor built for future development) to the Francis B. Fuller Aviation Training Center, which is scheduled for completion this December.

The addition will provide space for a resource library room, student lounge, three faculty/instructor offices, conference room, a computerized FAA testing facility and a storage area.

The changes don't stop there.

Three new courses will be incorporated into the flight training program over the next year or so. The goal is for students to train as crewmembers in preparation for flying careers.

The original airfield was initially used for the Civilian Air Patrol and eventually for the University's aviation training program. The old hangars can still be seen near the Athens Recreation Center. Kroger and Wal-mart are now located on what used to be the runway.

"With the airlines you fly and work as a team," Merkt said. "Everything is standardized and structured. Airlines put a lot of emphasis on this crew coordination training."

With a strong emphasis on developing ways to train pilots to work as crews, the department will incorporate Crew Resource Management training into the program. This training will give students exposure to advanced concepts and training as part of a team.

"The training, which allows students to use some of the larger University planes such as the King Air, will ultimately have a tremendous impact not only on the quality of training we offer but also add to the marketability of our graduates and our ability to attract new students," Merkt said.

Jennifer Kirksey Smith is a media specialist with University Communications and Marketing.