The Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, a component of the Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community and Technical College, offers associate and bachelor degree programs in aviation technology. Pierpont offers an Associate’s Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. Fairmont State offers Bachelor’s Degrees in Aviation Administration/Professional Flight, Aviation Administration, and Aviation Maintenance Management. The Center also provides high quality regional aerospace industrial training and community outreach services. The NAEC is housed in a 85,000 sq. ft. facility at the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex in Bridgeport, West Virginia. The facility includes classrooms, computer labs, and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test center, a learning resource center, two 25,000 sq. ft. of aircraft maintenance hangar spaces, and a variety of laboratories which support academic/technical instruction and industrial training in various aerospace disciplines. Students may pursue an Associate Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology (FAA Airframe & Powerplant certification). Graduates of these programs may seek direct employment as aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) or may elect to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Maintenance Management. All degree options are accredited by the Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Board of Education. The Associates Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, as well as Bachelor degrees in Aviation Maintenance Management, and Aviation Administration Flight are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under FAR Parts 141 and 147. The Associate of Science Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology prepares students for entry level employment in the field of aircraft maintenance and repair with airlines, aircraft manufacturers, corporate aviation, aircraft repair stations, and general aviation fixed-base operations. Graduates earn an Associate’s Degree and an FAA Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) certification with airframe and power plant endorsements (A&P). The Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Maintenance Management is designed to provide students with hands-on technical expertise in aviation maintenance related disciplines as well as skills required to assume supervisory responsibilities within the aerospace aircraft/avionics maintenance industry. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Administration Management prepares students for entry level employment in administrative/managerial areas with airlines, government agencies, aircraft manufacturers, aircraft repair stations, general aviation fixed-based operations, and the travel industry. Job titles may include airport manager, maintenance/flight dispatcher, operations manager, airline station manager, flight scheduler, air traffic controller, or air cargo operations manager. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Administration-Professional Flight prepares graduates for entry level employment in commercial aviation as a professional pilot and/or in administrative/managerial areas under job classifications such as airline operations manager, corporate aviation, airport manager, aircraft manufacturing, and air traffic control. Successful candidates will earn their Private, Instrument, and Commercial pilot ratings by the end of their junior year. Students going on to earn an Instructor’s rating between their junior and senior year will be eligible to apply for paid flight instructor positions during their senior year. The Center also offers cutting-edge aerospace industry training. Specialized courses have been developed in areas such as, aircraft sheet metal construction and repair, blueprint reading and interpretation, aviation safety, transport category aircraft familiarization, aerospace company orientation, and aviation management.

Contact

Dr. Brad Gilbert, Director  Phone: (304) 367-4800