Page 18 - MGA Today - Fall 2016

The Macon Downtown Airport as seen from the air in one of MGA’s Piper Archer airplanes. LEE GREENWAY
realtor’s familiar mantra: “Location, location,
location. I was commuting from Atlanta to
Eastman – this is a lot easier.”
Apparently Macon’s location, location, and
location are a draw for many aviators – the Macon
programs are already at full enrollment and the
Macon-based fleet is growing. Flight in Macon
will soon be adding its first multi-engine aircraft,
and FBO Manager Larry Dees is in the middle of
refurbishing a Cessna 182 that will allow the
University add high-performance ratings to its
offerings.
But Macon is not the only waypoint on the
University’s Aviation expansion map – as
Georgia’s only public four-year School of Avia-
tion, MGA’s reach is spreading beyond its home
turf in the midstate. Flight programs similar to
the one in Macon will soon be offered in Valdosta,
Columbus, Savannah, and Camden County, and
additional aircraft and training facilities are in the that the state of Georgia remains a leader in the
works for the Aviation hub in Eastman.
18 MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
“Our expansion will provide more
resources to our aviation students as
well as more locations to accomplish
flight training,” says School of Aviation
dean Adon Clark. “With satellite
locations around the state, our flight
program will be more accessible
without students incurring the cost of
relocating.”
The expansion plan, the first phase of which
was funded in the state’s 2016 budget, is a three-
year rollout, including up to 20 new aircraft,
Flight training facilities at five satellite campuses,
and new training facilities, including a Space
Control facility. “We are excited to be expanding
our aviation programs to serve students from all
regions of the state,” says University President
Christopher Blake. “With the expertise of our
aviation faculty and our state-of-the-art facilities
in Eastman, Middle Georgia State will help ensure
field.”
As aviation becomes increasingly important
to Georgia’s economy, the industry’s need for top-
flight aviators increases. And as Georgians across
the state look to find their life’s work above the
clouds, there will be one of MGA’s purple-and-
white Pipers – call sign “MidKnight” – close to
home to help them get there.
“MidKnight 138 is cleared for takeoff.” – At the end of
Macon Downtown Airport’s 4600' runway, CFI student Alex
Shakkour controls the plane from the right-hand seat while
MGA Chief Flight Instructor Chad Fischer observes and
evaluates from the left-hand seat. LEE GREENWAY