Since 2021, leaders from across the city and state have been discussing how to bring an aviation school in Douglas and Coffee County which has spurred much interest from all aspects of the aviation field and created the Douglas-Coffee Aviation Eco-System Initiative. On Thursday, July 13, 2023, the initiative partners with government, industry, education, and private aviation entities met at the Coffee County Board to Education to continue with strategic planning efforts for an aviation academy model for Douglas.
“The Douglas Area Aviation Education Collaborative will establish an aviation academy rural model by using multiple pathway programs,” says Charlie Davis, City Manager. “We are working together to pool resources from our co-partners and other entities who operate in and recruit from underserved rural communities in the United States. Our goal is to aid in solving our aviation workforce crisis.”
The mission of the collaboration is to develop and provide educational opportunities that emphasize the skill, knowledge, and experience that will allow students to learn a skill that will last a lifetime while supporting the education, economic development, and quality of life of this community, state, and nation. By minimizing the barriers of entry into the aviation field, the initiative will give rural and underserved individuals an opportunity to increase personal wealth while also meeting aviation needs.
Those in attendance of the meeting received updates from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Coffee Board of Education, and Middle Georgia State University. Updates included information about the structural programs, airframe and powerplant programs, accreditation and FAA approval, aviation dual enrollment programs, personnel and equipment needs, and flight training of students.
For more information, please contact the Office of City Manager (912) 389-3401 or cdavis@cityofdouglas.com.