Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for January 5, 2009 TALK, TALK, TALK

Have read a lot of articles about this project...and other projects. Would be nice to see some action!

Shawnee Community College has high hopes for aviation facility

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

CAIRO - Shawnee Community College President Larry Peterson hopes an aviation technologies facility in Cairo will be a positive move for everyone involved.

The college is in the process of having a facility to teach general education and aviation technology classes at Cairo Airport. The project is a joint venture between SCC and Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Department of Aviation Technologies. Hopes are the project will allow both schools to establish a greater presence in the far southern part of the state and will also act as a door to bettering economic development in the area.

"It's a win-win for everyone around," Peterson said.

Peterson said the project is set to take place in a 100 by 100-foot hangar and an L-shaped building around the hangar. The buildings will include offices and classrooms offering everything from basic aviation technology courses to sheet metal labs.

Peterson said SCC and SIUC have been working well together to make the facility a reality.

"The cooperation between SIU and Shawnee Community College has been tremendous," Peterson said.

Peterson said the project has met approval from politicians such as State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, and State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton. He said representatives from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's office also voiced support of the project.

John Cotter, interim chair of the department of aviation technologies at SIUC, said there is support from SIUC officials as well.

"The SIU administration is very supportive of this initiative," Cotter said.

Cotter said the project would offer dual-credit courses where students could earn credit at SCC and SIUC and work toward an Associate of Science in aviation science. After which, the student can attend SIUC and work toward a mechanic certificate with airframe and power ratings from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Cotter said while they have made great progress, looking for the program to be up and running by fall is being "optimistic."

While representatives from SCC and SIUC are excited about the project, they are still waiting on FAA approval and if that happens, there are plenty of preparations to make, including construction of the facility.

"We still have a lot of work to do," Peterson said.