Board Approves Purchase Of Five Aircraft

Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) in Traverse City is expanding its aviation program again with the purchase of additional airplanes for its fleet, as the College’s Board of Trustees approved multiple aircraft purchases in its last meeting.

The school will be acquiring a new twin-engine Piper Seminole and up to four Cessna Skyhawks through the used aircraft market. The funds will be drawn from the 2024 aviation bond proceeds. The Seminole is expected to cost $1.122 million while the amount allocated for the Skyhawks is up to $2.5 million.

The aviation program at NMC currently operates 16 aircraft and intends to eventually grow its fleet to 22. The acquisitions will enable some of the approximately 50 students to finally get off the program’s wait list.

Alex Boyle, Director of Aviation at NMC said, "They're going to get hired right away. They're going to have high paying jobs. They're going to travel the world. These are kids who have dreamed of being pilots since they were kids. And so, the only limiting factor right now is for us to acquire these aircraft."

NMC offers training for Private (Part 141), Instrument (Part 141), Commercial (Part 141), Multi-engine, Flight Instructor, Instrument Flight Instructor, and Seaplane certificates and ratings. The school conducts its flight training activities out of Cherry Capital Airport (KTVC) not far from the central business area of Traverse City, a well-known tourist destination during the summer months.

Traverse City also hosts its annual National Cherry Festival in July, which for a number of years featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels for a two-day air show over the waters of Grand Traverse Bay north of the beaches in town.

FMI:  www.nmc.edu/