By Esteban Fernandez, Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Pierpont’s new aviation school will break ground in October.
The North Central West Virginia Airport Authority authorized the airport to begin searching for a surveyor to determine the exact boundary of the facility on the airport property. The airport will retrieve estimates from surveyor companies for the work before making its formal funding request to the board.
“We’ve needed to get a larger school to supply the workforce for the industry that’s located at the airport,” Board President David Hinkle said. “We worked with the legislators over the last few years, and we came up with a plan to increase enrollment, build a new school and allow Fairmont State to have 100% use of the present buildings at the airport. And, we would build a new [airframe and powerplant] school.”
Hinkle said the project has been under discussion for at least a decade. The challenge, however, was financing, Hinkle said. The board’s desire for a new school received material support last year from a special session of the state legislature and the governor’s office. Together, both branches of government came up with a plan to finance the new school. Senate Bill 1029 provided $25 million for the new school.
