Latest news with #SinclairCommunityCollege
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sinclair Community College bought an electric aircraft and flight simulator for more than $2.5M
May 16—Stepping further into the next generation of flight technology, Sinclair Community College said Thursday it bought an electric aircraft and flight simulator, with an eye on training for students and clients. Sinclair said it has purchased one of BETA Technologies' electric aircraft, the ALIA CTOL (Conventional Takeoff and Landing Aircraft), as well as a flight simulator, to be housed at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. The college said the simulator was delivered last month, with the aircraft expected early next year. The package — plane and simulator — cost the school more than $2.5 million, officials said, saying Sinclair used $2 million from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and $500,000 of state capital funds, supplemented by Sinclair's funds. Training focused on ground school and pilot orientations could begin as soon as this summer, the college said. However, students won't be flying the aircraft any time soon. Andrew Shepherd, Sinclair's chief research officer, said the early use of the craft and the simulator will be for non-credit training and "familiarization" sessions, letting clients and students get comfortable with this new technology. He envisions single-day ground schools leading to deeper orientations with the aircraft and, in time, flight. "We're going to be building out (educational) content as this goes along," Shepherd said in an interview. The BETA craft does not yet have Federal Aviation Administration certification. Students can't build hours toward a flight rating in an experimental aircraft, Shepherd cautioned. "What we purchased is an experimental aircraft," he said. In time, the college will explore will how both the plane and the simulator, which is housed in a semi-trailer, can be integrated into aviation-focused courses. Sinclair says it is the first academic institution to acquire a BETA product. This is not a new area for Sinclair. For years, the school has established partnerships and worked to create training in the realm of advanced air mobility aircraft, in Dayton and Springfield. The craft and flight simulator will become part of Sinclair's National UAS Training and Certification Center curriculum, with input from BETA Technologies, which has its own training program for customers. Both the aircraft and simulator will be housed at the Springfield airport, home to the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence. "The recent purchase of a BETA flight simulator and BETA aircraft by Sinclair Community College is another great step toward advancing Dayton's role as the future of flight," U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, said in a statement from Sinclair. "These systems will enable more students to gain critical training and education in advanced air mobility programs, which is essential for integration into the national airspace system." "We are thrilled to establish this novel partnership to advance the interests of industry, government, and academia," said Jeffrey Miller, Sinclair's senior vice president of workforce development and consulting. The ALIA aircraft is said to be capable of transporting up to five passengers or 1,240 pounds of cargo. There is also a vertical takeoff-and-landing variant, the ALIA VTOL. In November 2024, BETA rolled the first production-intent aircraft off its assembly line in Vermont. "For more than a century, Sinclair has been educating and equipping future leaders," said Shawn Hall, BETA Technologies' chief revenue officer. "With the unique vision and motivation to acquire our AAM (advanced air mobility) technologies and expand its aerospace program into this next era, it's clear why they've been so successful. By layering our electric aviation technologies on top of Sinclair's long-standing excellence in aviation education, we're not just familiarizing pilots and technicians with this new technology, we're cultivating a new workforce for the future."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sinclair College partners with BETA for aviation training expansion
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Sinclair Community College is expanding its aviation training program through a partnership with an aerospace manufacturing company. Sinclair purchased one of Beta Technologies' electric ALIA Conventional Takeoff and Landing Aircraft and a flight simulator. Sinclair said this partnership will give students a pathway to earn familiarization training and credentials in e-aviation, and conduct research & development in autonomous tech. Sinclair awarded $1.5M for aviation training, campus improvements 'The recent purchase of a Beta flight simulator and Beta aircraft by Sinclair Community College is another great step toward advancing Dayton's role as the future of flight,' said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner. 'These systems will enable more students to gain critical training and education in Advanced Air Mobility programs, which is essential for integration into the National Airspace System.' The college was able to secure $2 million in federal funding for this project through Turner's support. This partnership will help equip the next generation of aviation workers in Dayton and beyond. 'The growth of this market is essential not only for improving urban and rural transportation, cargo logistics, and emergency services, but also for driving economic progress by enabling new infrastructure, generating jobs, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, as in this case through our partnership with Beta,' said Jeffrey A. Miller, Senior Vice President of Workforce Development and Consulting at Sinclair College. 'We are thrilled to establish this novel partnership to advance the interests of industry, government, and academia.' To learn more about Sinclair Community College's aviation programs, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Journals
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Sinclair Community College names Rena Sebor as provost, senior VP
Sinclair Community College's new provost and senior vice president will oversee academic operations and lead efforts around student success, workforce readiness and AI-driven learning – tasks she is familiar with after 25 years with the institution.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sinclair Community College to buy $545K electric flight simulator
Apr. 25—Sinclair Community College will use $1.6 million recently approved by the state to bring a new-tech flight simulator — as well as chiller system upgrades — to campus. The Ohio Controlling Board approved Sinclair's ask for a $500,000 appropriation for a flight simulator, along with a waiver that allows the college "to purchase the BETA Equipment for custom training programs project in Montgomery County." A Sinclair spokesperson would not provide specific details on the purchase. The college said it will have more details in coming weeks. State Rep. Desiree Tims, D-Dayton, said she pushed for the funding, and confirmed that the flight simulator will come from BETA Technologies, a 2017-founded Vermont aviation company that specializes in electric flight. Tims' office said the simulator will support the college's Advanced Air Mobility and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. The college will put in its own $45,000 to make the purchase. In an interview with this outlet, Tims characterized the $500,000 as "critical" for Sinclair and a way to promote jobs and economic development in the region. "We want to make sure that because we have Joby Aviation in the Dayton area, and we are seeing new technology for unmanned aircraft and drones and things of that nature, that we are providing the space for student to comfortably learn about these tools and tech and get the skills for the jobs of the future." Also approved was about $1.1 million to replace chiller systems in the Sinclair Conference Center and one other academic building. "The upgrades will improve energy efficiency and modernize essential facilities that serve students, faculty, and staff," Tims said in a press release. ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below.
Business Journals
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Sinclair College gets $1.5M in state funding for aviation and UAS programming, HVAC upgrades
A Dayton community college has received over $1.5 million in funding for two major projects aimed at improving campus infrastructure and advancing electric aviation training in the region. This $1.5 million in funding is crucial as it modernizes the college's aging infrastructure and enhances crucial workforce training. A Dayton community college has received over $1.5 million in funding for two major projects aimed at improving campus infrastructure and advancing electric aviation training in the region. Sinclair Community College, based in downtown Dayton, is set to receive $1.5 million in state capital funding for HVAC repair and for bolstering the school's Advanced Air Mobility and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. Funding is considered crucial as it modernizes the college's aging infrastructure and enhances crucial workforce training. District 38 Rep. Desiree Tims helped secure the funding. 'These projects reflect Dayton's commitment to innovation, education, and workforce development,' said Rep. Tims. 'I'm proud to support Sinclair's continued leadership in aviation technology and to advocate for smart investments that directly benefit our students and community.' expand Representative Desiree Tims serves the people of House District 38. Lifetouch Inc. 2023 One project, estimated at approximately $1.06 million, seeks to repair aging chiller systems in two buildings on Sinclair's downtown campus: Building 12–the Sinclair Conference Center; and Building 20–the John E. Moore Technology Center. The upgrade will improve energy efficiency and modernize essential building facilities. Funding for this came from the Higher Education Improvement Fund. Additionally, Sinclair's Advanced Air Mobility and UAS program will receive $500,000 from the Higher Education Improvement Taxable Fund to purchase a new electric flight simulator from Beta Technologies, a Vermont-based aerospace manufacturer developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and electric conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL) aircraft. expand An instructor at Sinclair Community College calibrates a drone during classes. Tristan Navera/ DBJ Sinclair will also contribute $45,000 in local funding toward the UAS program project, putting the cost at a total of $545,000. In March 2025, Sinclair and Cincinnati-based UAS company Aero Velocity partnered to expand aviation students' educational opportunities by establishing an internship program and providing two types of drones for in-class experimentation. Sinclair Community College has 18,700 students and offers over 300 degree and certificate programs, including four bachelor's degrees, in technical fields. It is the second largest college in the Dayton area by enrollment, based on DBJ research.
