A little over six months after breaking ground on their $40 million, 150,000-square-foot hangar at CVG Airport, FEAM Aero broke ground on another large construction project.
On Monday, FEAM Aero announced they are constructing an aircraft maintenance technician school. The project is a partnership between FEAM and Epic Flight Academy, an aviation school based out of New Smyrna, Florida. With aircraft mechanics being in such high demand, the school will help fill in some of the talent gap at the United States’ seventh largest cargo air hub.
“The opening of this new school at CVG Airport is a significant step towards our goals of helping to expand the aviation maintenance technician workforce and diversifying the
industry,” FEAM Aero President Cam Murphy said in a press release. “Working with Epic in
conjunction with CVG allows FEAM Aero to provide invaluable hands-on experience to
all future AMTs by giving them real-world experiences, working on the various aircrafts
that enter our hangars, and the ability to work while in school.”
The timing for the project is critical when considering the nationwide pilot shortage. As air travel rebounds post-pandemic, coupled with the continued growth of CVG, having a dedicated aviation mechanic school is critical for the Greater Cincinnati region’s economic and transportation infrastructure.
CVG is one of the largest commercial air hubs, not only in the Midwest but the entire country. It’s home to the Amazon Air megahub and the DHL Express’ Global Superhub for the Americas. CVG has an impact of $6.8 billion on the local economy. In addition, over 7.6 million passengers in 2022 — a 21% increase from 2021.
“Partnering with educational institutions to prepare students for a career in aviation is a
priority for us at CVG,” said CVG CEO Candace McGraw.
Overall, the school is expected to be up to 32,292 square feet and house up to 300 students and staff. Cincinnati Commercial Contracting is in charge of managing the building design and construction process. The anticipated competition date of the project is early 2024.
“We are very proud of our FAA-certified aircraft mechanic training,” said Josh Rawlins,
COO of Epic Flight Academy. “Our graduates are highly sought after and the knowledge
and skills they acquire prepares each of them for rewarding careers. We are excited to
be partnering with a company like FEAM Aero at this location.”