The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport has partnered with Dayton’s Sinclair Community College, signing an agreement to develop and test new technologies for the aviation industry.
As part of the agreement, CVG’s innovation team will collaborate with Sinclair’s aviation program on developing uncrewed aircraft and advanced air mobility vehicles, which are automated aircraft designed for transporting people or cargo. Moreover, CVG’s team will be able to use Sinclair’s aviation centers, academic programs, faculty and researchers to further their objectives.
Some of the potential applications of the technology include delivering medical supplies, transporting workers to remote locations, and surveying storm damage.
“Partnering with the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport provides our faculty and students with an unparalleled real-world laboratory environment,” Sinclair Chief Research Officer Andrew Shepherd said in a news release. “This agreement directly enhances our capability to align Sinclair’s premier UAS and AAM curriculum with commercial airport operations, ensuring our students remain at the cutting edge of the global aviation industry.”
The agreement comes at a time when Ohio has attracted a series of investments related to autonomous and electric aviation. The Ohio Department of Transportation’s DriveOhio and FlyOhio initiatives have contributed to testing and development of the technology, notably by supporting the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport.
Companies including Joby Aviation, Anduril Industries and Electra.aero have also announced aviation manufacturing projects in Ohio, while GE Aerospace has invested in electric aircraft company BETA Technologies.
