$500K plane to expand UMA’s aviation education

Photo / Courtesy University of Maine at Augusta A new Cirrus SR20 GS airplane will allow the University of Maine at Augusta to continue expanding its pilot instruction.

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By Staff

The University of Maine at Augusta has purchased a new Cirrus SR20 GS airplane that will allow the school to continue expanding its programs in pilot instruction.

Funding for the plane, which cost roughly $500,000, was approved last September by the University of Maine System trustees.

UMA is the only university in the state and one of only two in New England to offer degrees in both traditional flight and remote pilot instruction.

The 6,000-student public university hopes its programs and the new plane will help solve a critical workforce gap in pilot training, and make it easier for veterans to pursue aviation careers after their military service, according to a news release.

UMA’s aviation program began in 2013 and was established as a public-private partnership between UMA and Maine Instrument Flight of Augusta. Flight training is completed at the Augusta Airport and academic training is completed at UMA. Maine Instrument Flight provides FAA-Certified Part 141 flight training at four levels: private pilot, instrument, commercial and certified flight instructor.

Combined with the university’s existing flight simulators at Brunswick Landing, the SR20 is the cornerstone of the pilot training program, said Greg Jolda, an aviation instructor and program coordinator.

The new plane will provide students with training in a high-performance aircraft using the latest cockpit design. New training will also include specialized simulation and virtual reality training, saving a significant amount of fuel.

In addition to the new Cirrus, UMA has a full-motion Redbird FMX Simulator, and a commercial 737 simulator at its Brunswick location. The simulators are recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration as an Advanced Aircraft Training Device, meaning students can log time toward private, instrument and commercial certifications in the training device.

UMA’s public aviation program prepares pilots for a range of in-demand careers, from commercial flight to public safety and health to agriculture applications. Some graduates have gone on to work as first officers for major airlines such as Southwest.

“We’ve had five graduates that were instructors at MIF and then secured positions at regional airlines,” said Jolda. “Plus, we currently have seven graduates serving as instructors there. These students will remain as instructors for at least two to three years, building up flying time, to expand their career opportunities.”