GAME-CHANGING: CTCC FUELS INNOVATION IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL AVIATION SCENE.

• Position: RESEARCH: NORTH CAROLINA: GUILFORD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Since it began in 1970, the aviation program at Guilford Technical Community College has soared. And now, given the "boom" in aviation, GTCC is poised to offer a new pipeline of skilled labor in the field.

A bit of background: In January 2022, Boom Supersonic announced that it will build the world's fastest, most sustainable aircraft, the Overture, in Greensboro, North Carolina. The supersonic jet will fly at twice the speed of most passenger airplanes, and it will utilize sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Boom's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, slated to be 400,000 square feet on a 65-acre lot, will create more than 1,750 jobs with an average salary of $69,000 per year. Boom's Overture Superfactory will also grow North Carolina's economy by about $32 billion over 20 years.

In large part, Boom chose North Carolina for its ability to produce trained workers. Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, told Spectrum News, "With some of the country's best and brightest aviation talent, key suppliers, and the state of North Carolina's continued support, Boom is confident that Greensboro will emerge as the world's supersonic manufacturing hub."

Naturally, GTCC responded to the opportunity, developing plans to build an expansive 100,000-square-foot aviation center on its Cameron Campus. This new facility will complement the existing T.H. Davis Aviation Center, located adjacent to the runways at Piedmont Triad International Airport, and will allow for expansion of GTCC's aviation programs. And the cost? It's well worth it, given the impact of Boom's investment in the area. GTCC is firmly on its way to securing $37.4 million for its new aviation center, and college leaders may take bids for the initial construction as soon as May or June 2023, with the hope of completing construction by 2027.

Leaders in education and economic development agree that Boom's presence in Greensboro will create vital new opportunities for area and state students. GTCC is uniquely positioned to meet the specialized demand, already offering cutting-edge programs in aerospace manufacturing, aviation systems, aviation electronics (avionics), and aviation management. Students can also enroll in the Aviation Manufacturing Quick Careers Program (AMQCP) in areas such as composite technology and aircraft structural repair. They later have the option to enroll in additional programs, earning stackable credentials that will make them highly desirable in the growing...