Charlotte Technical College’s aviation program students will have a state-of-the-art training facility late this year when construction is expected to be completed on land adjacent to Punta Gorda Airport.

The necessary permits have been secured by the Charlotte County Airport Authority, and the foundation has been poured. Construction, led by Sarasota-based Stellar Development Inc., remains on schedule for completion by December 2025, CTC officials said.

Contractors are currently completing underground work, sitework is ongoing and the slab for the next phase of construction is scheduled to be poured this week within the PGD Aviation Expansion Area at Punta Gorda Airport.

The 19,420-square-foot building will include a 10,000-square-foot hangar, modern classrooms, and advanced labs, offering students the opportunity to train with industry-standard equipment and expert instruction.

The campus will provide hands-on education for Aviation Airframe Mechanics and Aviation Powerplant Mechanics students in preparation for jobs in the private or governmental sectors.

The aviation program is a collaborative effort between the Board of County Commissioners, the Charlotte County Airport Authority and school board.

There has been a high demand for workers in the aviation industry. According to job and recruiting website Glassdoor, airframe and powerplant mechanics earn between $68,000 and $101,000 annually, with the average salary pegged at $82,449.

“This facility represents a tremendous investment in our students and community,” said Cindy Gulsby, director of Charlotte Technical College. “The continued progress is an exciting step toward preparing the next generation of aviation professionals right here in Charlotte County.”

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Aviation Training Facility took place in December.

“What began as a limited capacity facility has grown into a long-term commitment to aviation workforce development, attracting high-skill, high-wage jobs to Charlotte County,” school board member Kim Amontree said at the ceremony.

Mark Vianello, superintendent of Charlotte County Public Schools, said the aviation program is more than state-of-the-art spaces; “it’s about changing lives and preparing students for a future in a rapidly evolving industry.”

CTC officials said the aviation program is “not just jets,” but skills learned can prepare students for a multitude of jobs at airlines, aircraft maintenance facilities, flight schools, avionics facilities, component, engine and AirMed transport facilities, sheriff’s aviation units, mosquito control and NASCAR.

The programs also can prepare students for careers in elevator and escalator repair, medical equipment maintenance, amusement park ride maintenance, air fire control, military aviation units, the space industry, propeller manufacturing and repair and aviation technical writing.

The aviation program was started with a $1.7 million Job Growth Grant in 2018. It received $5.75 million in state funding from Florida’s legislative sessions in 2022-24.