WMU 이사회는 조종사에 대한 수요가 급증하고 노후화된 항공기를 대체하는 시기에 대학의 훈련 역량을 확장하고 

새로운 항공기 구입을 지원하기 위해 WMU 재단으로부터 수백만 달러의 투자를 승인받았습니다.. 

최대 2,000만 달러까지 승인된 WMU 재단 대출은 전문 기술을 개발하는 데 사용되는 Super Decathlon 훈련기뿐만 아니라 

최대 32대의 새로운 기본 훈련기 구입을 지원할 것입니다. 항공항과는 새 항공기의 비용을 충당하기 위해 

현재 보유하고 있는 28대의 항공기를 판매할 것이기 때문에 새 항공기의 실제 비용은 훨씬 적을 것으로 예상하고 있습니다.

Thompson 학장은 2024년에 새로운 항공기의 첫 번째 항공기들이 학교에 도착할 것으로 예상하고 있습니다.

기사원본

Western Michigan University's top-flight College of Aviation is getting new wings. On Thursday, March 23,

the WMU Board of Trustees approved a multimillion-dollar investment from the WMU Foundation to support the 

purchase of a new fleet of aircraft, expanding the college's training capabilities at a time when demand for pilots 

is skyrocketing and replacing its aging fleet with the newest technology in the field.

"When we acquired our previous fleet of Cirrus aircraft, Western stood out for the type of training and skills students 

were able to develop because of the quality of the planes and the high level of technology we equipped them with,

" says Dr. Raymond Thompson, dean of Western's College of Aviation. "It was essential to moving us up to a top 

three aviation program in the country. This next fleet will take us to the next level."

The WMU Foundation loan, which has been approved up to $20 million, will support the purchase of up to 32 new 

primary training aircraft as well as a Super Decathlon training aircraft, which is used to develop specialized skills. 

The College of Aviation expects the actual cost of the new fleet to be much less, as it will use the sale of its

current fleet of 28 planes to help defray the cost of the new aircraft.

"We're very appreciative of the WMU Foundation for helping to make this happen," Thompson says. 

"Being able to purchase the new aircraft rather than lease them allows us to start building equity right away

and ultimately save money, which is a win for the University and for our students."

The board's approval of the loan allows the College of Aviation to move ahead with the purchasing process.

Thompson expects the first round of new aircraft to arrive on campus in 2024.

"This investment means we will continue to attract the best and brightest students to apply to 

Western Michigan University's aviation program because we make these kinds of investments in equipment 

and educational experiences," Thompson says. "At the end of the day, it's hard to beat the look on the face

of a student who's going to be the first one in one of these new airplanes. That's an exciting moment."