SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Middle Tennessee State University broke ground on its new Department of Aerospace facility Wednesday morning where future pilots and aviation professionals will be trained.
Since 1942, MTSU's aerospace program has been based out of Murfreesboro. Now, the Shelbyville Municipal Airport will be its new home base as the university works to expand its training and learning opportunities.
"Today's groundbreaking marks the beginning of the first phase of what we believe will ultimately be one of the nation's finest aviation schools providing educational opportunities for future pilots, as well as those who seek careers in the vast field of aviation services," MTSU President Dr. Sidney McPhee told a tent full of dignitaries and guests at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The $73.4 million dollar facility will have about 1,400 students, about 100 flight instructors and 20 full-time faculty members. The future aviation hub will provide a space for aerospace instruction, and house MTSU aircraft with room for future expansion.
"We're going to change thousands of lives of young people that are going to be able to leave our school and make a great living," MTSU Chair Stephen Smith said.
According to MTSU, the Shelbyville airport is nearly three times larger than the Murfreesboro airport at more than 600 acres, which MTSU said will provide plenty of room to train future pilots and aerospace leaders. The university said the new facility will reinforce MTSU's status as a world-class aerospace program.
"I truly believe MTSU is the number one place to be for aviation students in the country, and this new facility will help propel MTSU to new heights, as well as make MTSU the gold standard for aviation schools around the nation," MTSU aerospace student Ty Welk told the crowd Wednesday.
The university said this expansion comes as the U.S. continues to see a shortage of new pilots while student demand for the program is at an all-time high. MTSU's provost also said aerospace is the most sought after major among their student veteran population.