ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University (CWU) is planning on expanding its aviation program beginning this fall to meet the rising demand for flight training and aviation education.

“There’s a shortage of pilots, and airlines now are reducing their routes to deal with the shortage,” said Paul Ballard, the dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies at CWU.

“It’s a great time to be a pilot,” Ballard said.

The expansion comes as the result of a vote but the CWU trustees to allow the university to purchase or lease its own aircraft, rather than rely on the contractor to provide planes and maintenance as it has since the program was created.

The current contract with Redding, Calif.-based IASCO Flight Training, which has provided aircraft to CWU for the last three years, expires in June 2018. While IASCO will complete training for anyone currently in a flight lab, CWU faculty and staff will begin training new students this fall, Ballard said.

Ballard added that he expected 60 new freshmen to enroll in the CWU aviation program this fall, and the program should be big enough to handle 205 students, up from the current 160.

“The contractor did not provide enough resources to grow,” Ballard said. “We will purchase or lease enough aircraft to serve all students.”

Ballard said the mix of aircraft for training would be roughly 15-22 planes — a combination of single and twin-engine craft. The program allows students to become certified as commercial pilots or flight instructors.

In addition, CWU has a program with Big Bend Community College to transfer and finish their degrees more easily, Ballard said.

While CWU will be owning and maintaining its own aircraft, Ballard said the university does not plan to add aircraft maintenance to its curriculum. However, the school will continue to offer skilled mechanics with associates degrees a bachelor’s in maintenance management, Ballard said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at [email protected].