CFCC aviation program takes flight with new Wilmington airport facility

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Cape Fear Community College is expanding its Aviation Maintenance Technician program with a new training facility at Wilmington International Airport.

CFCC announced it has signed a lease for a 3,700-square-foot facility at ILM, providing dedicated space for aviation maintenance training and positioning the college to pursue Federal Aviation Administration approval.

College officials said the new facility will allow the program to expand its curriculum by adding Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) training, preparing students to inspect, repair and maintain aircraft and engines while meeting FAA certification standards.

“Housing our Aviation Maintenance Technician program at ILM gives our students an incredible opportunity to learn in a real-world aviation environment,” CFCC President Jim Morton said in a statement. “They’re not just learning in a classroom—they’re training alongside the day-to-day operations of a working airport.”

Students training at the new facility will gain hands-on experience in:

• Aircraft structures and fabrication
• Mechanical systems
• Electrical and avionics systems
• Specialized aircraft systems
• FAA regulations, inspections and safety procedures

CFCC also announced it will launch its new Associate in Applied Science in Aviation Management & Career Pilot Technology this fall at its North Campus. The program will offer day, evening and hybrid course options.

College leaders say the expansion creates a more complete training pathway for students interested in careers as certified aviation maintenance technicians and other aviation professionals.

More information about CFCC’s aviation programs is available on the college’s website.