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Background
The Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport’s vision for the Oregon Aviation Technical Education & Training Center is to provide classroom and practical hands-on learning opportunities from high school pilot training programs, to college technical trades and management programs, to professional pilot recurrent training seminars. The project aims to fill Oregon's aviation and transportation technical education and emergency response training need. The center will provide the necessary infrastructure to access the classroom, workshop, and apron spaces for students to interact with aircraft and to access Airport facilities. The Airport anticipates using the facility through partnerships with local high schools, community colleges, trades programs, universities, and private companies.

The facility's multi-use potential includes pilot training for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, technical training for aircraft maintenance, inspection, overhaul, repair, servicing, and troubleshooting. The uses can also include CDL training for truck drives; airport management courses for aspiring airline managers, airport managers, air commerce experts; and even drone-related FAA-Certificate training. The facility and programs will increase the supply chain of desperately needed qualified individuals in various aviation and other transportation-related industries. Southern Oregon does not currently have a similar educational facility, and the Oregon Aviation Technical Education & Training Center would create increased accessibility to this type of training and education for people in the region that does not currently exist south of Eugene.



Feasibility StudyIn December 2022, The Airport contracted with EXP U.S. Services Inc. to prepare a feasibility study for the Oregon Aviation Technical Education & Training Center

The Feasibility study:

1. Assesses industry trends in aviation related education (including rotor and fixed wing pilots, aviation mechanics, and other aviation related specialists which support the aviation workforce) and emergency first responders and mobile healthcare provider’s training and professional development.
2. Evaluates the current state related to aviation and emergency responder education, training and professional development within the market and determine the need for a school of aviation education and emergency first responder and mobile health care provider’s education, training and professional development in Medford.
3. Evaluates the local, regional, and national impacts the project will have on the area.
4. Identifies and recommend programs that will be sustainable.
5. Identifies the estimated costs associated with the development of these education, training, & professional development programs.

Feasibility Study

Local Support
The Oregon Aviation Technical Education & Training Center has the support of organizations such as:

• Mercy Flights
• Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI)
• Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Siskiyou Transportation, Inc.
• Timberland Helicopters

The Center also has the support of educational institutions such as:

• Oregon Institute of Technology
• Southern Oregon University
• Rogue Community College
• Klamath Community College
• Logos Public Charter School
• Crater Lake Academy