Southern Illinois University is planning to create a pilot training facility at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport that eventually may instruct more than 100 students, Illinois Times has learned.
The Carbondale-based aviation program confirmed Monday that the school is indeed considering such a facility for the capital city but said it is still in the "earliest phases" of development and that it is premature to discuss details.
But Mike Murphy, president and CEO of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, said he anticipates a formal announcement from SIU within two months.
"I've been excited to work with the Springfield Airport Authority and SIU and also the governor's office in regards to this project," he said.
The school would expand to Springfield to address the national shortage of commercial airline pilots.
"We have a phenomenal facility with air traffic control, and Stellar Aviation has a tremendous facility that (the school) could be housed in," Murphy said.
The SIU Aviation school in Carbondale offers undergraduate majors in aviation flight, aviation management and aviation technologies, in addition to a graduate degree in aviation management. Murphy said he didn't know whether all of the same programs would be offered in Springfield.
A source close to the negotiations who asked not to be identified said there have been ongoing discussions to create the school since before the pandemic. The source added it is a certainty that SIU will launch the school.
The person added, "We're very happy because we will have more takeoffs and landings. And there will be more fuel purchases, and that means money for the community. ... I would guess we will probably start out with maybe six or 10 students."
Mark Hanna, executive director of the airport, declined to discuss the planned SIU facility for the record. But in March, he told Illinois Times the national shortage of commercial pilots is the underlying reason United Airlines has opted to discontinue its service to Springfield as of June 1.
During the administration of Gov. Bruce Rauner, the state grounded the airplanes that primarily ferried lawmakers and senior state officials between Chicago and Springfield. The planes remain grounded but continue to be maintained by state workers.
Murphy said he has been working with Gov. JB Pritzker's office to see that those aircraft are donated to SIU.
"We're in preliminary negotiations with the governor on maybe transferring some assets that the state is no longer using with the airplanes to SIU. And SIU might be able to use those or trade and purchase aircraft with them. We're in the preliminary discussions on that," he said.
Murphy said the program will start small but eventually grow to "having north of 100 students" attending. He added he doesn't anticipate any local tax dollars being used toward the project.
"I really don't think it will bring a vast number of jobs. We are talking about a coordinator and then some instructor pilots. I think the greater benefit is the opportunity for some local students to take aviation training from one of the top aviation schools in the country," Murphy said.
Scott Reeder, a staff writer with Illinois Times, can be reached at sreeder@illinoistimes.com.