Fayetteville partners with aviation school for program at Drake Field that leaders say will bring jobs to city

FAYETTEVILLE — A new commercial pilot training program will soon be opening at Drake Field Airport, following City Council approval Tuesday.

The council unanimously approved a five-year lease agreement with OSM Aviation Academy for the academy to operate within the existing facilities at Drake Field. "

Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas were love at first sight for me. The spirit of the City, the beauty of the area and the 'can do' mentality of the people were all important factors when we made our decision to invest," Bjorn Larsen, owner of OSM Group, said in a news release about the academy. "I am thankful for the enthusiastic and professional attitude we have been met with by everyone we have interacted with, and look forward to contribute to making NWA a major center for aviation and aerial mobility in America.”

Initial operations for the school will launch in coming weeks with a small fleet and student cohort, with the option to scale over time, according to the release. "

The program has the potential to support up to 100 aircraft, produce approximately 700 graduates annually and create hundreds of jobs, positioning Fayetteville, Arkansas, as a national leader in commercial aviation training and workforce development," the release states.

The academy will include students from around the world and is anticipated to serve hundreds of students annually, according to the release. This is expected to contribute to local economic activity and support the demand for commercial pilots, the release states.

The program will also become available to Arkansas students beginning in 2027, according to the release. "

As I sit here tonight, the biggest thing that jumped out at me is — many nights we sit here and listen to how we have a housing crisis in Fayetteville, and almost every time we hear that, we hear, well, we can't fix the housing crisis if we don't also fix the wage crisis, and this is a perfect example of doing what we can to fix the wage crisis," Councilman Scott Berna said Tuesday. ”

So, I am extremely excited about being able to vote yes for this, and I hope everyone else will too."

Several City Council members echoed Berna's excitement.

“I am so excited and supportive of this project in so many ways," Councilman Bob Stafford said. ”

The economic opportunity for Drake Field — this is going to be a game changer for Ward 1 and South Fayetteville."

This opportunity is the type of business the city is trying to attract, Mayor Molly Rawn said in the release. "

Fayetteville is proving we can compete for projects that bring real opportunity to our community," she said. "

This investment strengthens Drake Field, creates new jobs and brings new energy and activity to our City. This is the kind of opportunity Fayetteville is working to attract, and we're proud to have landed it."