MGA Receives $3.48 Million In Federal Funds To Expand Aviation Training

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 12:00 AM
Categories: Pressroom | School of Aviation

Eastman, GA

MGA is home to Georgia's flagship School of Aviation, based on the Eastman Campus

Middle Georgia State University (MGA) will use $3.48 million in federal funds to expand its aviation training programs and give students greater access to the equipment, technology, and hands-on experience they need to prepare for aviation careers.

Through the support of Georgia’s U.S. senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, during the fiscal 2027 budget process, funds were congressionally approved and awarded by the U.S. Department of Education for MGA’s proposal, “Expanding MGA’s FAA-Certified Flight, Maintenance, and Air Traffic Control Programs.”

The funds will be used to purchase a new 360-degree air traffic control simulator, aircraft engines and specialized maintenance trainers, updated tools and workstations, and a $1 million student pilot fuel fund to help stabilize the cost of required flight training.

“This is an investment in our students and in the aviation workforce that Georgia and the nation need,” said Dr. Christopher Blake, MGA president. “We are grateful to Sen. Ossoff, Sen. Warnock, and others in the congressional delegation for their strong support of this funding, and their recognition of the key role aviation education plays in preparing the state’s workforce. By expanding our training capabilities and helping make flight training more affordable, we can open the door for more students to pursue aviation careers and ensure they are prepared to succeed when they enter the workforce.”

The new equipment will give students more opportunities to practice with the tools and technology used in today’s aviation workplaces. The student pilot fuel fund will help offset one of the largest expenses students face as they complete the flight hours required for professional pilot training.

MGA is home to Georgia’s flagship School of Aviation, based on the University’s Eastman Campus. The school serves students pursuing careers in flight, air traffic management, aviation maintenance, and aircraft structural technology.

The school is one of only a few in the nation with three FAA-certified aviation programs: aircraft maintenance training under Part 147, flight training under Part 141, and an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program. MGA is also the most affordable of the schools that offer those programs.

MGA’s air traffic management program was the first in the state to earn a significant recognition from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - participation in the Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative. By becoming an Enhanced AT-CTI school, the University can offer graduates a quicker, more direct pathway into a field vital to aviation safety.  

The School of Aviation offers a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science and Management with concentrations in flight and management, as well as associate’s degrees in air traffic management, aircraft structural technology and aviation maintenance technology, and several certificate programs.