MGA To Celebrate Aviation Program Expansions At Eastman Campus Open House

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2026 12:00 AM
Categories: Faculty/Staff | Events- Public | Pressroom | School of Aviation | Students

Eastman, GA

Middle Georgia State University (MGA) will showcase new aviation training resources, equipment, and program enhancements during a public open house on September 17 at the Eastman Campus. 

The MGA Aviation Legislative Appreciation & Open House will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 17, at the University’s Eastman Campus, home of the state’s flagship aviation school. The event is open to the public, and news media are invited to attend. Please RSVP to rsvp@mga.edu. Directions to and a map of the Eastman Campus are at https://www.mga.edu/about/maps.php. 

Open house visitors will have an opportunity to tour portions of the aviation school, speak with students, and see firsthand some of the training environments that students and instructors use. New and enhanced resources – all made possible by support from state, federal, and private partners – include an advanced air traffic control simulator, aviation maintenance training equipment, new aircraft engines, new and renovated facilities, and a fuel fund designed to help make flight training more affordable for students. 

The open house also provides MGA an opportunity to recognize the state and federal lawmakers whose support has helped fund the continued development of the Eastman Campus, which in turn contributes to Georgia’s thriving aerospace industry.  

“MGA is deeply grateful for the state, federal, and private investment that has made these aviation campus enhancements possible, said Dr. Christopher Blake, MGA president. “Their support reflects a shared commitment to aviation education, to our students, and to Georgia’s growing aerospace industry. We are proud to build on that investment and continue preparing the next generation of aviation professionals.” 

The investments are already making a difference, said Adon Clark, dean of the School of Aviation.  

“These new resources give our students access to the kind of equipment and training environments they will encounter in the aviation industry,” Clark said. “They also allow us to expand opportunities and make a high-quality aviation education more accessible to students across Georgia.” 

Founded in 1995 as the Eastman-based campus of what was then Heart of Georgia Technical Institute, the aviation school later spun off as a separate technical college – part of the Technical College System of Georgia. In 2007, the school joined the University System of Georgia through a merger with Cochran-based Middle Georgia College. In January 2013, Macon State College and Middle Georgia College consolidated to become what is now Middle Georgia State University. 

Since then, the School of Aviation has experienced tremendous growth. In addition to the Eastman hub, the school operates a satellite location in Macon. Enrollment has increased 53 percent in the past five years. Tuition and related fees are among the most affordable in the nation. 

In addition, MGA is one of the few institutions in the nation to offer baccalaureate degrees in aviation. The school is the only one in the nation to offer these three FAA-certified programs: maintenance training (part 147); flight training with a four-year degree (part 141); and air traffic control collegiate training initiative. Also, 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.  

Besides a bachelor’s degree program in aviation science and management (with concentrations in flight and management), the School of Aviation offers applied associate’s degrees in air traffic management, aircraft structural technology, and aviation maintenance technology, along with several certificate programs.  

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, aerospace is one of the state’s most powerful economic engines. It is the state’s No. 1 export and one of its largest manufacturing sectors, generating $8.8 billion in GDP in 2024.