USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
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This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 24, No. 34
August 21, 2024
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
PSC GIFTED $900K METROLINER AIRCRAFT
FOR NEW A&P MECHANICS PROGRAM By Morgan Cole
P
ensacola State College (PSC) unveiled its new Metroliner aircraft during a press conference held at ST Engineering at Pensacola International Airport on June 9. Donated by InDyne CEO and President Don Bishop, the 1982 Fairchild Merlin IV-C Metroliner aircraft will serve as a major component of PSC’s new Aviation Airframe Mechanics and Aviation Power Plant Mechanic (A&P Mechanics) program that is expected to launch in August. “We are very pleased to provide the Merlin IV-C Metroliner to Pensacola State College for the benefit of the students and the community. It will bring a new dimension to the opportunities afforded PSC and its students for years to come,” Bishop said. Appraised at $900,000, the Metroliner aircraft will significantly enhance A&P Mechanics Programs, providing students with invaluable hands-on training opportunities and experience working on a Metroliner, which is a much larger aircraft than other A&P Mechanics programs typically have at their disposal. “This aircraft will give students access to aircraft maintenance logs and training opportunities unlike those seen in traditional college programs,” Pensacola State College President Ed Meadows said at Tuesday's press conference at ST Engineering's airframe maintenance facility. “The PSC family thanks you for your generous gift of this aircraft. It will give students the opportunity to build their confidence and the skills needed to pursue a gratifying high wage career.”
The retired aircraft, constructed in 1982 and appraised at $900,000, was given to PSC by Don Bishop, CEO and President of InDyne, and chairman of the board of InDyne's Reliance Test & Technology. InDyne, Inc. and Reliance Test and Technology (RT&T) support the military community by providing services to the U.S. Air Force and other government and commercial customers, including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Space Force, Missile Defense Agency and NASA. From major ground test and operation facilities to radar capability and warfighter training, testing and evaluation, both companies provide support in a variety of areas to major defense locations worldwide to help ensure our national security. PSC will keep the plane at ST Engineering, which has partnered with the college to establish an A&P Mechanics program. PSC also has several small planes, in varying functional status, that will be used in the
18-month certification program that is aligned with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Classes will be held at ST Engineering facilities, though construction of a new 25,000-square-foot program facility, which will include classroom and hangar/lab space, is expected to break ground on Pensacola International Airport grounds in August, coinciding with the start of the program. The A&P Mechanics Program is a partnership between the College, ST Engineering, Triumph Gulf Coast, the City of Pensacola and Santa Rosa County Economic Development. A majority of funding for the new program was secured by the state’s local legislative delegation, Senator Broxson, Representative Andrade and Representative Salzman. Edwards explained how instrumental the aircraft would be for program instructors in providing hands-on learning to help students develop the skills necessary to pass the required Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exams.
"I can't stress enough how supportive ST Engineering has been in working with us to establish this program," PSC’s Dean of Workforce Education Michael Listau said. “This donation allows PSC to give future technicians hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance and flightline operations with the same type of aircraft that they will see in the industry. Adding this aircraft will strengthen our ability to produce a valuable, wellrounded graduate with real-world experience that will undoubtedly become a staple of the ever-growing Aviation community.” In June, ST Engineering broke ground on a new 167,000-squarefoot hangar at the Pensacola International Airport. The company has set a goal of creating 1,725 new jobs in the community. Bishop said the gift of the lowwing turboprop aircraft will help in the College's mission to create jobs, benefiting Pensacola and Northwest Florida. “ST Engineering in North America extends their deepest gratitude
to Mr. C. Donald ‘Don’ Bishop, President and CEO of InDyne, Inc., for his generous donation of a Fairchild Merlin IV aircraft, valued at $900,000. Our partnerships with Triumph Gulf Coast, the City of Pensacola and Santa Rosa County Economic Development play in driving educational excellence and exemplifies the profound impact of industry and education working together to equip students with the skills and confidence needed for successful careers in aviation, directly contributing to the growth of our local economy. Mr. Bishop’s donation is a gateway to endless possibilities for students, enabling them to gain the experience necessary to excel in the aviation industry and beyond,” Senior Manager of Corporate Communications at ST Engineering North America Rula Malky said. For more information on PSC’s new Aviation Airframe Mechanics and Aviation Power Plant Mechanic (A&P Mechanics) program, visit pensacolastate.edu.■
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