The Future Takes Flight

Friday, April 11 was a historic day for CCBC. With shovels in hand, the College officially broke ground on a long-anticipated new airport terminal at the James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences at the Beaver County Airport. The 30,000-square-foot facility will uniquely combine an academic building, an air traffic control tower, and an airport terminal.

“We are the only community college in the nation that has a live airport tower where students man the tower and take off and land planes,” said President Dr. Roger W. Davis.

The new facility will strengthen CCBC’s already renowned aviation programs by offering updated classrooms, offices, simulator rooms, and lab spaces.

While construction is underway, students will continue their studies in the decades-old School of Aviation Sciences Center. Once the new facility is complete, they will transition to an immersive, real-world airport environment—learning everything from classroom theory to tower operations to actual flight, all under one roof. The updated classrooms, along with state-of-the-art labs and simulators, will further enhance the educational experience of CCBC’s 200+ aviation students.

Construction is expected to be completed in 18 months. The new terminal, along with CCBC’s growing aviation and air traffic control enrollment, stands as a testament to the College’s commitment to meeting the increasing demand for highly skilled pilots and tower operators nationwide. With a longstanding tradition of aviation excellence, the James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences continues to be a nationally recognized academic leader.