Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) Launches Aviation Workforce Development Campus to Address Critical Industry Employment Gaps
Coe College and Kirkwood Community College are delivering strategic educational components
With the aviation industry approaching an employment gap in critical positions across the field, the Eastern Iowa Airport has established the Aviation Workforce Development Campus (AWDC) at CID, partnering with Coe College and Kirkwood Community College to provide essential education and training.
Representatives from CID, along with their academic partners, are currently attending the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest aviation celebration.
The AWDC spans two hangars at CID, where students from both partner institutions are learning to become pilots and aviation maintenance personnel through comprehensive programs designed to meet industry demand.
As part of the AWDC, Coe College operates its aviation management & flight operations program to address the estimated 17,000 pilot gap due in part to age-mandated retirements. ATD Flight Systems manages flight training under the airport’s campus framework, with instruction beginning this fall. Student-pilots will be able to fly in their first term through this integrated approach at CID.
The campus also houses Kirkwood Community College’s aviation maintenance technology program, which has been operating since 2023. This program addresses the growing need for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians, with demand increasing at 5% annually and more than 13,000 openings expected each year through 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
CID has strategically provided and maintained the critical hangar space necessary for both programs, ensuring continuity of instruction and optimal learning environments. “We recognized the need to take a leadership role in addressing aviation workforce challenges,” says Airport Director Marty Lenss. “By establishing this Aviation Workforce Development Campus, we’re not only preparing students for positions throughout aviation to sustain industry operations locally and worldwide, but we’re also positioning CID as a regional hub for aviation education. These students will be entering professions that have already seen significant growth and are primed for more.”
Aviation is key to Eastern Iowa’s origin story. The Wright Brothers spent a portion of their childhood here, where their love of aviation began, and Collins Radio Company pioneered aviation communication. Today, major employers include Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, which continue that legacy. The AWDC represents the next evolution, with both college partners bringing their long history of community service to this impactful collaboration.
“The Eastern Iowa Airport’s vision for this campus creates a special opportunity to help fill a need for both the Corridor and a larger industry that’s crucial to economic growth on a local to global scale. I’m most excited for the students who, because of this dynamic arrangement at CID, are going to enter the workforce prepared to thrive,” says Coe College President David Hayes ’93.
Dr. Kristie Fisher, Kirkwood Community College President, says the robust enrollment and waiting list for the maintenance program shows a strong desire by students to be trained for these positions. “This campus represents a serious response to workforce needs and a terrific opportunity for our students to be part of the airport’s leadership in aligning education and training with national demand,” Fisher says.
Students particularly benefit from the campus’s location at CID, a thriving regional airport. As the state’s second largest airport, CID served more than 1.5 million passengers in 2024. Five airlines provide nonstop flights to 18 destinations and the opportunity to fly to more than 400 destinations with a one-stop connection. In addition, CID has the most general aviation aircraft – 124 – based at any airport in Iowa.
By having a robust commercial service airport and general aviation activity, CID provides a real-time and real-world educational experience that enhances the comprehensive training available through the Aviation Workforce Development Campus.
