Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport Executive Director Tristan Durbin understands the current pilot shortage in the nation. Ever since he was appointed to his position in April, he has continued the OWB partnership with Cape Air to help address the issue.
The OWB Pilot Program started roughly two years ago under the director at the time, Bob Whitmer, after Cape Air President and CEO spoke at a Rooster Booster event one morning.
The program involves students learning how to fly on-site at OWB through Cape Air over the course of 750 flight hours. Once they complete the hours, Cape Air hires them as a first officer. After four years of being a flight captain, the loan that the student took out for the program is completely paid off by the airline, according to Durbin.
Since its inception, the program has had one graduate with another on track to finish in about a month. There are currently seven students in the program.
Durbin noted that of the seven students, three are from outside the Owensboro community. He believes this program could be beneficial not just for the airport but for Owensboro as a whole.
“This is a program that truly would be an economic development tool at its peak,” Durbin said.
As the program grows, Durbin hopes to develop it into a five- or six-aircraft program with up to 30 students.
Added to the shortage in the pilot field, Durbin said there is also a shortage in mechanics in the aviation industry.
When the OWB Pilot Program was being created, he said there were talks of it being offered through Owensboro Community and Technical College, though that did not come to fruition. Nonetheless, he still holds hope for that should the college ever get a mechanic program.
Dr. Scott Williams, OCTC president and Owensboro Rotarian, said there have been discussions for years on getting the program but it’s an expensive and big investment.
“If you can only have six or seven run through the program, it’s tough to justify,” Williams said. “We will always continue to have discussions because as that program grows, there may be opportunities and same with the mechanic [program].”
Durbin hope to not only grow the programs, but also the airport’s service areas.
He said the population of Owensboro is a “large driving factor” to attract airlines to a city. He thinks that as Owensboro develops further, the airlines will start coming.
For now, Durbin has been in contact to get destinations for Owensboro including different South Florida locations, Chicago and Atlanta.
“We haven’t grown from the current routes we have now since [April], but I do think that we’re close,” Durbin said.
