Multi-Million Dollar Wayman Aviation Academy Opens in South Florida to Confront the International Pilot Shortage
A new multi-million-dollar Aviation Education Center opens at Hollywood North Perry Airport. Wayman Aviation Academy is the largest and longest-running flight school in South Florida, It serves students from over 70 countries for over 32 years. The school opened the doors to its new state-of-the-art expansion facility on Friday, March 22. North Perry Airport has become a strong center for flight training, recently heralded as the busiest VFR airport in the state of Florida. It is at the cross roads of Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and Hollywood Florida.
The new facility will increase the school's capacity for students from its partners including Miami-Dade College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Liberty University and airlines. New classrooms will lead to expanded course offerings; a large seminar space for gatherings such as its recent open house for 60 Girl Scouts. It will house a new dispatch and flight line to accommodate its fleet of nearly 40 aircraft. The Wayman FAA certified testing center for pilots, mechanics, dispatchers will double to 10 seats.
"We're very proud to take the next step, our goal is to become an Aviation Institute offering the best training and education for the new generation of aviators", says Wayman Eddy Luy, Vice President and 2nd generation manager of the school.
The school aims to support local and international students that are responding to the world-wide shortage of pilots. Boeing and Airbus estimate a need for over 345,000 pilots over the next 20 years. However, the US only trains approximately 14,000 ATP pilots a year, half of what it needs to meet demand. This has led to rising entry level wages at the regional airlines and booming salaries for senior captains. The new facility will be next to Wayman Aviation's existing FAA certified Part 145 aircraft repair station, and its renown pilot shop at 7501 S Airport Rd Pembroke Pines, FL. The school maintains a flight line at Miami -Opa Locka Executive Airport as well.