New aviation trade school being considered for Orlando

Education and business leaders from across central Florida are considering a plan to build an aviation-focused trade school at the Orlando International Airport. Valencia Community College is at the forefront of a dozen or so colleges involved in discussions. The school is exploring several locations in the area including grounds onsite at the airport.

Valencia administrators are excited about the possibility of an onsite school that could give students hands-on training in everything from transportation logistics to avionics and aerospace engineering. There is a need for aviation training in the area due to the fact that many aviation-related business have sprung up in the area, including AirTran Holdings, JetBlue, Continental, Cessna and FlightSafety International.

Included in the discussion are the many local businesses, who may consult on training programs to be offered. However, all involved say that discussion remains preliminary and costs will be high. Talks gained recent momentum with the inclusion of NetJets, owned by Warren Buffett.