The University of Nebraska at Kearney has launched its new Loper Flight Academy.
The academy is owned and operated entirely by the university, and will provide flight training for UNK students and community members using a fleet of seven new Tecnam aircraft.
UNK says the academy represents a major expansion of their aviation program.
The university adds that bringing flight operations in house will give them greater control over instruction, safety, scheduling and costs while also allowing the school to reinvest resources directly to students.
The Loper Flight Academy will operate in partnership with the Nebraska Safety Center and will expand access to aviation education and professional training in central and western Nebraska.
The aviation program currently serves around 80 students.
The school held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to launch the new program was held on August 20.
UNK Chancellor Neal Schnoor, who has a private pilot license, participated in a fly-in aboard one of the academy’s new planes.
