US Aviation University Opens New Flight Operations Complex in 2026

Arizona, USA – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the City of Prescott have formally opened the Strategic Academic Flight Education (S.A.F.E.) Complex at Prescott Regional Airport, marking the completion of a public-private partnership involving ERAU, the City of Prescott, and the State of Arizona — with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on 13 March 2026 attended by university leadership, city officials, state representatives, and community partners.

• The complex centres on Embry-Riddle's new north flight operations facility, comprising a 263,000-square-foot aircraft ramp and a two-storey, 20,000-square-foot flight operations building with dispatch, briefing, and instructional space for student pilots and faculty.
• Embry-Riddle is the first educational tenant within the city-owned development, and the new facility complements the university's existing flight operations at Prescott Regional Airport, creating a streamlined, state-of-the-art training environment while supporting the campus's long-term infrastructure needs.
• The project was developed through a public-private partnership among ERAU, the City of Prescott, and the State of Arizona — the Arizona legislature appropriated funding in 2022 to support infrastructure for the complex, with Embry-Riddle matching the city's contribution as part of a broader, long-term investment in flight training resources.
• The S.A.F.E. Complex was constructed by Sundt Construction at a project value of $10 million for the ERAU facility component, and was delivered alongside the concurrent T3 Residence Halls development — also by Sundt — as part of ERAU Prescott's broader capital expansion programme.
• The opening positions Prescott Regional Airport as a strengthened hub for aviation training and workforce development, with ERAU's Prescott Campus operating a fleet of more than 100 aircraft and delivering the nation's largest undergraduate Aeronautical Science professional pilot programme.

Statements

• "This is about giving our students the kind of professional aviation environment that is the standard at Embry-Riddle — built for flight training and grounded in safety at every level. We are proud to partner with the city of Prescott on a project that reflects a shared commitment to aviation education and to the future of this region," said Dr. Ken Witcher, Chancellor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Campus.
• "For our students, this facility shapes the daily experience of how they learn, train and prepare for careers in aviation. It provides a modern, thoughtfully designed setting where instruction, simulation and flight operations come together to support their development as professionals," said Jeannie Leavitt, Dean of the College of Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Campus.

Source: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University