Virginia's Liberty University Hosts US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as School of Aeronautics Highlights Part 141 Modernization and Workforce Development

Virginia, USA – Liberty University School of Aeronautics, one of the largest collegiate aviation programs in the United States serving approximately 6,000 aeronautics students, hosted U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy for a tour of Lynchburg Regional Airport and a roundtable discussion on aviation workforce development, safety infrastructure, and Part 141 modernization.

• Secretary Duffy toured the airport alongside U.S. Rep. John McGuire (R-5th Congressional District), School of Aeronautics Dean Dr. Steven Brinly, Director of Simulator Operations Dwight Williams, and local and regional officials. The visit included a tour of the airport's air traffic control tower.
• Key topics discussed included the federal government's recently approved USD 12.5 billion investment in modernizing air traffic control technology at airports nationwide, replacing antiquated radar, radios, and copper wiring with fiber-based systems. Upgrades at Lynchburg are projected to be completed by February 2027, with new controller displays by March 2027 and new pilot radios by January 2028.
• Dean Brinly highlighted the Part 141 modernization initiative's importance to the school's operations and expressed support for the federal government's emphasis on strengthening workforce pipelines for pilots, maintainers, and air traffic controllers. He noted that recent FAA support has increased the availability of Designated Pilot Examiners (DPE) and Designated Mechanic Examiners (DME) in Lynchburg, enabling students to obtain FAA certification locally rather than traveling elsewhere.
• Liberty University's School of Aeronautics operates a fleet of 33 aircraft and 13 flight training devices and trains students both on-campus in Lynchburg and across the country through its Flight Training Affiliate Program. In November 2025, LUSOA was granted FAA Examining Authority for its Part 141 Private Pilot Training Course Outline.
• In early 2026, the school acquired a new Frasca Advanced Aviation Training Device upgraded to the VITAL FVS 100 visual system and introduced an in-house UPRT aircraft, reinforcing its position as one of the most advanced collegiate aviation training providers in the US.
• The visit came three weeks after FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford addressed School of Aeronautics staff and students remotely on 5 May 2026.

Statements

• "We serve approximately 6,000 aeronautics students training in Lynchburg, across the country through the Flight Training Affiliate Program, and around the world to help meet the critical workforce needs, so we're thankful for the support from the federal government and all of the locally elected officials here," said Dr. Steven Brinly, Dean of the School of Aeronautics at Liberty University.
• "We are grateful for the federal government's growing support of training programs through the Part 141 modernization. There is a clear emphasis from this administration on strengthening workforce pipelines for pilots, maintainers, and air traffic controllers, and it is encouraging to see that commitment taking shape," said Dr. Steven Brinly, Dean of the School of Aeronautics at Liberty University.
• "There is significant air traffic in the Lynchburg area, including student flight training, commercial or corporate aircraft, and even unmanned aerial systems flying at any given time. Investing in those technologies and being able to reliably detect and mitigate threats like potential aircraft collisions as well as emerging threats, such as unidentified drones, makes the sky safer for everybody, especially for our students here at Liberty," said Dwight Williams, Director of Simulator Operations at Liberty University School of Aeronautics.

Source: Liberty University