New Marshall-WLU Flight School Plans Fall 2024 Takeoff from Wheeling-Ohio County Airport

Derek Redd

WHEELING -- A new flight school -- jointly piloted by West Liberty and Marshall universities -- is planning for takeoff from the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport in the fall of 2024.

Officials from both WLU and Marshall were among those at the airport Thursday to officially announce the future satellite location of Marshall's Bill Noe Flight School on the WLU campus.

Despite the intense haze, those from Marshall arrived Thursday in the Cirrus SR20 aircraft used by the school. Those present had the opportunity to view the planes, and even sit in the cockpits.

Once the satellite site opens, there will be an assistant chief assigned there after being selected by the Federal Aviation Administration, explained Nancy Ritter, director of the Bill Noe Flight School at Marshall University.

"That chief will work directly with the West Liberty people to make certain there are enough flight instructors, enough aircraft, and that the progression is moving forward," she said.

Over the next year, the FAA must come to the site to give its approval before the opening of the flight school.

"We've already started that process through (interim WLU President Cathy Monteroso) and her team, and we look forward to a smooth completion of that," she continued.

"And there's the inbounding of students as they get interested, and the marketing of the program and other things."

Ritter added that colleges and universities in West Virginia have started working together to form partnerships.

"It is (Marshall University) President Brad Smith's vision to look out into the universities of the state and ask, 'How do we benefit communities? How do we do this together?'" she said.

"This is one of many agreements we have with colleges not just in West Virginia, but in Ohio, Kentucky and others. We take advantage of what programs are working best in one place, and where the need has been identified in another."

Ritter noted there will be many opportunities for local students and STEM clubs to take advantage of educational offerings at the flight school.

"There is a tremendous amount of education that needs to take place to start a program like this, and we want to be a part of that," she said.

Monteroso -- who will welcome Timothy Borchers as WLU's new president next month -- said the partnership between WLU and Marshall "will shape the future of aviation in West Virginia."

"By fostering a strong partnership with the Bill Noe Flight School, we aim to build a world of aviation closer to our students -- opening doors for endless opportunities, and equipping them with skills needed in the aviation field." she said.

Monteroso first thanked both the Ohio County Commission and the Regional Economic Development Partnership for helping to get the flight school off the ground. Then she thanked Ritter and Noe, Marshall's chief aviation officer, for helping "to make this collaboration a reality."

"The partnership not only provides West Liberty's students with access to a top-notch aviation program, but allows them to learn skills in the best possible aircraft," she said. "The flight school experience will provide students with an unparalleled learning experience setting them up for success in the aviation industry."

Also present for the announcement Thursday was Ohio County Commissioner Zach Abraham.

Since taking office in 2021, Abraham has pushed to make the airport a more visible spot for development in the region. He was especially excited by Thursday's announcement.

"It feels wonderful for our county, for our community and all the Ohio Valley," he said. "Now we can let the professionals take over. We did enough shaking the trees and figuring out what would work, and it has finally come to be."

Abraham worked with Ritter on the project, and he said they agreed the plan for the flight school "came together easily."

"You know things are going to work out when things come together like that," he said.

Abraham attributed the success to timing, and getting the right people to talk together. He thanked his fellow commissioners Don Nickerson and Randy Wharton, County Administrator Randy Russell and the commission staff for all their work in getting the flight school at the Ohio County Airport.

Abraham said the commission's next goal will be to get a second interchange at The Highlands development along Interstate 70.

Marshall's aviation program officially opened in the Fall 2021 semester and will help meet the nation's projected significant need for commercial pilots over the next 20 years. Its ground and flight courses lead to a series of FAA certifications and prepare graduates to become commercial pilots.

When in full operation, the Marshall University Bill Noe Flight School is expected to enroll more than 450 students and produce some 80 commercial pilots annually, according to information provided by Marshall University.