Elizabeth City, N.C. — The runway is ready, the doors are open, and Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is preparing to take aviation education higher.
ECSU will celebrate the completion of its new Currituck Flight Training Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, marking a major milestone in the university’s expanding aviation program and its commitment to preparing students for careers in the aviation industry.
The public is invited to join ECSU leaders, elected officials, community partners, faculty, students and aviation supporters as the university officially unveils the new facility in Currituck County.
The North Carolina General Assembly funded the $8.1 million Currituck Flight Training Center and Currituck County donated the land, reflecting ECSU’s partners’ continued investment in aviation education and workforce development. The facility includes approximately 4,800 square feet of classroom and office space, and two 6,600-square-feet aircraft hangars connected directly to Currituck Regional Airport by a taxiway.
The center provides ECSU with a permanent aviation training presence in Currituck County and will help accommodate this year’s 31% enrollment growth. The university plans to move a portion of its 20 aircraft to the Currituck location to enhance training opportunities. Two additional Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved advanced aviation training devices (AATDs) were purchased to support students in this location.
The new facility is the second hub outside Elizabeth City for ECSU’s Aviation Science program, creating another point of connection between the university, the regional aviation industry and communities across northeastern North Carolina.
ECSU’s Aviation Science program has continued to grow as the university expands its aviation infrastructure, training capabilities and partnerships. Students pursuing aviation careers can prepare for professional pathways including commercial piloting, aviation management, flight education and air traffic control.
The ribbon-cutting will include remarks from university and community leaders, a ceremonial ribbon cutting and an opportunity for guests to tour the new facility.
PUBLIC INVITATION
The ribbon-cutting ceremony is open to the public. Community members, aviation enthusiasts, prospective students, alums and ECSU supporters are invited to join the university in celebrating this milestone.
For more information about ECSU’s Aviation Science program and flight training opportunities, visit ecsu.edu.
WHAT: Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the ECSU Currituck Flight Training Center
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at 11 a.m.
WHERE: ECSU Currituck Flight Training Center, 230 Airport Road, Maple, N.C.
