Embry-Riddle, City of Prescott Open Cutting-Edge Academic Flight Education Complex

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the city of Prescott have opened a pivotal flight training center at Prescott Regional Airport in Arizona, marking a significant investment in aviation education, safety and workforce development.

The debut of the city of Prescott’s Strategic Academic Flight Education Complex represents a milestone in the university’s partnership with the airport and the region. Embry-Riddle is the first educational tenant within the city-owned development.

At the center of the project is Embry-Riddle’s new operations facility. The development includes a 263,000-square-foot aircraft ramp and a new two-story, 20,000-square-foot flight operations building with dispatch, briefing and instructional space for student pilots and faculty.

The new facility complements the university’s existing flight operations at the airport, creating a state-of-the-art, streamlined environment for hands-on training while supporting long-term infrastructure needs.

Dr. Ken Witcher, chancellor of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus, delivers remarks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Embry-Riddle’s north flight operations facility. “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,” said Dr. Ken Witcher, chancellor of the Prescott Campus. “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.”

The project was developed through a public-private partnership among Embry-Riddle, the city of Prescott and the state of Arizona. In 2022, the Arizona legislature appropriated funding to support infrastructure for the complex. Embry-Riddle matched the city’s funding as part of a broader, long-term investment in flight training resources.

University leadership, city officials, state representatives and community partners came together at a March 13 ribbon-cutting event to formally celebrate the opening of the complex and to tour the facilities.

“For our students, this facility shapes the daily experience of how they learn, train and prepare for careers in aviation,” said Jeannie Leavitt, dean of the College of Aviation. “It provides a modern, thoughtfully designed setting where instruction, simulation and flight operations come together to support their development as professionals.”

Embry-Riddle has made significant investments in aircraft and simulator resources in recent years, supporting the training of the next generation of aviation professionals in Arizona and across the nation.

As demand for aviation and aerospace talent continues to grow, the new facilities position Prescott Regional Airport as a key hub for training and workforce development, generating regional economic impact.