Dale County’s Aviation and Aerospace Advantage

Dothan Regional Airport

The Dothan Regional Airport is the region’s largest airport. Approximately 80,000 commercial air passengers pass through Dothan Regional Airport annually, flying Delta connection partners through Atlanta to destinations worldwide. Dothan Regional Airport includes 1,200 acres of land, an 8500′ all-weather runway, a 5000′ secondary runway, and a 27,000-square-foot terminal building. Additional buildings on the airfield are occupied by Commercial Jet (MRO), FlightSafety International, and two Fixed-Base Operators: Aero-One and Flightline of Dothan. The airport operates with full-time police and fire presence and owns state-of-the-art firefighting equipment. Modern navigational facilities guide and operate all types of aircraft in all types of weather in and out of the Wiregrass Region.

Dothan Regional Airport is busy in terms of takeoffs and landings, with 90,000 aircraft operations annually. Soldiers training in military aircraft account for 55 percent of the flights. General aviation activities comprise 41 percent of aircraft activity, while commercial air service is 4 percent of activity.

Dothan Regional Airport is self-supporting, generating revenue from the users of the airport. Approximately twenty businesses and agencies with activity at the airport pay rent, landing fees, and other charges. Dothan Airport Industrial Park allows for further development and income.

Ozark Airport Blackwell Field

Blackwell Field is a 114-acre public-use airport located southeast of the Central Business District of Ozark. Commercial and general aviators call this modern airfield with a 5,152’ paved runway home. Several businesses, along with the Alabama Aviation College campus, are centered at Blackwell. Acreage is available adjacent to the airfield as a convenient option for new rotary and fixed wing aviation companies, as well as air cargo.

Aerospace Alliance

Alabama is a member of the Aerospace Alliance, joining Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Together they comprise a four-state world-class aerospace, aviation, and space corridor. By working together, the Alliance has promoted industry growth by attracting significant research, manufacturing, testing, and operational facilities. Four NASA space facilities, more than 40 military installations, 60+ universities offering engineering programs, and hundreds of MRO facilities call the region home.

Aviation simulators are a billion-dollar industry in Dale County, with companies investing in equipment at Fort Novosel and in Daleville, Dothan, and Ozark. Simulations recreate a system or event for pilots to gain field experience and understanding by allowing experimentation with complex circumstances while minimizing risks. Additionally, reports show that training in a simulator is up to 20 percent less expensive than real-life training. Both fixed wing and rotary training simulators comprise the aviation simulation industry of Dale County.

Some of the Dale County companies include:

Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering is the aerospace engineering campus for South and Central Alabama. The engineering students take required coursework in aeronautical and astronautical systems; the design of aerospace components and systems plays a key role in their education. It is Auburn's largest and highest-ranked college, with approximately 5,300 undergraduate and 1,100 graduate students.

The Alabama Aviation College, a unit of Enterprise State Community College (ESCC), is the only training facility in the southeastern United States with the primary mission of preparing technicians to work in the aviation industry. Courses in industrial maintenance, welding and other technical aviation skills are offered, as well as dual-enrollment for high school juniors and seniors. Apply for admission here.

Course Offerings

AAC Certificates
The Alabama Aviation College offers a wide range of certificate programs which can be more flexible and less costly than a traditional associate degree. General education requirements that are part of a traditional associate degree program are not required.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Federal, state, and institutional financial aid is available to help students and families. Educational benefits are also available to veteran service members and their dependents from all branches of the military. Additionally, ESCC awards over $500,000 in scholarships annually for merit, leadership, talent, athletic ability, and more. The scholarship deadline is March 1st.

In addition to Alabama Aviation College, training in aerospace, aviation, and supporting industries is offered at Wallace Community College and Fort Novosel - U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. For employers, there are a number of state and regional training programs, some customizable.

Dale County is the hub of aviation in South Alabama as the home of Fort Novosel as well as 25 percent of South Alabama’s Aerospace businesses. Dale County’s aviation industries are diversified in maintenance, repair, overhaul, simulation, flight training, and engineering.