(WINSTON-SALEM) - Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem hasn't had regular airline flights in years.
So it's concentrated on business, corporate and private traffic, in addition to growing maintenance operations around the airport.
"They're always looking for qualified aircraft mechanics, certified people in avionics, or even just working in metal, so there are a lot of opportunities," said Airport Director Mark Davidson.
Officials say GTCC's Aviation program couldn't keep up with the demand, so that sister campus and several of the companies at the airport reached out to Forsyth Tech.
"They have asked us if we could contribute positively to the aviation sector," said Rachel Desmarais, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operator Officer of Forsyth Technical Community College.
The community college is looking at creating a $16-million aviation program at the airport.
It’s one of projects being considered by Forsyth County Commissioners to include in a bond package to put on the November ballot.
They could locate in one of Piedmont Airlines old hangers, or build a new one.
"It also widens the scope of what we offer, so that students have more choices about how they would like to apply their technical skills," said Desmarais.
Officials here say the growing demand for trained aviation workers is evidenced by a company founded here a few years ago with under a dozen workers, it now has over 400.
"It's really important for us to be able to say we have programs where we can confidently say 'this is what local employers are asking for,’” said Desmarais.
It could mean a bigger role for Smith Reynolds Airport.
"It makes the airport more attractive, we have great infrastructure and by adding a school, it's actually feeding a labor pool here at the airport, it just doesn't get better than that,’’ said Davidson.
If funded, the program could start in 2019.