The largest aircraft to ever land at the Greenville Downtown Airport was permanently grounded on June 19, 2013. The Boeing 727, donated by Fedex, will become an essential training tool for USAero Tech Institute’s professional aircraft maintenance students and staff. The donation of the aircraft is the first of its kind in South Carolina.
The local community was invited out to the new aviation themed children’s park as well as the USAero Tech training hangar to welcome in the new addition. Free Kona Shaved Ice was available at the park and tours were given inside the aircraft.
“FedEx 727 freighters, once the backbone of FedEx’s domestic fleet, are being retired and replaced with Boeing 757s,” said Beth Rush of FedEx Express Aircraft Acquisitions and Sales. “Donating these retired aircraft provides the critical hands-on training on large aircraft that is important to the skill set of the next generation of aircraft technicians.”
A 727 weighs in at about 191,000 pounds when loaded and has a tail height of 34 feet. It is capable of reaching top speed of 685 mph and an altitude of 36,000 feet. The 727’s wingspan is 108 feet and it measures in at 153 from nose to tail.
To date FedEx has donated more than seventy 727s to aviation schools, colleges and local community airports and fire departments for training purposes. FedEx is upgrading its fleet with more fuel efficient, lower emission aircraft under a company fleet modernization program.
USAero Tech’s origins can be traced to the missionary aviation program at Bob Jones University as part of the school’s Missionary Training Program. The university established and perfected one of the best knowledge-based, FAA certified Aviation Maintenance Technical Training programs in the country. In May of 2012 USAero Tech Institute became an independent school using the same facilities, assets, curriculum and instructors. According to USAero Tech’s website the institute continues to maintain the high standards established during their heritage while offering an accelerated one-year maintenance training program.
The aviation industry estimates indicate a need for more than 600,000 new aircraft maintenance technicians over the next two decades. These positions will provide attractive salaries to students wanting to pursue an aviation career. Training tools, such as the 727, are essential to fostering interest in the aviation profession.
