SAIT to build $150-million autonomous aviation facility with $30-million gift from philanthropist David Bissett
The Bissett Autonomous Aviation Park will train more than 400 students annually in drone technology and autonomous aircraft, with construction hoped to begin next year.
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Southern Alberta Institute of Technology announced Thursday a $150-million facility to expand its aviation and drone technology programs, with construction expected to begin next year.
The announcement includes a $30-million donation from major philanthropist and Order of Canada recipient David Bissett. The facility will be named the Bissett Autonomous Aviation Park and is part of SAIT's broader $150-million Real Futures fundraising campaign.
SAIT currently enrolls more than 400 students in aviation programs covering aircraft maintenance, avionics, structures, gas turbine repair, and autonomous aviation. Those programs operate out of the Art Smith Aero Centre, a satellite campus and hangar near Calgary International Airport.
The new facility will expand offerings and deepen industry collaboration, according to Lynda Holden, dean for the School of Transportation and School of Manufacturing and Automation at SAIT. "What this will allow our students to do is not only just get trained; they'll be embedded in the research, and they'll be embedded with industry," she said.
The autonomous aircraft sector will affect agriculture, emergency medical services, and energy industries, Holden noted. SAIT is currently the only institution offering a two-year diploma in aviation and autonomous systems.
The facts
How many students will the Bissett Autonomous Aviation Park train annually?
More than 400 students annually in drone technology and autonomous aircraft.
What industries will be affected by autonomous aircraft according to SAIT?
Agriculture, emergency medical services, and energy industries will be affected by the autonomous aircraft sector.
