News Release: Continued Growth at St. Louis Downtown Airport in 2024; Momentum Shows No Signs of Slowing for 2025

[ST. LOUIS/January 17, 2025] 2024 marked another milestone year at St. Louis Downtown Airport. The general aviation airport experienced positive trends in flight operations and tenant expansions that are nearing completion. The airport also participated in regional efforts to accelerate the establishment of a pipeline of future skilled workers for a thriving aviation and aerospace industry. With more growth anticipated during 2025, St. Louis Downtown Airport is strengthening its unique position as a premier business aviation facility located in St. Clair County, Illinois, just minutes from the Gateway Arch.

Early in 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration notified St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS) that it now meets the standard to be recognized as a National General Aviation Airport. The designation derived from the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) identifies existing and proposed airports that are considered significant to national air transportation and thus may be eligible to receive federal funds.

“This move was significant for KCPS and our tenants as it opened the door for the airport to receive up to $1 million in additional grants in FY25 and FY26 for eligible airport improvement projects,” said Sandra Shore, St. Louis Downtown Airport Director. “Those improvements would provide enhanced infrastructure and even better services.”

To help foster the next generation of aerospace and aviation professionals, St. Louis Downtown Airport was the setting for several partner events throughout the year. In June, Saint Louis University’s (SLU) Parks Department of Aviation Science held its annual Aviation Summer Academy for more than 20 high school seniors across eight states who were introduced to the world of aviation and the exciting careers within it. Students learned flight basics using high-tech simulators, heard from guest speakers about flight careers, stepped into the cockpit of different aircraft to gain hands-on experience and experienced the thrill of flight. SLU’s team was back at the airport in October to host the annual Girls in Aviation Day event, encouraging approximately 130 young women from more than a dozen area high schools and organizations to explore possible careers in aviation.

Southwestern Illinois College’s inaugural three-day Aviation Summer Sampler Camp in July introduced another 18 area high school juniors and seniors to the fascinating world of aviation. The camp included a combination of hands-on experiences, panels with students and professionals, guest speakers, and a flight experience in the cockpit of a real plane.

In August, St. Louis Downtown Airport was pleased to be among five area airports assisting with the launch of the St. Louis Regional Aerospace and Aviation Task Force, along with the St. Louis Regional Freightway and area leaders in aerospace manufacturing and service, education and workforce training. The launch was in response to more than $5 billion in recent and planned investments that are creating urgent demand for workers to fill an estimated 1,000 new positions in the region. 

“The St. Louis area is historically rooted in aviation production, which continues to be a flourishing sector attracting significant investment,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development, which owns and operates the airport. “The formation of this Task Force will bring attention to the growing industry that continues to create jobs for St. Louis, and it will help to connect aspiring aerospace and aviation professionals to the many resources available to develop their skills so they can be a part of this vibrant ecosystem.” 

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. – a key participant in the Task Force and the airport’s largest tenant – remained engaged in a variety of initiatives contributing to those recruiting efforts locally, including a youth apprenticeship program with Cahokia High School, Belleville School District and the Center for Academic and Vocational Excellence. The program offers the potential for students to receive full-time jobs upon graduation. Gulfstream’s $28.5 million expansion of its operations at the airport facility is expected to be completed during the first half of 2025. More than half of the 200 available positions announced as part of the expansion had already been filled by November of 2024 – including locally onboarded talent – ranging from avionics employees, interior installers, painters, upholstery technicians, cabinet makers and various other technical positions that are key to Gulfstream’s growth at the airport. 

Last year, St. Louis Downtown Airport also saw flight operations increase to a total of 119,173 during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024. The data follows a continuing positive trend in year-over-year growth of flight operations. In fact, flight operations reported in FY24 represent a 17% increase since FY22, marking the third consecutive year of post-pandemic growth.

“The trend in increased flight operations shows aviation activity has returned to normal for private and business travel customers and aviation businesses,” said Shore. “We’re looking forward to continued growth in 2025.” 

To learn more about St. Louis Downtown Airport, visit www.stlouisdowntownairport.com.

Patti Beck 

Bi-State Development, Senior Director of Media & Public Relations 

314-982-1524 

About Bi-State Development

Bi-State Development (BSD) owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center and Gateway Arch trams. BSD is the operator of the Metro Transit public transportation system in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois, which includes the 74 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; a MetroBus vehicle fleet of approximately 237 clean-burning diesel buses and 24 battery-electric buses; and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 123 vans. BSD also operates the St. Louis Regional Freightway, the region’s freight district.

The Aero Experience YouTube Channel 2024 Video Selection

 

Southwestern Illinois College to Launch Avionics Certificate Program at Granite City Campus

By Carmelo Turdo

Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) will launch their new Aviation Electronics Technology (Avionics) Certificate Program in January 2025 at their Sam Wolf Granite City Campus. The program complements the existing Aviation Maintenance Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Program, providing 45 semester hours of state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory training over 49 weeks. SWIC's Avionics Certificate Program is recognized by the Aircraft Electronics Association, and students will become eligible to take the Aircraft Electronics Technician Test after completion. 

Instructor Nick Mansker and Aviation Flight Management Coordinator Keith Mueller

"Avionics is a huge segment of aviation maintenance, primarily involved with the navigation and communication systems on aircraft," Keith Mueller, SWIC's Coordinator of Aviation Flight Management and Aircraft Dispatcher Programs, told The Aero Experience. "This area, especially, has a significant need for more and more aviation maintenance and avionics related personnel with a large number of facilities here in the St. Louis area." He added that within 50 miles of St. Louis, there are over forty organizations in need of avionics technicians. In addition, there are many more positions open in aircraft production, interior finishing, and all levels of aircraft maintenance and inspection. West Star Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace and the Boeing Company are expanding their operations at St. Louis Regional Airport, St. Louis Downtown Airport and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.

Mueller and Avionics instructor Nick Mansker are putting the final touches on a brand new, state-of-the-art avionics classroom and hands-on lab suite that will be used for the first session starting January 13. Mansker brings a wealth of experience to SWIC's Avionics Certificate Program. He served in the United States Air Force for 20 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2015, with additional Department of Defense work as a civilian employee. He has been promoting SWIC's program at career fairs and open houses this year as he solidified the curriculum and acquired the impressive training equipment featured here.

"Our program is set up to where we go all the way from the very beginning of basic electronics and getting into the mathematics that it takes to do this kind of work," Mansker explained. "And then we have a 101 course that talks about the aircraft and the basics of the avionics systems. Then we get into DC and AC circuits and talk about microprocessors and go all into computing before we start working on the actual systems on the aircraft." System installation, wiring, troubleshooting and testing are taught in detail during the certificate program. 

"So, when you're done with this course," Mansker continued, "you are able to go out and get a job working for one of the manufacturers around here or for one of the airlines as a repairman type technician with the AET Certification that we're preparing people for." Significant numbers of immediate openings are available for qualified applicants in our area.

In the lab, student workstations will be equipped with individual monitors for the day's lesson as well as a complete set of tools, including an industrial-quality soldering unit. Aspen Avionics Evolution Primary Flight Displays are also available, and supplies such as wiring and associated hardware were donated by industry sponsors. 

Avotek AS76 Cockpit Instrumentation System Trainer

This training device simulates the functioning of both legacy vacuum instruments and modern electronic flight information system displays found in most aircraft. The instruments reflect the movement of the panel acting as the aircraft in pitch, roll and yaw. They can also be affected by changes in barometric pressure in the pitot static system through manipulation of the chamber on the stand below the panel. Instructors can induce faults on the system to set up troubleshooting scenarios for the students.

Avotek AV22 Avionics Systems Trainer

This training device provides an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) panel to demonstrate modern instrument approaches and aviation radio systems. The students have test points to complete on the wiring bundles behind the panel and with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) test set. The instructor can induce failures on each display, providing a realistic environment for the students. 

Southwestern Illinois College is embarking on a bold, new Avionics Certificate Program to complement the existing Aviation Maintenance Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Program. The Avionics Certificate Program is open to students as a stand-alone course, part of a comprehensive approach to aviation maintenance or contributing to a SWIC aviation degree program. Classes begin January 13, so contact SWIC to enroll.

Piston Aviation Hosts Christmas Party Flight Events at Both St. Louis Airport Locations

By Carmelo Turdo

Piston Aviation hosted Christmas party flight events last weekend at both flight training locations - Creve Coeur Airport and St. Louis Regional Airport. Since last year's event, Piston Aviation has added a second location and doubled their fleet to include Bristell and Tomark Viper light sport aircraft as well as Piper Cherokees, a Cessna 172 and 150, and a Piper Aztec twin. Both locations also offer flight simulation services, comfortable pilot lounges and flight planning workstations for the safety and convenience of their students and staff. Add some Christmas cheer to the usual fun atmosphere at Piston Aviation, and you have a great future in the skies!

The Creve Coeur Airport event was held on Saturday. The Grinch stole the good weather and left rain instead, so the party moved inside Piston Aviation's main hangar. Here we see visitors checking out the Bristell, Cherokee and Viper training fleet aircraft and flying the Redbird simulator. Discovery flights for Saturday's guests will be rescheduled, and the improving weather this week will provide more opportunities to get back into air! 

Sunday's event at St. Louis Regional Airport began under a low cloud ceiling that lifted and cleared the local area in the afternoon. Along with more antics from Mr. Grinch and enough sugar to make everyone sweet, flights were available in the Piper Cherokee and Bristell 912 later in the day. Here we feature the Piston Aviation staff starting the party in their recently remodeled facility and a young visitor's first general aviation flight in the Bristell.

The Aero Experience thanks Piston Aviation for hosting a great weekend of Christmas cheer and Midwest Aviation hospitality. Contact Piston Aviation today for more information about their flight training packages.