Currituck County and Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) officials celebrated an exciting new partnership during a March 25, 2026, groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the ECSU Currituck Flight Training Center in Maple. ECSU will build a classroom facility and airplane hangar in Currituck County’s Commerce Park, next to the Currituck Regional Airport.
This venture marks the first hub for ECSU’s Aviation Sciences Program outside of Elizabeth City. Aviation Sciences is ECSU’s most popular major, according to interim Chancellor Dr. Catherine Edmonds, who also noted that ECSU is the only school in the University of North Carolina system that offers a four-year Aviation Sciences degree. Students in the program prepare for careers as pilots, aviation management, flight education, and air traffic control.
Paul O’Neal, Chairman of the Currituck County Board of Commissioners, spoke of the importance of education and how the Flight Training Center will help bring more prosperity to the region.
“The Board of Commissioners is excited to officially welcome ECSU to Currituck County,” O’Neal said. “It is a privilege to be the university’s first flight hub, and we look forward to the opportunities this partnership will provide for the citizens of Currituck County.”
ECSU currently utilizes Currituck Regional Airport as a training location for its students, but must fly to Currituck from its home base at the Elizabeth City Airport. The Currituck Flight Training Center will provide a permanent home for ECSU in the county to conduct classes and house a number of its aircraft. The project will include construction of a 4,800 square foot classroom and office facility, and 6,600 square foot airplane hangar. The training center will have a direct taxiway for its airplanes into the Currituck Regional Airport property.
The Flight Training Center will provide more educational and career opportunities for Currituck County residents in the aviation industry. Currently, the College of the Albemarle offers an Aviation Systems Technology program at the Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center, which is also adjacent to Currituck Regional Airport and has direct access to the airport’s taxiway. This program provides students with the education necessary to qualify for an airplane mechanic’s certificate.
Mike Payment, Currituck County Commissioner, was the Board’s chairman in 2023 when Currituck County and ECSU began discussing a possible project. Currituck County agreed to convey two parcels in the Commerce Park to ECSU, which has received state funding for the project.
“This is a great opportunity for Currituck County and ECSU, to bring these students here. This will help all of northeastern North Carolina be known for its aviation training,” said Payment.
Mike Payment, Currituck County Commissioner.
Paul O’Neal, Chairman, Currituck County Board of Commissioners.
