UND Aerospace Takes Flight into a New Era
At the Spring Safety seminar, UND students first learned that construction on the new Flight Operations Center was scheduled to begin in the upcoming summer. The building has been anticipated by students and staff alike for years, and excitement over the news was almost palpable after the announcement was made, as well as a bit of anxiety about what this will mean moving forward for those on the flight line. Now, months later, the day has arrived to break ground on this next chapter of UND Aerospace.
Breaking Ground
On May 28, 2025, members of both the UND Aerospace and Grand Forks community were invited to an event celebrating the legacy of the old flight operations center and welcoming in the new. University leadership, notable donors, alumni, staff, students and more gathered to reminisce on the history that the old building represents, as well as express their excitement over the arrival of a new space.
“This premier building that is set to go up in this space is what our flight program needs and deserves,” said UND President, Andrew Armacost during his speech at the event. “Today represents an important turning point to offer our students, staff, and faculty quote this new space, our new Flight Operations and Dispatch Center.”
Students attending the event had the opportunity to meet the best and brightest of UND Aerospace. In attendance were several notable figures, including Si Robin, representatives from the Ray Foundation, and Clay Lacy, as well as members of the UND Aerospace Foundation, University Leadership, and members of the Odegard family.
“It’s inspirational to be surrounded by some of the people who have founded and uplifted this organization,” said student Riley Zarm. “It’s not something we as students have the opportunity to be exposed to often. We know the names and we’ve seen the pictures, but to actually meet them in person is very special.”
Farewell to a Well-Loved Space
The original building that would become the current flight operations center was built in 1974. It originally was made to serve as a Maintenace hanger and eventually transitioned to a dispatch and briefing space for the flight line. The building has been a part of the UND Aerospace experience for the over 15000 pilots that have trained out of it and has been a recognizable piece of UND Aerospace history for years.
While there is a nostalgic fondness for the original building, students agree that it is time for a change. The school has outgrown the current building, and it no longer serves students in the way it once did. In an ever-growing aviation industry, it serves that there be a training center to match the needs and demands that such an environment creates.
“We really do need a new building,” joked UND student Kallen Wachi. “We’ve rain coming through the cracks of the old one! It’ll be nice to have a brand-new space.”
Eagerness Over the New Building
Students are eager to experience all the new building has to offer. The new building promises an updated and enhanced space, meeting the needs of the modern aviator and smoothing the transition from a training environment to a career in the aviation industry.
“It’ll be nice to just have more space in general,” said student Carson Miller. “For briefings and such, but also a space for students to meet with airport leads and management. As students we hope that the new building will bring with it better communication between students and the flight operations admin.”
The new building is said to feature 27 faculty and staff offices, as well as 36 learning spaces for Certified Flight Instructors and students to utilize. In addition, the building will feature a large event space to house the many community and industry events that Aerospace hosts throughout the year.
“It really looks like an airport,” said Wachi. “It feels like airline operations and is very professional. It’ll also be good to have a dedicated event space for all the stuff we do throughout the year. While campus spaces such as the one at Robin Hall are great, having somewhere at the airport itself will help tie flight operations more into the UND and Grand Forks community.”
The new space will also house a state-of-the-art dispatch center. This will provide smoother operations at the airport, enhancing and growing UND Aerospace’s safety culture in the process.
“I think I would like to see a more efficient dispatch process,” said student Nawin Bravo. “I think the new flight ops building will really accomplish that. It takes a lot of stress off the whole process.”
A New Generation of UND Aerospace
Overall, the students of UND Aerospace anxiously await the opening of the new Flight Operation Center.
“I’m very excited for the new opportunity the flight ops building will provide for UND and its students,” said student Ethan Matthews. “It represents the future of UND Aerospace and our continued dedication to excellence.”
Many of the students commented on how the new building stands as a testament to how far the program has come since it began in 1968.
“It’s a good representation of what UND Aerospace is,” said student Kathleen Thompson. “We have a huge program, and the new dispatch building symbolizes that we are constantly growing.”
The building itself will stand for the next generation of training at UND Aerospace. As we close the chapter on the old dispatch center, the new building gives new opportunities to students of the future.
“This new dispatch building reinforces our commitment to being the leader in aviation that we are,” said Bravo. “It exemplified and propels UND Aerospace in the future.”
Written by: Averie Eixenberger, Commercial Aviation and English major at UND.
