b'GENERAL AVIATIONDET39cars. He seems to reconcile his native pride in the Motor City byTwo initiatives are already in the works with Washtenaw and working to help it remain No. 1 in U.S. for mobility in general Wayne counties for high-level educational programming to help cars or eVTOL. Thats Detroits bread and butter, he says. Thetheir youth become pilots, aviation maintenance technicians innovations we can do here at the airport will help us stay in thatand even airport directors. Not yet willing to name names, Watt dominant space. We are committed, the entire city is committed,reports that he and city officials are negotiating with a very large so that we dont lose our place. aviation maintenance school about building a facility at DET.Gertsen points out that being close to downtown will make DETIn addition, B.O. Davis Aerospace Technical High School is a crucial asset for advanced air mobility operations, and foreseesreturning to DET after being away for more than a decade and a bright future for the airport adding value to the city and region.will be located in the airports former passenger terminal. The Various next-gen technologies developing at DET should dovetailDetroit Public Schools Community District will pay $14.5 million nicely with educational initiatives being implemented at the airport.to renovate the 60,000-square-foot facility into classrooms and hands-on environments for the specialty high school. Aviation Education Corridor Watt says these education programs will help open the door In 2023, DET was on the short list of locations for an eVTOLfor business development at the airport. Essentially, it is my job manufacturing plant but came in second despite offeringis to make sure the community is utilizing their own airport, he approximately $285 million in financial incentives from the city ofremarks. This is what my community wanted for this airport, and Detroit, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation andits my job to figure out how to make all that work. other stakeholders. Although the loss was devastating for theThe Tuskegee Airmen National Museum has had a long-term airport and city, Watt says it ultimately provided the opportunity topresence at DET and will continue to be an important player. In develop aviation and aerospace education locally, with an eye onaddition to providing scholarships, the group offers pilot training, expanding throughout southeastern Michigan and beyond.maintenance training, drone instruction and other aviation-related courses to local youth at no cost. Learn more about D.S. BrownsDelpatch Elastomeric ConcreteDelastic Compression Seals dsbrown.com | 419-257-3561 |AirportImprovement.comOctober 2025'