[ad_1]
On a clear February morning at the Riverside Municipal Airport, Joshua Alvarez was prepping his California Baptist University plane for flight while he waited for his flight instructor.
Alvarez, 27, said he was close to being able to take a solo flight, and credited the university’s aviation program with bolstering his goal to become a pilot.
At 11:12 a.m., he took off into the sky — something that may be more common for Riverside students since the Riverside City Council agreed to create an aviation workforce training hub at the airport.
“It’s fun, you can go anywhere,” Alvarez said before he took off.
-
California Baptist University aviation student Sophie Vijayam prepares for her training flight with an instructor Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, at the Riverside Municipal Airport. The Riverside City Council recently approved an aviation workforce training initiative at the airport. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
1 of 5
California Baptist University aviation student Sophie Vijayam prepares for her training flight with an instructor Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, at the Riverside Municipal Airport. The Riverside City Council recently approved an aviation workforce training initiative at the airport. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
The initiative will be a collaboration with the Riverside and Alvord unified school districts, Riverside City College, California Baptist University and UC Riverside. So far, only California Baptist has aviation courses — and its own planes — at the airport. The other schools are in the early stages of figuring out what courses they might offer and how they might fit into the program.
The city and the education institutions plan to create jobs and build the city’s aviation, aerospace and technology industries through the Learning Institute for Flight Technology, a city news release states.
Part of the initiative includes sharing assets and one option may include examining how the Riverside airport could be part of the effort, the release states.
California Baptist University has 22 airplanes at the Riverside airport, as well as several flight simulators and a new simulator on the horizon.
The university has 312 students in its aviation program and expects more next semester.
Cesar Portugal, assistant professor of aviation science and chair of the Aviation Science Department, said the university already has a steady foundation and is excited to see Riverside become an “aviation mecca” and to help its partners grow their own programs.
“CBU is just here to serve the community and to help expand the industry,” Portugal added. “If it helps us in any way, that’s phenomenal, but more importantly it’s going to help our community grow and have more experience in aviation.”
He added that the aviation field is in “dire” need of pilots, aircraft mechanics, dispatchers, airport managers and operation managers.
Riverside City College has no aviation program or courses, but being part of the initiative shows its commitment to preparing students for high-skill, high-demand and high-paying jobs, Interim President Eric Bishop said.
RCC officials don’t yet know what courses they might offer under the initiative, but Bishop said the program will benefit RCC in several ways.
“It is important that we are part of the community and not apart from it,” said Bishop, who added that the program could keep aviation jobs local and add a new sector the college can explore.
At UC Riverside, Christopher Lynch, dean of the Bourns College of Engineering, said the campus’ role is not yet defined. It’s considering the possibility of UCR students learning as interns and volunteers.
In the Riverside Unified School District, officials want to see how the district — which has no aviation or aerospace programs — might expose youths to career opportunities in aviation and strengthen connections with the aviation and aerospace industries, district spokesperson Andrew Shortall said.
“This is an opportunity to explore what’s possible for our students and thoughtfully consider how we can align education with emerging workforce opportunities in our region,” Superintendent Sonia Llamas said in an emailed statement.
Source link
