NIC Aerospace program to close next year

North Idaho College’s Aerospace program will shut down at the end of the 2020-21 school year. 

NIC’s Aerospace director Patrick O’Halloran said the closure stems from financial and business decisions, as well as COVID-19. 

“It was just the wrong year to discuss doubling down, with COVID-19 and all,” O’Halloran said. “It really just came down to the fact that doubling down on the facility and program would cost twice as much compared to closing down.”  

Students’ personal toolboxes crowd the hallway.

NIC’s Aerospace facility was costly to run considering strict federal regulations and a low student turnout, O’Halloran said.  

The program was created in 2013, and ran for 7 years. It awarded 120 certificates and 33 AAS degrees. The remaining 17 students currently attending are all on track to transfer schools and continue a career in the field. 

“Even though the program is ending, there’s still good to be done here for the community with the program we’ve created,” O’Halloran said. 

Kyle Olivier, a second-year aviation student, sits inside the helicopter’s cockpit.

Second-year student Kyle Olivier, studying Aviation Science, said the closure was hard on students but especially the staff.

 “It’s definitely disappointing the program is closing,” Olivier said. “The staff here cares a lot about education, and they all take great pride in the program they’ve created. They all dedicated a lot of time, money, and materials they personally purchased into this course. It’s hard on all of us students that it’s closing, but I feel that it’s harder on the staff.”

Now that the program is ending, Olivier says he’ll be transferring to Spokane Community College (SCC) along with many of his other classmates. He said that he’s grateful to staff for giving him an enjoyable experience with the program, and with all of it’s potential, he’s sad to see the course go. 

Tyler Rieken poses in front of a small plane outside of the aerospace building.

Tyler Rieken, another second-year student, said the closure is especially hard, considering the new additions to the program.

 “We just received a new helicopter, and we were told that the course would be expanding to implement a new power plant program,” Rieken said. “Then we were told abruptly that the entire aerospace course would be shutting down. I think most of the students are upset because we thought it would be expanding, then it was completely shut down.”

Rieken said he really enjoyed the program, the instructors were great and he’s disappointed to see it go. Rieken will also be transferring to SCC, to continue his study of aviation maintenance. 

The Aerospace program’s new addition; a new helicopter donated to them by the Government.

 “I feel like they’re (NIC) making enough money to keep the program running, they’re just not making as much money as they would like to,” Rieken said.

Sadie Frantzich, a first-year aviation student with a degree in welding, said she plans to continue her education at SCC after the aerospace program closes.

Sadie Frantzich, one of two girls involved in the aviation course, poses in front of one of several planes involved in the Aerospace program.

 “It’s definitely disappointing to see it go,” Frantzich said. “The staff and students here were all great. North Idaho definitely has a very interesting aviation culture, and I’m lucky I got to experience it myself here at NIC.”

 The Aerospace program will close after the 2020-21 semester. 

“NIC is extremely grateful for the director’s dedication and the faculty and staff who have contributed to the success of the students who have graduated from these programs,” said Lita Burns, NIC vice president of instruction. “We hope to be able to build on this foundation and look at the potential of reestablishing the programs in the future as apprenticeship opportunities.”

Students coat mock plane wings with fabric in an Aerospace classroom.