Moberly Area Community College appears to be one step closer to having an aviation program.

Last night, the Columbia Airport Advisory Board heard the first presentation about the program by MACC that’s set to be offered at Columbia Regional Airport starting in fall 2026.

The Aviation Commercial Pilot Program will be directed by former pilot Ed Longoria, who gave the presentation.

The six-semester course will operate out of the original Columbia Regional Airport terminal. Upon completing the course, aspiring pilots will have logged between 250-300 flight hours.

Students will fly in a Piper aircraft, and then will use a flight simulator to practice commercial flights.