'Aviation destination': What to know about Republic Airways' new training center in Carmel
On property sandwiched between U.S. 31 and Pennsylvania Street in Carmel, Republic Airways is building an aviation destination.
Massive full-motion flight simulators built like airplane noses will prepare pilots for future maneuvers in the sky. Classrooms provide spaces to debrief training exercises and learn the basics of operating an aircraft.
Republic Airways and Carmel announced in September 2021 that the company would move its corporate headquarters from northern Indianapolis to Carmel and build a training center for airline employees.
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It’s one of the largest corporate headquarters to call Carmel home and the first phase of the giant development, the airline’s training center, will open in April.
“It really highlights the technology that’s being used today to modernize aviation training,” said Matt Koscal, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Republic Airways. “It puts Indiana on the map as an aviation destination. When you look at this campus, it really was built as a destination and a place for folks to come and explore aviation.”
IndyStar toured the training center in mid-February and interviewed Koscal.
Here is what you need to know about the project.
What is Republic Airways building?
Republic Airways is constructing a new corporate campus in Carmel that includes office space for corporate staff and a 110,000-square-foot training center for employees. Plans for the property include a hotel for pilots, flight attendants and other employees that come to Carmel to train.
Additional construction on the property includes a 900-space public parking garage, which will be wrapped with commercial businesses and condos available to the community.
Where is the Republic Airways construction site?
Republic Airways is building the training center and the company’s corporate headquarters at the former site of the Hamilton Crossing Centre, the previous strip mall just east of U.S. 31 in Carmel.
The property is bordered by Carmel Drive to the north, Pennsylvania Street to the east and U.S. 31 to the west.
How did the city of Carmel help Republic Airways?
In 2021, the Carmel City Council approved nearly $50 million in tax increment financing bonds to support the Republic Airways project.
The proceeds of the bonds were designated for infrastructure improvements for the property, which include the construction of the parking garage.
More:Carmel City Council approves $49.5M bonds to support new Republic Airways headquarters
The TIF bonds were backed by developers for the project and not considered a debt against Carmel’s credit or taxing power, according to the bond resolution at the time.
What will happen at the training center?
The training center will have the capacity for 10 full-motion Embraer 170/175 flight simulators that will run training exercises 20 hours a day.
The flight simulators mimic the Embraer jets that Republic Airways pilots fly on a daily basis. Trainees can practice different maneuvers and problems, from handling severe weather to an engine issue. The simulators are built by FlightSafety International.
Republic Airways is moving the existing flight simulators from the company’s other training centers in Cincinnati and St. Louis to the new building in Carmel.
The training center also includes classrooms, a cafeteria and a welcome center with information about the aviation industry that could be accessible to schools and community members who visit the campus.
What is the timeline for the other phases of the Republic project?
Construction has started on the parking garage, which is expected to be open in the first quarter of 2024.
The corporate headquarters office building is expected to open in late 2024 or early 2025.
Contact IndyStar's Carmel and Westfield reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter @CarloniBrittany.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Republic Airways to open training center this April in Carmel
