Florida Techs New Aviation Center Opens Doors
MELBOURNE, FLA. — The spirits of Florida Institute of Technology aeronautics students must be flying high with today’s opening of the Emil Buehler Center for
Aviation Training and Research at Melbourne International Airport.
Construction of the 12,240-square-foot facility began in 2008 following a $1.5 million gift from the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust of Paramus, N.J. The
center, valued at $5.1 million, consists of a main building and 17,600-square-foot hangar, located on eight acres at the airport. In addition to flight
training, the building will house centers in human factors and simulation. The building will also accommodate a fixed-base operation with space for 44
aircraft on the apron for student use and for aviation services to the local population.
“Thanks to the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust, our College of Aeronautics students will enjoy the benefits of flight training and research in a
state-of-the-art facility and the university’s profile will rise in the aviation education community,” said Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese.
Special features of the center include separate rooms for simulators and training, a student lounge and airfield viewing room, instructor pilot’s lounge,
general aviation pilot’s lounge, conference and briefing rooms, a room for weather/flight planning and offices for general operations.
The new building is located west of the existing F.I.T. Aviation Center. It is accessible from Grumman Place, off of NASA Boulevard.
“We are very excited about moving into our new building and taking advantage of the added space and new resources the center will provide. Our students
will truly benefit,” said Nick Frisch, director of FIT Aviation. FIT Aviation LLC is Florida Tech’s aviation training arm.
“The new center is a showplace. We are very proud, indeed, and happy for our students,” added Winston Scott, dean of the College of Aeronautics.
Emil Buehler was an aviation pioneer, architect and engineer who left behind a legacy of aviation science and technology innovation. Born in the Black
Forest area of Germany, Buehler first experienced flying at age 17 as a pilot in the World War I German navy. Following completion of formal higher
education, he moved to the United States to pursue his aviation career. He operated his own school of aeronautics at New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport, ran a
seaplane base on the Hudson River and designed and supervised construction of an aviation facility at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. For his
achievements, Rutgers University in 1974 conferred on him the title of Eminent Engineer.
The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust was established in 1984. For more information, call Florida Tech’s Office for Advancement at (321) 674-8962.
