Bismarck Aero Center is Developing the North Dakota Aviation Workforce

The Bismarck Aero Center, located at the Bismarck Municipal Airport, supports the community's general aviation in various ways. They offer services ranging from flight instruction to aircraft rental to maintenance and avionics. What started as a small, one-man operation has now grown into a 60-person operation. In the past 35 years, the Bismarck Aero Center has become a staple of the airport and the community as a whole.

“Bismarck is in the heart of North Dakota, and we want to use our services to reach the surrounding towns and rural areas of the state,” says Shae Helling, Director of FBO Operations and Marketing at Bismarck Aero Center. “Our goal is to make aviation accessible for residents and the greater business community.”

A little over 4 years ago, Bismarck Aero Center expanded by acquiring Bismarck Air Medical, providing 24/7 fixed-wing air ambulance service. When minutes matter in medical emergencies, this transfer service enables people across rural North Dakota to reach healthcare providers quickly.

“We recently had a visitor to the airport who wanted to thank their flight nurse and paramedic,” says Helling. “If it hadn’t been for our Bismarck Air Med team, he wouldn’t have made it.”

The Bismarck Aero Center connects the business community while creating career pathways for residents. It’s a significant part of the region’s aviation scene. 

Bismarck Aero Center Helps Pilots Enter the Industry 

One of the most notable features of Bismarck Aero Center is its flight school, which starts with introductory flights with FAA-certified commercial pilots. Participants can take control of the plane and learn the basics of becoming a pilot. From there, they can work with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) to get their private pilot’s license and continue on to other certifications if they so desire.

“Getting your pilot’s license can open the door to a new hobby, or it can help you better run your business or even launch a new career,” says Helling. “We help pilots take their first steps in their flight journeys, which bring additional talent and more planes to Bismarck-Mandan.”

Helling says it can seem hard to enter the aviation industry due to the long training and education paths. The Bismarck Aero Center wants to make entering the field seem possible while outlining clear steps to complete.

There are also significant business benefits to having a pilot’s license.  

“We see executives and entrepreneurs who need to get to Grand Forks or Williston, which is normally a four-hour drive, but could fly in an hour and a half,” says Helling. “Aviation gives people access to a much larger area. Business owners can get to their meetings across the state and fly back home in time for dinner with the family.” 

Aviation Career Day Invites Students Into the Industry 

One of the most notable annual events at the Bismarck Aero Center is Aviation Career Day, where fifth-grade students from across the region learn how diverse this field can be. Career Day has been a tradition at Bismarck Aero Center for more than 20 years, and recently reached a peak of 1,200 students. The event averages about 900 fifth-grade attendees.

During the career day event, students learn from 15 different professionals across the aviation industry. They meet with pilots from the ND Game and Fish Department, air traffic controllers, airplane mechanics, the North Dakota National Guard, and much more. The kids even get to climb into a Black Hawk helicopter and see inside a Bismarck Air Medical King Air.

“When you talk about working for an airport, people think you’re working for a commercial airline or taking off as a pilot, but there’s so much more going on behind the scenes,” says Helling. “You don’t have to be a pilot to be in the aviation industry.”

The goal of Aviation Career Day is to inspire students to pursue careers in aviation, whether they train to become mechanics or step up to meet the demand for air traffic controllers. 

Community Involvement is a Core Value

Aviation Career Day is just one way Bismarck Aero Center invites the people of Bismarck-Mandan to learn more about its operations. At Props and Hops, attendees enjoy local craft beers and bid on silent auction items. To date, the event has raised more than $100,000 for local aviation causes. Bismarck Aero Center's annual fly-in features different attractions each year, with all proceeds supporting the Scottish Rite Speech Therapy Center for Children.

“Being a good steward of our community is part of our core values,” says Helling. “We want the airport to be accessible, whether you want to be a pilot or are just excited about airplanes. We want people to see the side of aviation we love and get to be part of every day.”

These events bring the community together to explore airplanes, helicopters, and other aspects of aviation they wouldn’t otherwise experience. Some attendees have never been on a plane, and it allows them to engage with aviation for the first time. It gives them an opportunity to see airplanes up close and possibly inspires them to look more into aviation.

Learn About Transportation Infrastructure in Bismarck-Mandan

The Bismarck Aero Center is one of many transportation assets in the community. Its proximity to I-94 and U.S. 83 makes it easy to access surrounding Midwest cities, while the rail lines are essential to supply chain development. Whether you need to fly over to Fargo or ship a trainload of goods to the West Coast ports, it’s possible to successfully run your business in Bismarck-Mandan.

See how the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC supports local businesses. Contact us today to discuss your goals for relocating or expanding your operations.