Boeing drops UAV classes in Clovis

Gabe Monte

A major aircraft manufacturer ended a contract this week with Clovis Community College to conduct 10-week unmanned aerial vehicle training programs on campus.

According to CCC officials, the college received about $130,000 during the two years of the contract.

Boeing officials said the number of students entering the program in Clovis was not enough to continue the contract.

The training program offered courses in maintaining and operating the ScanEagle UAV, a 40-pound robotic aircraft used by military organizations including the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Australian military, according to Boeing Training Support Center Deputy Director Bob Futoran.

The training program will be moved to a facility in Washington State, according to Futoran.

“We were disappointed that they were moving the program elsewhere, it was a good partnership for us and them and the students that it served while they were here,” said CCC Assistant to the President for Business and Government Relations Tom Drake.

Futoran said 132 civilian and military personnel have taken the course in the two years of the program.

Drake said Boeing provided the instructors and the materials and had an agreement with the Air Force to use the Melrose Bombing Range for flight training.