DORGAN ANNOUNCES UND AEROSPACE WILL SHARE IN $437 MILLION CONTRACT TO TRAIN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS

Dorgan says investments in UND's world-class aviation program leads to 10-year contract with Raytheon and the Federal Aviation Administration

Thursday, September 11, 2008

CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or  Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced today that the University of North Dakota’s Aerospace program will share in a contract to train air traffic controllers. The contract is for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Traffic Control Optimal Training Solution (ATCOTS), which will be responsible for training the nation’s air traffic controllers.

The FAA has awarded the new 10-year, $437 million training contract to Raytheon. Raytheon was awarded the contract through a competitive bidding process and early in the proposal process requested to team with UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. Dorgan said that shows that the investments made in this world-class aviation program are paying off for Grand Forks and North Dakota.

Dorgan, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, has worked to forge ties between UND and the FAA. He pushed legislation through Congress that funded and promoted the FAA contracting with schools like UND. He has also brought FAA officials to Grand Forks for visits that resulted in ongoing partnerships and the designation of UND’s aviation school as a Center of Excellence. Dorgan has continued to promote UND’s air traffic controller training capabilities in conversations with FAA officials and in aviation hearings on Capitol Hill.

“The UND Aerospace program is the best aviation program in the nation, so it makes sense that they will help to train our nation’s air traffic controllers,” said Dorgan. “This 10-year contract is the latest proof that supporting our universities through the Red River Valley Research Corridor is helping expand research and educational opportunities in the northern plains. That’s good for our students and for our economy.”

“We are very grateful to Senator Byron Dorgan for his unwavering support of the University of North Dakota. That support has positioned UND perfectly to partner with Raytheon on the ATCOTS contract. Sen. Dorgan has long recognized and championed the outstanding aviation and air traffic control training expertise and capabilities of our John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. His leadership over the years has been crucial to the success of our aerospace program and to the University of North Dakota in general," said Dr. Robert Kelley, president of the University of North Dakota.

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