Texas Southern University Launches Historic Aviation Partnership with Cirrus Aircraft
By Texas Southern University has just received the first of 12 brand-new 2025 Cirrus SR20 training aircraft, a move that signals a bold new chapter for the school’s aviation program. This delivery marks a historic first: the beginning of a partnership between Cirrus Aircraft and a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), setting a national precedent in aviation education.
Dr. Terence Fontaine, Executive Director of Aviation, called the investment transformational for the school’s Aviation Science Management program. The addition of the Cirrus fleet will modernize student training, replacing older planes with cutting-edge technology currently used by major airlines like United. It’s a shift designed to lower maintenance costs, boost flight availability, and most importantly, prepare students for the demands of professional aviation careers.
This momentum builds on the program’s rapid rise, with record enrollment over the past two years and a place among the top 50 aviation degree programs worldwide. Texas Southern’s aviation program also holds elite status as one of fewer than 50 programs globally to earn accreditation from the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI).
With this new fleet and growing national recognition, Texas Southern is positioning its students not just for the cockpit, but for leadership across the aviation industry.
