As UCA’s Aviation Academy navigates its infancy, donors from Simmons Bank helped launch the opening of the Bill Cope Memorial Hangar on Aug. 22 to bolster the growing program.
The hangar — named after the former Simmons Bank chief corporate pilot who died in January 2024 — was a privately-funded project led by the UCA foundation.
UCA Foundation chairman Bret Carroll called the project “donor-powered from concept to completion.”
Simmons Bank was the lead donor in the project and ultimately decided to name the hangar after their chief pilot of five years.
“Simmons Bank is honored to have made the lead gift to this project,” Simmons Bank Community Regional Executive Justin McCarty said. “We know this hangar and the activities that happen inside it will reflect the same characteristics Bill brought to everything he did – a generous heart, an adventurous spirit and a deep commitment to helping all succeed.”
McCarty said the hangar is able to both improve the training of future aviation students and honor Cope’s legacy.
Other donors include Rick and Mary Edwards, Linda and Rush Harding, The Crain Family Foundation and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders and the State of Arkansas.
Earlier in 2025, Gov. Sanders announced the state would give $750,000 for the buildout of the hangar and purchase of two flight simulators — along with other equipment for the hangar.
Cope’s widow, Tina, said her late husband would be both proud and humbled by the hangar’s opening.
“Proud that this hangar will inspire and train the next generation of pilots,” Cope said. “Proud that his love for flying created friendships, built community and left behind memories that many of us share today.”
“To the future aviators who will walk into this hangar, remember this: Passion will keep you going. Determination will carry you through the challenges. And, joy is found not only in the destination, but in the journey itself,” Cope said.
UCA president Houston Davis said, “In March of 2024, UCA officially launched its Aviation Academy with a simple but powerful goal: to meet a growing need for qualified pilots while creating pathways for Arkansas students to pursue fulfilling careers.”
“We are deeply grateful to Simmons Bank and the many individuals who believed in this vision early on,” Davis said. “Thanks to partnerships and private support, we are not just producing pilots, we are producing leaders.”
Aviation Academy director Brad Teague said aviation students are excited about the new space and how they will be able to use it in the future.
Teague said the space is “professional and convenient” and will have a large impact on brightening the future of UCA Aviation.
When it came to working with UCA, Teague said the best part of working with the university is its community aspect and cooperative attitude.
The academy itself is a certified pilot training program offering multiple pilot licensure options, including private and commercial pilot licenses.
It also offers instructor licenses and instrument and multi-engine ratings.
Launched in March 2024, the academy already has trained 55 students.
There are eight instructors in the program who train students with the Tecnam line of aircraft, including P-Mentors and 2010s.
