FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Fort Pierce flight school is shutting down and laying off dozens of workers, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice.
Ari Ben Aviator Inc., which operates Aviator College of Aeronautical Science & Technology, told employees the Fort Pierce campus would close permanently, with mass layoffs beginning April 15, 2026, according to the notice. The filing lists the school’s physical address as 4220 Aviator Way in Fort Pierce and says the closure affects roughly 40 to 50 employees.
The layoffs span a wide range of positions, including administration, human resources, career services, academic affairs, adjunct and ground instructors, librarians, mechanics and pilots, according to the notice. The filing also says there are no union affiliations and no known bumping rights.
According to the notice, employees were told on April 9 that the campus would close. The filing says a recent lawsuit brought by the family of a former student left the company unable to complete a sale to new buyers. It also references allegations of bankruptcy.
The closure follows earlier concerns about the school’s operations. In late 2024, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges issued a warning to Aviator College citing concerns that included the school’s fiscal condition and budget, student services, administrative support, faculty documentation and retention of educational staff.
Treasure Coast International Airport, where Aviator College operated, is a major general aviation hub in St. Lucie County and hosts aviation-related tenants, including flight training operations.