Take Flight

from 2020 Yakima Valley Visitor Guide

Museums

YAKIMA AIR TERMINAL

The Yakima Air Terminal provides the Yakima Valley with air transportation services and facilities, allowing residents and business travelers an easy, affordable alternative to driving across Snoqualmie Pass to catch a flight at Sea-Tac.

Commercial air service is provided by Alaska Airlines, while Swift Air and Sun Country Airlines provide charter air service. Alaska Airlines provides daily flights to and from SeattleTacoma International Airport and accommodates 76 passengers.

Located off West Washington Avenue, the airport also accommodates emergency medical flights, aircraft manufacturing and testing, corporate aviation and general aviation.

The airport terminal building was constructed in the 1950s, but it has undergone a series of minor remodeling projects to maintain functionality with new tenants and to meet federal regulations.

The terminal building has five aircraft parking gates, all of which transition passengers through a ground-level terminal concourse.

The terminal also provides space for three rental car facilities — currently leased by Hertz, Avis and Budget — which are conveniently located adjacent to the baggage claim area.

The airport has a big economic impact on the local economy and supports many aviation businesses that provide an estimated 1,000 jobs for the community.

To learn more, visit flyykm. com.

TRI-CITIES AIRPORT

About 90 miles east of Yakima is the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC), located in Pasco. PSC serves a growing region that has taken off dramatically in the past five years.

Since 2013, the number of enplanements at the airport has increased by nearly 100,000, which represents both a vibrancy in the region and the additional flight services now available.

The airport is home to Delta, Alaska Air/Horizon Air, United and Allegiant airlines and offers flights to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Mesa, Ariz.

To learn more, visit flytricities. com.

Yakima also has a dependable transit system. www.mccormickaircenter.com

 FLIGHT INSTRUCTION  FUEL  MAINTENANCE  SCENIC FLIGHTS

Flight Center 3210 Washington Ave. | 509.248.1680 Maintenance 2108 W. Washington Ave. | 509.249.1680 Photo by Long Bach Nguyen

HIGHER EDUCATION

PACIFIC NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY

The Yakima Valley is home to several colleges and universities that offer broad-based higher education opportunities, ranging from a community college to a medical university.

• YAKIMA VALLEY COLLEGE, located in the heart of Yakima, was founded in 1928. YVC — formerly known as Yakima Valley Community College — is one of the state’s oldest community colleges. It is a public, two-year institution that offers programs in adult basic education, English as a Second Language, lower division arts and sciences, certificates, professional and technical education and community services.

• On the east side of Yakima is PACIFIC NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY of Health Sciences, one of only three state-accredited medical schools. PNWU welcomed its first class of students in 2008, and specializes in osteopathic medicine. The school was founded with the mission of training physicians to work in rural areas and other locations facing a shortage of medical professionals.

Higher Ed Opportunities Have Steadily Increased

YAKIMA VALLEY COLLEGE

• Yakima is also home to PERRY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, a school that ranks No. 1 in the nation for income mobility and has a 94 percent job placement. As a trade school, its goal is to get people on the fast track to success within just one or two years, depending on the program of choice. Many students secure jobs before they graduate.

• HERITAGE UNIVERSITY, located outside Toppenish, is an accredited, private institution offering a wide array of academic programs and degrees. Students enjoy a world-class, multicultural education and personalized attention. Heritage is a nonprofit, independent, nondenominational institution, offering undergraduate and graduate education. Its mission is to provide quality, accessible higher education to multicultural populations that have been educationally isolated.

Heritage makes it possible to earn a college degree

while continuing to live comfortably and work. Many undergraduate courses are offered during the evenings and graduate courses are offered on the weekends.

Many of the Valley’s future teachers are currently being trained at Heritage.

• On the other side of Yakima is CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, located about 35 miles from Yakima in Ellensburg. CWU is part of the state university system, and was founded in 1891. Today it serves some 13,000 students at eight locations.

Its dual admission program allows community college students to be admitted to CWU when they are admitted to a college, streamlining the admissions, advising and transfer processes. It offers more than 135 majors including nationally and/or regionally distinguished programs in music, geology, paramedicine, physics and education.

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