Eighteen-year-old Darrell DeGraffenreid already knows what he wants from life—and it’s thousands of feet in the air. The Memphis native and East High graduate found his calling in the cockpit through an aviation program in high school, and now, with the help of Southwest Tennessee Community College (SWTCC), he’s one step closer to making his dream of becoming a commercial pilot a reality.
At a special ceremony on Thursday, June 26, Southwest officials announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the college a provisional Part 141 designation, a milestone that makes Southwest the only school in Tennessee with this distinction. The designation means students in the college’s Aviation Operations Technology program—specifically those in the professional pilot concentration—can progress through the pilot certification process more quickly and affordably than ever before.
“This accreditation will allow pilots to get their commercial license at 1,250 hours instead of the normal 1,500,” said DeGraffenreid, who already holds a private pilot’s license. “That saves time and money, and it keeps students like me moving forward—whether in the military or in the civilian world.”
The announcement came on the same day the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority voted to rename Memphis International Airport after the late Fred Smith, founder of FedEx and a transformative figure in global logistics and aviation. His legacy loomed large at the event, which was held at Southwest’s Maxine A. Smith Center in Southeast Shelby County.
“Fred Smith had a vision for the future of flight,” said Albert Glenn, a retired FedEx pilot and executive. “Today we honor that vision—not just by renaming an airport, but by investing in the next generation of aviators.”
That next generation is being trained right here in Memphis. Launched in April 2022, Southwest’s aviation program offers three concentrations: aviation administration, flight dispatch, and professional pilot. The FAA’s new designation specifically applies to the pilot track, making it even more appealing to students aiming to enter the commercial aviation workforce.
“If we didn’t have this certification, our students would have to log extra hours and spend more money in simulators and in the air,” said Aaron Jagers, chair of Southwest’s Department of Technology and an associate professor. “This opens the door wider—and faster—for our students.”
For Southwest President Dr. Tracy Hall, this moment is about more than education—it’s about opportunity.
“Aviation is a critical industry to the Mid-South economy,” said Hall. “We’re preparing students for high-value, high-opportunity careers with family-sustaining wages. This FAA certification is a shining example of what workforce readiness looks like in action.”
The program has been praised not only for its quality but for its accessibility. By offering a faster and more cost-effective path to licensure, it brings high-paying aviation careers within reach for more Memphis-area students.
“This is a monumental time,” said Ed Lyons, a retired FedEx pilot and trustee with the Southwest Foundation Board. “We are giving our students the Cadillac to drive toward their dreams.”
And for students like DeGraffenreid, those dreams are already taking flight—right here in the skies over Memphis.
