Wright-Patt Aviation Classes Fall Victim To Shutdown

Aviation-related classes have been canceled at Ohio's largest military base as a result of furloughs triggered by the federal government shutdown. The Air Force Institute of Technology suspended classes this week at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. About 8,700 civilian employees were sent home without pay when the partial federal government shutdown began Tuesday. Among those furloughed were most of 89 civilian instructors and about three dozen students. The school's commandant says it wouldn't have made sense to try to continue classes with most instructors out. The Institute has a graduate school, civil engineering school and a school of systems and logistics. Col. Nate Smith is working on his doctorate in aeronautical engineering and says he hopes classes can resume soon.