A California company that trains pilots for Chinese airlines is making an investment of $1.65 million dollars at the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport. Apus Air announced this week that it is constructing a flight training school at the airport. The project will create 35 jobs.
Madison Silvert is CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. He says the regional airport is a perfect fit for the company’s needs. “They were looking for an airport that had the right balance of runway links and amenities and low traffic so they could provide a confident environment for new trainees,” he says.
Silvert says the flight training center also has another benefit for the region. “It’ll bring a number of new international visitors and residents here for upwards of sometimes a few years. This is a community that continues to see the value in diversity and having a diverse workforce.”
Silvert says the flight school will not have a negative impact on commercial flights at the airport. On the positive side, the training center will add to air traffic counts that help maintain funding for the control tower.